August has flown by and it has been a really interesting month for me. I wrote earlier in the year that this fall would be a time of transitions, and this seems very much to be the case. I’m still recovering a bit from the intensities of traveling this summer (I was gone for 5 weeks judging skating competitions), and my entire work/life schedule balance is also in flux because I started a new job this month. The job has been alright so far, but the commute is kind of kicking my ass. I’m not exactly sure how to fit in all of the things around this job; I think I’ll be in transition phase for a while. I keep intending to do a lot of things after work, but I’m always really tired. It might be better if I try to flip my life in the other direction, by going to bed early and doing sewing for an hour before work each day? I don’t know. Right now I’m just tired all the time and I feel like trying to force myself to have energy for my hobbies isn’t really going to help. Of course, maybe starting a project and being somewhere in the middle of it would entice me to get myself in gear. I really feel like it’s been a month of me recovering from my travels and settling into my new routine, so I don’t have anything exciting to post (yet again) in the sewing realm. (I’m really failing at my own challenge over here!) But I will say that I’ve at least been trying to get back in the sewing room. I just need to figure out what sort of routine will let me get back into the rhythm of creating again.
In the meantime, here’s what’s been going on around the sewing blogosphere…
- Merriam Style’s YouTube channel continues to provide interesting Kibbe related content including:
- Watch Me Glow Up has a new video on the Energetic and Sparkling ethereals.
- David Kibbe has taken to writing weekly blogs! This is a fantastic resource, especially for those who cannot afford access to the book, and even in the first post David alludes to the fact that much of his original text is outdated.
- You can read his first post here!
- And his second post here!
- Style Syntax has been posting quite a bit lately, and has some very interesting thoughts about the Kibbe craze that is sweeping the internet.
- The #sewyourkibbe has even more posts on Instagram!
I’m still terribly behind in my blog reading, so if I’ve missed your posts or you would like to be included in my future Kibbe round up posts, please feel free to leave a link in the comments!
With David himself updating his website and writing blog posts that speak to the modern reader, it is a bit easier to see how this system has evolved for him over the past 30 years. What’s more interesting is that, for me, it really cements that this is something of a living system and is really more about self-discovery than prescriptive style advice. Style Syntax’s blog post about “How to Tell If Someone is Wrong About Kibbe” also strongly emphasizes that anyone who hasn’t kept up to date with Kibbe’s changes and is still relying heavily on the old text is essentially wrong and not to be trusted. While I find the tone a little strong, I can also see the point, especially if you have been one of the “in-crowd” in the Facebook groups. I must admit, I am guilty of several of the “Kibbe Crimes,” most especially the continuation of the use of Natural, Classic, and Gamine. I have been grappling with how I feel about this, especially since I’ve been knowingly “spreading out-of-date information.” On the one hand, I don’t really want to stop offering content that could help my blog readers, but, on the other, I don’t want to blatantly disrespect the man who created this system either. In a weird way, because I’m not in the Kibbe groups and haven’t heard it directly from him, taking the book as the main source might be considered more “pure,” though in the modern day and age of the internet I think that can also be criticized for being rather short sighted. In some sense, I guess me discussing Kibbe with any sort of clothing suggestion goes against the spirt of honing your own sense of style; yet on the other hand I’m not sure how any of us can ever get dressed if we keep it all as this purely theoretical exercise.
In regards to Pinterest, yes, me using the title “Kibbe Soft Natural” as a way to save inspiration pictures for myself is probably not as apt a title as “Things I Think Might Look Good On Me If I Style Myself With Kibbe Soft Natural Recommendations,” but there is something to be said for brevity. I suppose it could be misleading to some of my Pinterest followers, but I don’t think a lot of my followers are there for my Kibbe boards, especially since I’ve only made them for styles I thought might apply to me or my sister. Let’s be honest, I’m sure you’re all really there for my 1500+ sewing room inspiration pins, am I right?
