Are you wondering what the difference is between Soft Classic vs Dramatic Classic?

This article has all the answers!

In your defense, identifying as a Kibbe Classic is already a milestone to cross.

With all the vague and balanced details of the main family, individuals are bound to get lost. 

There are no highlighted or prominent attributes of the ‘Lush Yin’ or ‘Sharp Yang’— Simply a balance between the two!

You are neither too Yin nor too Yang; you are an amalgamation of the two essences. 

While it’s difficult to pinpoint your Yin or Yang influence, that very factor allows you to take comfort in the fact that you might have a Kibbe classic body type. 

When you are neither too Yin nor too Yang, chances are that you are a Kibbe Classic— Proper, balanced, and symmetrical with poise, grace, elegance, and royalty. 

After deciding on your main Kibbe family, your next step is to identify whether you are a Soft Classic or a Dramatic Classic.

It’s not very difficult to differentiate between the two, though. While they are both dominantly Kibbe’s classics first, their undercurrent is a big giveaway. 

So, before you fumble between Soft Classic Vs Dramatic Classic, you must understand Kibbe’s pure Classic family.

It defines and explains the main characteristics of your body type. We’ll first understand your prominent pure classic elements and then help you find where you belong in the Kibbe Classic family— on the softer yin side or, the more fierce Yang. 

Pure Classic Kibbe

Kibbe Classic was one of the main families in the Kibbe system.

It’s centered amongst the other four Kibbe families, balancing the yin and Yang spectrum of his image ID system. 

Dramatic→Natural→Classic→Gamine→Romantic. The left side of this table represents Yang, and the right side represents ‘Lush Yin.’

Classics are the perfect definition of proper, symmetrical, and balanced. Not a single characteristic of their existence is out of place or order; it’s all in one big harmony.

In David Kibbe’s original work, he believed that a pure classic was the perfect blend of 50/50 Yin and Yang.

However, Pure Classic was later removed from his system along with Pure Naturals and Gamines.

David Kibbe realized that no one can have a perfect blend of Yin and Yang. One or the other will surpass or overpower the other’s significance. 

Nonetheless, whether soft or dramatic, the classic family is the only one that comes close to a proper balance between the two spectrums, i.e., Yin and Yang. 

Classic Body Type Kibbe

Pure Classics Kibbe body type’s significant accommodation is the Yin-Yang blend they display. 

• Body flesh: Balanced (50/50 Blend of yin/yang)
• Face Flesh: Balanced
• Bone structure: Balanced

Physical characteristics of Pure Classic Kibbe body type

Cutting to the chase, pure classics have the following attributes:

• So, they are neither too tall like the Dramatics nor too short like the romantics. Their height falls somewhere in the middle of both extremes. Their height is what separates them from the other ten Kibbe body types. 

• Their body flesh is neither visibly flat nor highly voluptuous. It’s balanced. This allows them a subtle waist definition. 

• Their bone structure is neither too broad nor too narrow like the dramatics. So, they do have wave-like silhouettes.

• Instead of being round like a romantic or chiseled square like a dramatic one, their face is heart-shaped with an equal combination of sculpted lines and flesh. 

• Their shoulders are neither too broad nor sloped; they are proportionate to the rest of the body. 

• Their limbs are neither too short nor too long. 

So, if you look at it, Pure Classics is a classic case of “neither and nor.” If you are neither too Yin nor too Yang, you are probably a classic.

However, which one of the two subfamilies are you? Below is a detailed understanding of ‘Soft Classics’ and ‘Dramatic Classics.’

Dramatic Classic Vs Soft Classic Body Types 

When you are a Kibbe classic that visibly has subtle Yin traits, especially in the body flesh and face flesh, you are a soft classic.

On the other hand, when your classic body type has visible Yang traits, you are a Dramatic Classic. 

Now, this is already apparent in their names. However, what does Yin body/face flesh or Yang bone structure actually mean? 