Joking aside, I’ve been trying to decide how I feel about the status of the Kibbe community at the moment, and how I fit into it. I’m very exciting to have the written works of Kibbe himself more available to the public. If we are being honest, one of the reasons things are as they stand now is likely because there hasn’t been an update to the book in over three decades, and with the renewed interest in Kibbe’s work, the prices of the remaining copies can be quite high. People who have the book are using it as the primary source, which, in some sense it is because it was written by David, albeit several years ago. Without it, people are reliant on the summaries of others, but with it the prevailing understanding is that you are still wrong because times have changed. It’s hard to know how my Sew Your Kibbe series really fits into this; obviously I was able to find more modern examples that seemed to fit Kibbe’s description of lines, yet those who are more in the know seem to indicate that anything that hasn’t come directly from Kibbe himself is wrong. It’s a bit hard to know how to unpack this in a way that allows for a discussion of self discovery and offers some practical examples without being disrespectful and taking advantage of an idea that wasn’t inherently yours to begin with.
There also seems to be quite a bit of vitriol between the bloggers who have dissected the works of Kibbe and the YouTubers who look at the system with a bit of their own interpretation. While I’m still not sure how I feel about those who go into the “typing business” and make a living off of the Kibbe’s system, I can’t honestly say I haven’t learned a lot from the YouTube videos that exist. Certainly, my own knowledge of Kibbe would be much more limited without these resources, and even if I don’t always agree with them, I do enjoy listening to different perspectives. Of course I would take David’s perspective over someone who blatantly disagrees with him, but I find that the animosity towards the fringes of the Kibbe crowd a bit disheartening. It sort of robs the joy of it all a bit. Intellectually, I can understand why these factions exist, and why they are at odds, but it does call into question all of my own efforts that were really brought forth from an underutilized intellectual curiosity and an over-utilized love of sewing patterns.
So, where does that leave me now? Honestly, I’m not sure. I still want to sew/dress/understand my Kibbe ID better. I still think the system is fascinating. I still want to continue and complete my year of Sew Your Kibbe. But I think moving forward I might change a few things. Out of respect and growing knowledge I will stop including Natural/Classic/Gamine in my monthly round ups (EDIT: See the note below), and I will probably stop offering advice about Kibbe typing in my comments. Not that I ever did that for compensation, and I don’t think I ever promoted myself as more than a fan who has spent way too much time looking into this. But again, out of respect, I think I best leave the journey of self discovery to the reader at this point. But since this is a sewing blog (or at least pretends to be one…), I still want to do my monthly pattern picks for the Kibbe types. Is this “wrong?” Perhaps. But it’s still fun, and I hope it is still helpful for blog readers.
*EDIT: So based off of the comments of my fabulous blog readers, I have decided to include the Natural, Classic, and Gamine types in my Kibbe posts but I will also make sure to note that David Kibbe no longer uses these IDs himself. This way it can be relevant to people who find more utility from these IDs, but also acknowledge the updates Kibbe himself has made.
And, with that long winded ramble, here are my picks for August:
Dramatic
BurdaStyle Magazine 09/2019 #128, McCall’s M7997, and McCall’s M8014. All of these styles have the sort of strong, sharp lines that would emphasize yang features. I especially love the length of the red coat to elongate the line, and the sharp edges of the Palmer/Pletsch top’s hem. The coat dress could be a nice addition to a Dramatic wardrobe if you are into the 2019 trend of trench dresses.
Soft Dramatic
Simplicity S8990, BurdaStyle Magazine 09/2019 #122, and Simplicity S8985. All of these have somewhat exaggerated shapes and lines that work well for Soft Dramatics. I really like how all of these styles are somewhat elongated, but there is enough softness in them to really suit the yin/yang balance of the Soft Dramatic.
Flamboyant Natural
New Look N6637, McCall’s M8007, and BurdaStyle Magazine 09/2019 #107A. All of these have a loose, unconstructed silhouette, but I really like these picks because, aside from the jeans, they could work really well for a more formal Flamboyant Natural wardrobe. And I think the top would actually pair quite nicely with the McCall’s jeans for a more casual but still classy look.