Yin would take you towards fleshiness, and Yang would strike you with verticality and narrowness.

Now, this doesn’t mean you’d start appearing more romantic or dramatic with the prominent Yin or Yang undercurrent.

No, it’s a simple and subtle shift, very delicately present! 

What is Soft Classic’s Yin body flesh? 

Naturally, classics are neither too fleshy/voluptuous nor too narrow/lean/muscular.

However, soft classics add slightly more curviness to their body type or visible flesh in their silhouettes.

This flesh is subtly present throughout their body, especially in their dainty arms, bosom, buttocks, and thighs.

It allows them to come across as someone classy and graceful but still delicate and gentle, like a princess.

Their flesh doesn’t relate to being sensual or sultry. Instead, it portrays softness and grace.

This flesh is also visible on their face and allows them to enhance their overall elegant persona. 

Soft Classic body type: 

• Bone structure: Balanced
• Body flesh: Yin
• Face Flesh: Yin.

What does Dramatic Classic’s Yang Bone structure mean? 

Instead of being sloped or rounded, your edges are angular, sharp, and pointy.

A Yang bone structure’s edginess is visible and apparent throughout the body, whether it’s their shoulders, facial features, contouring, limbs, or torso. 

‘Sharp Yang’ has defined straight lines with rectangle and triangle shapes throughout the body. 

Dramatic Classic body type: 

• Bone structure: Sharp Yang
• Body flesh: Balanced 
• Face Flesh: Balanced. 

Please note: Yin accommodates oval and round shapes. Yang accommodates square, rectangle, and triangle shapes in your silhouettes. 

When we see their Yin and Yang undercurrent, it’s pretty evident that Dramatic classics are closer to their original family, A.K.A, Pure classics.

This is also why it’s easier to identify Dramatic classics than Soft Classics. 

Soft Classic’s Yin influence is strong and can camouflage your judgment into believing you might be a Soft Natural.

If you are confused between these two Kibbe IDs, refer to the article “Soft Natural Vs. Soft Classic” to understand their main difference. 

If you are Kibbe Soft Classic, you may want to look closer or deeper at your image ID to understand their unique accommodation.

That’s not a problem, though. In this article, we’ll help you have a better understanding of both these Kibbe body types in detail. 

Dramatic Classic Kibbe Body Type!

As the name suggests, dramatic classics are dominantly classics with a bit of drama and theatrics in their body type.

Kibbe refers to dramatic classics as the ‘tailored chic’ and for all good reasons. They slay clothes that are specially designed and stitched for their silhouette. 

“Chic” here refers to and enhances their dramatic undercurrent that’s subtly present in their bone structure.

Although DCs execute a professional aura around them, their Yang undercurrent benefits them with a certain edginess throughout their appearance.

So, they are classy but also fierce. 

If you call Soft classics ‘the graceful princess,’ Dramatic classics will definitely slay the term ‘Royal Queen.’

They execute power, poise, class, and royalty with an edgy, dominating fierceness. 

Physical characteristics of Kibbe Dramatic Classic body type

You want to first accommodate your classic body type and then polish your dramatic essence.

Their body and facial flesh are primarily classic, i.e., balanced with a slight undercurrent in their bone structure.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of their characteristics. 

You don’t have to synchronize with every trait DCs have; as long as you match their dominant characteristics, you are good to go!

It’s essential to note dramatic classics don’t have a lot of variation from their original Pure classic family.

Still, a changed bone structure can really create a newer persona and reflection of your overall body type.

So, although you may share many similarities with the pure classics, you will appear very different from them. 

Height— Moderate but slightly Yang

After Kibbe’s Dramatic and flamboyant naturals, dramatic classics are the only ones who accommodate the taller height.

They are not as tall as the dramatic/FNs but are still next in the queue.  

Dramatic Classic height in numbers: 5’7, but it can be slightly shorter or longer.