Natural (NOTE: This ID is no longer used by David Kibbe)
New Look N6633, Simplicity S8993, and BurdaStyle Magazine 09/2019 #105A. I think all of these would be great options for Naturals! The New Look dress might lean a bit Soft Natural with the waist tie, but the overall vibe is still very unconstructed. The Simplicity pattern is included because I think all of the individual pieces in it would be great for Naturals (even though I might not wear them all together as shown on the model). The Burda dress is a great way for Naturals to do dressed up; I think this simple dress would look great on someone with a really strong bone structure.
Soft Natural
Simplicity S8989, BurdaStyle Magazine 09/2019 #115A, and McCall’s M8009. All of these styles hint at the waist emphasis that Soft Natural needs, but also have the unconstructed silhouette that is needed by all Soft Natural types.
Dramatic Classic
New Look N6636, McCall’s M8004, and McCall’s M8006. All of these styles have really sleek, structures shapes that are just a touch towards the yang side of the spectrum. I especially like the New Look coat for Dramatic Classics; the shape is very tailored and streamlined without being too severe.
Classic (NOTE: This ID is no longer used by David Kibbe)
New Look N6632, Simplicity S8980, and McCall’s M8011. I think all of these have the clean lines that would work well for a Classic. The New Look dress and McCall’s jacket would be great for a more casual look, which I think is often difficult to find in classic lines. The vintage look, of course, would be fabulous for a fancier event.
Soft Classic
New Look N6642, Simplicity S8992, and McCall’s M7991. All of these have a nice blend of yin and yang lines. The Cardigan would perhaps be best in one of the shorter presentations, as opposed to the full length dress style, but the overall shape has a lot of nice features that are a good blend for Soft Classic.
Flamboyant Gamine
BurdaEasy 03/2019 #6B, BurdaStyle Magazine 09/2019 #114A, and BurdaStyle Magazine 09/2019 #102B. There were actually a ton of styles this month that would work well for a Flamboyant Gamine. I chose these three because I felt that they really highlighted how you can really stay within your Kibbe recommendation but still have a very unique style; the look in the center is very elegant, whereas the ones on the left and right are much more fun and punk-y. All of these items really created the broken lines that Kibbe recommends for Gamine types, and I think any of these patterns would be great for a Gamine wardrobe.
Gamine (NOTE: This ID is no longer used by David Kibbe)
New Look N6644, McCall’s M7993, and McCall’s M7996. I think all of these have the close, cropped shapes that work well for Gamine, as well as the mix of yin and yang elements that they really need. The New Look pattern has more casual options, whereas the McCall’s dresses could be a bit fancier (or not) depending on styling.
Soft Gamine
Simplicity S9006, BurdaStyle Magazine 09/2019 #108A, and McCall’s M7992. Ok, so I know the Simplicity pattern is a costume, but the shape of that dress is perfect for a Soft Gamine! For a bit less stereotypical looks (though still good), the other two patterns are also fitted at the collars and/or cuffs, with Gamine details.
Theatrical Romantic
BurdaStyle Magazine 09/2019 #112, McCalls M8003, and BurdaStyle Magazine 09/2019 #127. This month the Romantic and Theatrical Romantic looks bleed together a bit for me. The geometric opening on the McCall’s top, the added structure of the Burda tailored jacket, and the length of the skirt all add that touch of yang that work well for Theatrical Romantics, which primarily having the waist emphasis and soft yin details that are necessary for this type.
Romantic
BurdaStyle Magazine 09/2019 #125B, BurdaStyle Magazine 09/2019 #126A, and McCall’s M7998. I really love the Burda Plus dress for Romantics, though I think all of these styles could be quite nice. The top perhaps could be a bit too unconstructed, but I think the soft draping and clear waist emphasis could work, especially with an appropriate bottom.
And that’s it! Sorry for the long ramble this month; it’s been a time of a lot of transition and a lot of critical discussions, which has made for a lot of introspection, both on a personal level, and as it related to this blog. If you are a long time reader/fan of this series perhaps you would like to weigh in in the comments – I’d love to hear your thoughts about what’s been going on in the Kibbe-sphere and where you think the “lines” are when it comes to the works of an author growing beyond their control. Clearly I’m a bit personally conflicted, and I’m curious to hear the perspective of people who perhaps haven’t gone quite as far down the rabbit hole as I have.
And, as always, if you’ve found any other great Kibbe related content to share or have any updates on your own Sew Your Kibbe challenges please feel free to drop a line in the comments!
Doctor T Designs 
Please, please don’t stop your Kibbe reflections. I wouldn’t have heard about the system without your blog (not as much about it this side of the pond) and I keep going back to re-read the original posts, especially when I am planning my next sewing projects. You have done a fantastic thing in putting the series together. Don’t let people shout you down. I will also be sorry to lose ‘Gamine’ as it felt a bit more ‘me’ than the ‘Flamboyant Gamine’
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Yeah, honestly felt like I’ve had a lot of blog readers who really identified with Natural/Classic/Gamine categories a bit more than one of the more yin or yang counterparts. While I can say I found a lot of overlap between Flamboyant Natural and Natural, and Dramatic Classic and Classic, the Gamine categories always felt a bit more distinct. I may decide to bring back the recommendations but perhaps star them out as saying they are retired or no longer part of the Kibbe cannon? I’m not sure. It’s a weird line to walk. Perhaps now that David has his own weekly blog it will help clarify my perspective and I’ll be able to figure out how best to approach it moving forward.
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Sob, SN in too soft and FN is a bit to volumetric, why can’t I still be ‘just’ a Natural? It was working so well for me. I have to say I don’t read all the links and watch all the videos (though I do a few) so maybe there is some good reason these types have gone missing.
If I do SN I look slightly matronly, if I do FN I look slightly overwhelmed by the giant collars, super wide trousers etc. Hmmmm
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Ok DoctorT, FN it is then.
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See, that’s how I’ve felt… some of these work so well for people! TBH it’s like if it’s working for you, why stop? If it’s all a continuum I don’t really understand how you can’t have these points exist? I don’t know. As I’ve said, it’s a really weird place to be, and I’m hoping I can maybe find some way to make it all coexist in a way that’s not disrespectful.
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Amen, sister! I don’t have a waist, so SN doesn’t work, and FN is too… flamboyant. I’m sticking with ‘true’ Natural until Kibbe himself comes to my house and shows me the error of my ways. Or I get abdominoplasty and can wear things with waist emphasis. 🙂
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I feel like I’ve had so many people comment on the blog who really respond to the base types; I think what I’ve decided to do is include them in the monthly roundups (I will go back and edit this post to insert them), but put a note that Kibbe himself no longer includes that type. That way this blog isn’t “spreading misinformation” but can also better serve the readership who actually enjoy and find value from these posts and be more inclusive of people who identify with those types.
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I have thoroughly enjoyed and look forward to your Kibbe posts and hope you will continue them while-ever you are enjoying writing them and interacting with your readers about them. I believe you should feel free to continue to refer to the original Kibbe groupings if it makes sense to you. Any of these multitude style systems are just someone’s (in this case Kibbe’s) perspective and not any written law or fundamental truth that we all need to obey. Personally, I really enjoy the process of analysing why I feel (and look) better in some styles than others and the Kibbe system as you described it from the original book seems to make a lot of sense to me in many respects. Just because Kibbe has changed his own perspective does that mean we all have to follow him precisely? Maybe it sounds cynical, but who’s to say he wasn’t “right” before? He wouldn’t be the first author to capitalise on the current interest in his old book to update it for new sales. This is your blog and you should feel free to write whatever you like – just as Kibbe himself is. Thank you for the very thoughtful series and the effort you continue to put into the monthly roundups.
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Thanks! That is a really good perspective. It’s helpful to take a step back and look at it from somewhere that didn’t quite hit so close to home.
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I’ve really loved your series. I don’t think you should change a thing! It’s simply your opinion, afterall…you don’t make any money from it. It actually got me to dust off my old copy and see it with fresh, modern eyes.