Height can be a great giver for DCs if your otherwise balanced body is taller with visible angularity— you are most probably a dramatic classic. 

Bone structure— Sharp Yang

Your bone structure is broad, edgy, sharp, angular, and pointed and may appear slightly elongated.

Because they accommodate shapes like squares, rectangles, and triangles, they may appear calmly dangerous and more refined than the pure classics or Soft Classics. 

• Facial structure: Prominent, highlighted, and high cheekbones, a visible slender that gives away an elongated face. Sharp, pointed, and chiselled or squarish jaw lines as if sculpted with preciseness. 

• Shoulders: A little broader than soft classics, but not overly sticking out with width like the Kibbe Naturals. Regardlessly, they are very much in proportion with the rest of the body silhouette. Their shoulders are not sloppy or blunt; they are very much angular, lean, muscular, and defined and may appear taut or toned. 

• Narrow frame: Slightly wide, but they appear slim overall. The body is elongated or stretched and thus may appear taller than it actually is!

• Elongated and broad limbs: Again, this wideness is subtly present, not overpowering the rest of the body. They have moderate to long limbs. So, moderate verticality is present in their torso, face, neck, and limbs. 

• Waist: Although they have a squarish or triangle torso, the flesh present in their body does allow a moderate waist definition. It’s not as prominent as the soft classics, but a slight dip in the waist is definitely present. 

Body flesh— Balanced

Unlike the dramatics, DCs do have a visible wrap of soft flesh over their bodies. It isn’t as highlighted as the romantics but isn’t wholly absent either.

It’s neither lean nor overly fleshy, just like the pure classics. 

For the same reasons, they don’t appear flat— they have subtle but visible bosoms and buttocks.

This is also why they have a slight waist definition on their body. 

This flesh is visible throughout their balanced body—their face, arms, thighs, breasts, and hips. 

• Thin waist
• Moderately fleshy limbs. 

Face Flesh— Balanced

Their faces appear fierce and classy because of their sharp bone structure. 

• Face Shape: Elongated square.
• Eyes: Usually large or moderate in size with a certain sharpness. 
• Cheeks: Uplifted cheekbones with subtle flesh.
• Jawlines: Chiseled jawlines. 

Dramatic Classic Outfits— how to style your Kibbe ID

It was ‘tailored chic’ back in the time. Today, a successful businesswoman would better complement individuals with a dramatic classic body type.

She’s successful, and she’s an icon. 

Unlike the calm gentleness of the soft classics, dramatic classics are calm, cunning, and calculative, like the ocean.

DCs don’t follow trends; they are inclined towards tailored outfits that are unique, rare, and not bulk-made. 

Defining your lines and shapes— Dramatic classic style

You accommodate straight and sleek verticality, so you want to choose outfits adorned with sharp geometry, clean and sleek lines, and a certain edginess to compliment your Yang undercurrent. 

So, tailored dress coats, blazers with defined shoulders, and hems would best suit your body type.

You want to emphasize the creases and lines of your body. 

You don’t want outfits that wrap your body to create a wave-like figure.

No, you accommodate squares and triangles in your body shape, so you should choose straight lines instead of waves in your silhouette. 

Highlight your shoulders

While your first focus is to enhance your classic essence, outlining your shoulders with sleek lines wouldn’t go against your dramatic classic body type. 

Your sleeves should be defined and straight, not sloped or curvy. 

In his original work, Kibbe said, ‘Shoulder pads are a must for DCs.’ However, that was back in the 80s. Shoulder pads have long left the fashion world. 

This doesn’t mean you wouldn’t be able to slay shoulder pads.

However, it’s alright if you don’t prefer them, but keeping your edges defined is necessary. 

Your shoulders would look beautiful in sleeveless shirts/tops. So, necklines such as halter or sleeveless turtlenecks will highlight your shoulders and collarbones profoundly. 

This doesn’t mean you cannot wear dresses/tops/blouses with sleeves— ¼ sleeves is a chef’s kiss in your wardrobe, but you don’t have to stop at that!