As one of your ‘older’ readers I’ve noticed an increasing vitriol on the internet over intellectual ownership rights which is causing difficulties in the free exchange of ideas and adapting those ideas to suit your own purposes. For example some pattern makers try to impose what you can do with their pattern once you purchase it. Some quilt shows will no longer allow a copyrighted quilt design to be shown without written permission from the designer; however, a perusal of actual copyright law extends only to reproducing the written directions and selling them. Not what you do with your finished project. So-sew-easy.com has an excellent article on debunking copyright myth. A lot of this has spilled over into other areas about what is intellectual property and what people are allowed to do with it. This was not a problem in pre-internet days. Someone who was able to afford to go to a large Sewing Convention was most likely to come back and teach the new zipper installation technique to her local guild and it was fine! A sharing of knowledge was even encouraged. I’ve been trying to develop some classes to teach basic sewing to kids at a new quilt shop in town and have spent time perusing Pinterest to see the many ideas out there for teaching kids. I’ve done classes before but like to learn new tricks or projects that are appealing to today’s crew. I get to the end of the article and it says things like: personal use only, do not copy and distribute( the free) pattern etc. Well, in reality I could probably use it, but don’t. So I’ve been trying to come up with my own ‘patterns ‘ to use instead. I do want to make some money while teaching, but am really more interested in teaching a new generation to love sewing else there might not be someone interested in using those patterns in the future. In the 80s you bought the book on sewing with kids and used it. If you made money…hooray for you you were an entrepreneur! I also have been teaching flute for 40 years and as I teach I’ve passed on tips and tricks developed by my teachers and some I’ve refined or created myself. I don’t put on a disclaimer ‘for personal use only’ or charge a cottage liscence for using my methods if my students want to teach someone else. In fact I encourage them to pass it on. Maybe I’ll gain a new student. Maybe not. But just maybe, through the ripple effect I’ll have made the world a bit better. We all stand on the shoulders of giants and move forward to a brighter day!
How does this apply to Kibbe? Well, Kibbe created his work from earlier work done by stylists in the 30s through 70s and I think he really did a wonderful job of creating a much expanded system. He did not create the idea of yin/yang etc. But expanded on the work of others and I think we can do the same using or own thoughts and ideas on how Kibbe’s ideas work best for us. He may be a genius but he’s not God afterall. And we have a right to remix things for our own use and have a free exchange of ideas on our own. That’s exactly what caused this revival in the first place.
Sorry for the long rant. I think what your doing to help apply things to sewing is awesome!🤗
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Thanks! I think putting it into the context of intellectual property and fair use is very interesting. And it sort of makes the idea of the system evolving (both from Kibbe himself and among others who don’t follow his current work) very interesting indeed.
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P.s. I really look forward to,your roundups!
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Oh man, I missed that there was any drama and I’m sorry it’s giving you pause! I love your series, and as you know I’ve found it really useful! I’ve been working with my sister to figure out her type, because right now I basically just give her the less flamboyant half of my wardrobe! I’d love to figure out exactly what would suit her best. (We are thinking classic or soft classic, but I kinda wonder about some form of natural too…) I say keep going with what makes sense to you, and as you do, referring to lots of other interpretations of the system including Kibbe’s own. As a teacher, I’d say it’s on him to convince us, and once we are convinced, those terms will no longer make sense to us. Keep going, Kibbe! We need convincing! 🙂
ps. I just read his blog posts and the graphic design is killing my eyes… and the content is… vague at best? Huh.
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Yeah… I mean I think it is great that he is getting into the social media space, but I really wish they’d done the good work of hiring a web developer and really making the whole thing look super polished. I guess part of me does wonder, if we are trying to modernize the system, why is the website look so much like a page from MySpace circa 1998?
In regards to the content… I think that is maybe supposed to be the point of what everyone else has been writing about? I think it’s supposed to be more vague to allow everyone to really individualize their own self vision. Even in the original book the writing is pretty flowery when it isn’t just the list of recommendations for each type. It’s more direct than what is on his blog now, but it still feels more about having a journey to find your inner self and actualize it in a meaningful way.
Regardless, I really appreciate your comment that there needs to be a better case. While I can understand the thinking that no one is a *perfect* mix or blend of yin/yang to get to that pure Classic or pure Gamine status, I do think it is interesting how many comments here have indicated that the base IDs work so much better than either of the subtypes. And let’s be real – the sewing community who happens to read this blog is a pretty small subset of everyone who has ever heard of the works of David Kibbe, so it’s interesting how many people even in such a small sample are disappointed by (and/or willing to blatantly ignore) this new edict.
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So I’ve been thinking about this, and what I love about how you translate Kibbe into sewing is that you always suggest what might really suit a type, as opposed to a lot of video content that throws me off by being very black-and-white/negative. When I showed my sister some videos, she was put off by how people say “Not too short, not too broad” or “____ would look ridiculous in this”! I always interpret being FG to mean that if I want to look max FG, I follow the Kibbe rules… and if I want to wear anything else, I could consider how to gamine it up with accessories etc. It’s not like I HAVE to sew only gamine!
On top of that, it was interesting to read his prompt about “Imagine your dream vacation wardrobe” because I just want on vacation and sewed my dream wardrobe for it! I can make whatever I want, and then reflect on what worked or didn’t, give some away, refashion others, or make more of what I loved. It’s quite different from shopping where we are limited by what is available in store in our area in our size!
I guess what i’m saying is: I like Kibbe as a lens to investigate things, but I don’t think the sewing community’s interpretation has been rule-bound. I think that means we are doing it right!
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Wow! Such a great response! I do think that we are unique in that when he says “Imagine your fantasy” we can make it reality! Personally I know my “fantasy” is a bit over the top (I have a Pinterest board dedicated to clothes that have amazing details I love – not things I would have use for in real life, but maybe things I could get inspiration from). I think that does give us a lot of unique opportunities when it comes to these style systems, because in theory we could follow them exactly, or we could not. It does give us a lot of power and a lot of leeway in making choices.
Thanks so much for this comment! It does make me feel a lot better about what I’ve been writing and the ideas I’ve been exploring here, even if they aren’t completely what the more informed Kibbe community would be approving of.
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I rarely post but I had to say your blog is one of my absolute favorites to read- I’m at the point in my sewing journey where I’m trying to only spend my sewing time/$ on finished clothing I will love and use- so your commentary and analyses of new patterns and styles is incredibly helpful in thinking about what I will actually wear after I sew it. (and of course, calling out the must-not-miss patterns that are released) I vote for continuing as is (the asterisk as “discontinued” or “old system” isn’t a bad idea if it makes you feel more comfortable, but I don’t mind if you don’t asterisk). I like your interpretation of Kibbe, I wouldn’t have heard of him or his system if I hadn’t read your blog.
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Thanks! I think maybe I will do that because then maybe it’s a bit like having cake and eating it too? It won’t be “misinformation” but it might also still be helpful to people who find the base IDs more useful than the currently in use sub-types.
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I appreciate your sensitivity toward those who might be offended (?) by your use of the various Kibbe terms or referring to what they have decided is outdated information. But all this information is out there and the fact that you have expended incredible amounts of energy to organize and present it is only to be commended. If people actually get upset about it I can’t help thinking they are taking this all very much too seriously.
I’m convinced there is no one style guide that works for everyone, and even if you do find a system that works for you, it’s still only a guideline, not a law. The simple fact that Kibbe changed his mind about three main categories demonstrates that this is not a perfect system. I recognize myself in the description of the Classic category and examples of celebrities Kibbe used at the beginning. I use Classic as my starting point and add or subtract according to lifestyle, personal preference, etc. Just because Kibbe later decided Classic doesn’t exist, does not mean that I’m changing my entire style.
I know Style Syntax has very strong beliefs and it’s cool to use a blog to promote one’s beliefs, but I stopped reading her (?) blog because it was sometimes so negative and contemptuous of other ideas. I think there should be room for everyone to discuss style typing, Kibbe and otherwise, especially when it’s just in the interest of learning and not profit.