Full-length sleeves with sleek cuffs are good to go as well. 

Collars

After highlighting your straight and taut shoulders, collars are the second most important thing to enhance your classic Kibbe body type.

Some of the best collar choices for DCs would be:

• Symmetrical collars. 
• Massive collars. 
• Buttoned-up Mandarin collars. 
• Long collars that run down your chest will complement the edgy essence of your body type. 

Men’s wear— Dramatic Classic clothes

Men’s wear highly complements your overall persona, aura, and body type.

So, don’t shy away from including vests, blazer dresses, and pants in your wardrobe. 

• Dramatic classic Pants: Pants really bring out the best in you. They compliment your subtle verticality, lean body frame, dramatic undercurrent, and your primary classic body type. 

High-waisted and low-waisted pants both are equally perfect and will flatter your lithal body.

You want to have a good waist definition when choosing your wardrobe.

So, be sure to wear well-fitted pants; remember, you are tailored chic! 

This waist definition can also be attained using an oversized leather or cloth belt. 

It’s best to choose pants that hug your bottoms (hips) casually and then run down freely. Tight-fitted pants might kill your vibe.

You want to choose pants that are slightly loose, like what we saw men wear in the early 50s

The length of your pants should reach your feet instead of your ankles. This later should be complemented with pencil heels or formal chunky Chelsea. 

• Shirt: Nothing is sexier than a shirt on a dramatic classic body type. 

The dramatic classics are classy, but they are generally not someone who follows the rules. No, instead, they make their own rules! 

As a DC, don’t shy away from keeping your shirt’s buttons open up until your chest.

This small rebellious act highlights your sharp collarbone, shoulders, and narrow lithal body. 

• Vests: Vests are my current favourite— they are classy, rich, defined, and also edgy. 

Choose a length that reaches your hipline; it elongates your overall leggy body. 

• Blazers: blazers can never disappoint your dramatic classic body type.

They are everything a DC would ever need to compliment their body.

You can choose a long blazer or crop blazer without a doubt, and you will still slay the night! 

Skirts

Go for pencil skirts with slits— they will help you highlight your taut, elongated, and lean legs.

A short skirt wouldn’t affect your look either, but ¾ length would always be a better choice. 

Dramatic Classic Dresses

This doesn’t mean DCs cannot wear dresses. Satin, turtlenecks, long slits, and cowl necks are your bar when it comes to dresses. They are sharp and edgy but also elegant and classy. 

When choosing your colors, be sure not to entertain a lot of prints or ornate details.

You want to keep it simple, geometrical, and classy. Floral or polka will not compliment your overall wardrobe. 

With that in mind, don’t be afraid to try unconventional or unique necklines because they highlight your shoulders and dramatic essence.

Dramatic classic hair

Long and straight hair is just the right combination for dramatic classics.

Centre-parted and side-parted hair are strong choices as long as they are cleanly combed and gelled.

Your hair should shine and reflect light. Braids aren’t your game, but a sleek bun will slay your overall aura. 

This doesn’t mean dramatic classics cannot pull off short hair.

When cutting your hair short, keep them curly and bouncy but clean— imagine 60s short blonde curls like Marilyn Monroe‘s.

Another classic hairstyle for DCs is the 60s finger waves! I genuinely believe finger waves represent a dramatic classic body type perfectly. 

Dramatic Classic celebrities

• Polly Bergen
• Olivia Munn
• Phylicia Rashad
• Gena Rowlands
• Kiko Mizuhara
• Lee Hyori
• Courtney Cox

Soft Classic Kibbe

On the softer side, we have Pure Classics’ other sub-family— the Kibbe Soft Classic body type.

Adorned with a balanced figure, soft classics have a calm, elegant, and graceful energy. 

Moderation and balance greet SCs at every corner of the body.

While Soft Classic is first and foremost a classic, its yin undercurrent is also very much visible throughout the body.