So back to your dilemma: Obviously you should do what’s comfortable for you, and you can do one thing now and another thing next week and change your mind again later. I hope that whatever weirdness is going on in the Kibbe community doesn’t affect your enjoyment of Kibbe-related topics and activities.
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Thanks! I think part of the problem is that Style Syntax was really one of the first blogs I found with information about Kibbe, and I always respected the well-research approach she had when looking at older style systems. I agree that, as you say, lately the tone has gotten quite negative, and it is definitely affecting my enjoyment of everything. I think it’s a bit like when you look too closely at your childhood heroes and realize that they aren’t quite the people you thought they were. It makes you question your own beliefs and take a bit of a step back at that point. Having been gone for over a month and coming back to a stack of blog posts that were all essentially criticizing everything I was trying to do here on this blog was a definitely bit much to take in all at once. I think if I had read them as they had been written, instead of in a large chunk, it probably wouldn’t have affected me as much. But I’m also really grateful for all of the comments I’ve been getting on this post; it really helps to know that there are people who appreciate these posts and find them helpful; that is really why I write them. Well, aside from my own amusement. And I think that in the Kibbe space I occupy a very weird niche in that I’m not just talking about Kibbe but also sewing, and I think I might be one of the few that I know of who doesn’t really make any money off of my efforts? I don’t monetize the blog in any way (and in fact I pay to have the ads removed), and unlike YouTube I don’t get AdSense money either. Not that I begrudge the YouTuber’s their incomes (I’m well aware of how time intensive it is to produce videos), but it is something that does make this resource really different from others who provide their own styling services. Anyway, long story short, yes, I definitely think that with a little time and distance I won’t feel quite so overwhelmed and doubtful of my own choices in writing about Kibbe related content, and hopefully then the enjoyment will be back.
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I agree with everything that people have said 😀
I don’t know what is correct Kibbe, but I do know your posts are a great resource for sewists.
Perhaps you could just use the original style words without mentioning Kibbe !
I strongly believe that what’s important is that we feel good in our clothes. Stylists’ categories can help us find that happy place, but they’re not an end in themselves.
https://sewingplums.wordpress.com/2019/08/22/finding-your-style-1-using-style-categories/
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I don’t post often and agree with the above, especially the last paragraph by Sewingplums. Reading between the lines I feel you might be in danger of burnout so I would maybe take a step back at times, been there and bought the T-shirt :):) I do like to read your blogs, especially the Burda ones. I would like to sew with sustainable fabrics but do like a little stretch in my fabrics too. It’s a dilemma!! 🙂
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First, I love reading your articles, I always learn new things or see another point of view on something, it’s refreshing. You bought a book and do reviews based on it, you didn’t buy the all style system, I don’t think there’s an issue with that, as long as you don’t step in kibbe feet and do kibbe kinda style consultations. I ran off fb kibbe groups because of all the drama and the bossy tone used by the admins and rules, if you feel you could have troubles because the limit of reviews vs advices is thin and difficult to see, you could put a disclaimer on a page and refer to it in each article, this is your own interpretation of a book you read, completed with various videos and articles by other people available on the web. There is few sewing & style articles, it’s a niche that will grow, i think, I have bookmarked the flamboyant gamine article a long time ago and make my own interpretation of it, based on what i like and feel comfortable in. There’s a french woman who build a new style system (with a lot of marketing) which costs a certain amount, it’s kinda the same deal, only her can define the “real” you, I saw one of her live consultations, and she does open oriented questions and repeat in another way the things the client just said 😀 it’s called Meta… I’m not comfortable with system or people that wants to drive you completely and control their own thing/system. We do need people like you, who interpret and says what they think about it, how they would use the guides, what clothes/patterns would match according to them, we feel less like consumers, and more like friends chatting about style, hopefully that’s not forbidden ^^
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Thanks! That’s a really helpful way to look at everything!
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Yay!!! Thanks for adding Natural back in.
BTW I asked a friend who is very stylish to help me dress for a wedding where I am a minor guest. I have bought a dress and sewn a dressy coat (McCalls 4394). She then styled me with classic court shoes (pumps I think the US word is), nude tights (panty hose), hair up in a twist, and gave me a necklace which matches beautifully and is actually very Natural (which is probably why she thought it was more me then her). I think its really tough for a Natural to do dressy occasions, I would’ve had sandals, a metallic bag and my hair down but she’s been watching all the big weddings as well as any local ones and is trying to help me look good. I appreciate it, but it doesn’t feel quite like me…..
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Yeah, I think each ID has one level of dress they have a problem with and for Naturals I think it is super dressed up. It’s the same way that Dramatics can struggle to look put together when they are more casual because the lines tend to be less sharp on the clothes, etc. I’m sure your coat will be gorgeous though; maybe after the wedding you can find a way to style it that feels a bit more “you.” 🙂
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Looked back over my comment and just want you to know I understand there’s a lot more to the subject and I truly do believe in protecting people’s work. No one should find some company mass producing there design without their knowledge or compensating which has been an increasing problem with our global internet. I do think discussing the merits of older versions of and your personal take is perfectly acceptable. It’s also fine for Kibbe to continue to tweak his original ideas. We keep growing and refining our ideas throughout life. It’s hard to explain my thoughts on such a huge subject and I feel like I’ve slipped down a rabbit hole. Please forgive me for letting it run away. 🙄
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No it’s good! It’s a complicated topic. When does a thing stop being your thing? When does it change and start having factions and evolve into something you can’t control and how does that impact everything? I think in history we see this, but these sorts of things happen over decades or centuries and usually end in wars. On the Internet it seems they can happen in seconds (and result in flame wars, I guess?). It’s a really interesting topic and probably deserves more of a rabbit-hole deep dive than we’ve allowed it on this post so far.
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Appreciate your blog posts which are always so well-written and informative, along with illustrations. Just wanted to comment on your health; it wouldn’t hurt to get a complete check up if you are feeling really tired, just to rule that out….I have been doing that as I didn’t feel I had as much energy as I usually do and it is slowly paying off. Best to be preventative and on top of health issues to catch something early. Wish I had done that.
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Good advice!
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I actually can’t read anything on his site. I say interpret as you will! It’s not a cult.
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Hi Doctor T,
Don’t be discouraged, what you’re doing is extremely helpful to others in their Kibbe journey. I have linked your blog posts in the MerriamStyle Club forum and they were well received. If you want to invest the time and money, please consider joining (if you haven’t already). It’s a small but lively community with a big nerd factor. You can discuss your type, personal style, sewing (there’s already a thread for that) and the (Kibbe) system in general.
Best,
Penelope
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I am so happy to see the kind comments here. Clearly we appreciate your solid and extensive work! The marriage of sewing and Kibbe has been a super-interesting discovery for me, and your blog has been the main source. I love how un-biased and thorough you approach all the patterns, and the focus on how details, fabric and styling can shift something in one direction or another. It really is *just* a style system, and at the same time your thoughtful approach has been a great help to me and aided in having more fun and success with my sewing choices and styling. Huge thanks!
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I LOVE the “Sew Your Kibbe” pattern posts — they are so incredibly detailed and well-researched and I appreciate all the work you put into them! (It makes me want to buy back issues of Burda Magazine in bulk too.) And the pattern roundups, please continue those!
I enjoy reading about style typing and style systems, but to be perfectly honest, I bite my thumb at all of them and dress in a mish-mash of Classic and Natural. My body type is 100% Soft Natural (I think!) but I like a more tailored Classic look, so that’s what I make and wear. I just feel very put-together in more of a Classic style and thanks to sewing I can make the more streamlined styles work for me.
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I am the same way! Pretty sure I am a SN but classic (and SC) style is more my thing. It’s nice that the systems give us frameworks to work from but remembering that that is all it is and modifying and tweaking to suit our own styles and personalities is really key!
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