Dramatic classics can be concluded as the queen of an empire. On the other hand, soft classics are proper, like the princess.

They are both identified as appropriate, disciplined, elegant, and classy.

The only difference is Dramatic classics are elegant with power, and soft classics are proper with gentleness.

With a moderate height, soft classics accommodate a balanced and curvy body.

This curve confuses many people into believing that SCs might be Romantics, Gamines, or Soft Natural.

This is also because their height is similar or closer to other Yin archetypes. 

Physical Characteristics of Soft Classic Kibbe body type

Soft classics’ body is slightly different from pure classics and utterly different from Dramatic classics.

The yin influence and moderate height allow soft classics to have a soft and curvy body. 

On the other hand, dramatic classics appear more muscular, lean, and narrow than SCs. 

• Soft Classics’ bone structure: Balanced.
• Body flesh: Yin 
• Face flesh: Yin. 

Bone structure— Balanced

Soft Classics’ bone structure is very much proportionate with the rest of the body— not a single characteristic looks out of order or frame.

When you look at their body, they harmonize wholly. Nothing stands out; nothing hides away. 

This balanced or moderate bone structure is very much visible in your height, width, limbs, and torso. They are all symmetrical, structural, and proper. 

• Soft Classic Height: Soft classics have a moderate height and reach up to 5″ 6. Please note dramatic classics are taller than soft classics. Here’s our first and prominent difference between SCs and DCs, but that’s not the only difference between them. 

• Facial structure: Unlike dramatic classics, soft classics combine softer and rounded features and a few chiseled details. This includes puffy cheeks on high cheekbones—a small but straighter nose. 

• Shoulders: Soft classics have a balanced shoulder. It doesn’t have a width like soft naturals, nor is it sloppy like the romantics. It’s balanced, proper, and in proportion with the rest of the body. 

Similarly, soft classics’ shoulders don’t appear as muscular and lean as the DCs. They are soft and delicate but well-defined. 

• Body frame: It’s neither wide like the romantics nor narrow like the dramatic classics. It’s balanced and symmetrical from left to right. The same goes for their limbs; they are neither short nor too long. Plus, their body doesn’t appear elongated or short either; it’s moderate. 

Body flesh— Yin

After height and bone structure, soft and dramatic classics also have different bodily flesh distribution.

Soft classics have a fleshier body distributed evenly throughout the body. 

This flesh is visible on their arms, thighs, bosom, buttocks, and face.

Because of their fleshy bodies and balanced torsos, soft classics accommodate a soft and visible curve. This curve can also help them attain an hourglass figure. 

So instead of muscular or lean, the soft Classic’s body type appears very soft and gentle.  

Soft Classic Face Flesh— Yin

Soft classics’ face is very chubby and fleshy. This undercurrent allows them to have fuller cheeks and lips, big doe eyes, and a small, rounded nose. 

Sometimes, you notice slight definitions in their jaws and nose, but it isn’t necessary. 

Soft Classic’s style guidelines— How to dress Soft Classic body type!

Your wardrobe should focus on being soft, gentle, elegant, and classy.

You want clothes that are classy but, at the same time, very delicate and royal.

Although in the same family, dramatic and soft classics are very different. This is also the reason why their style guideline is entirely opposite.

Your shape is round— Soft classic body type clothes

Choose clothes that do not have straight lines but rounded shapes. They will wrap your soft and subtle curve beautifully. 

Symmetry is your babe

Proper symmetry in your outfit will always make you shine in the room elegantly. 

Emphasize your waist

Your main accommodation is your curve, so ensure you define them beautifully.

High-waisted bottoms and crop tops/shirts are great choices. It also benefits your moderate height. 

Soft Classic bottoms

¾ pleated skirts signify your class and elegance. You want to add delicate and ornate details such as ruffles, frills, and bows when wearing short skirts. 

Bodycon is alright, but try to add a little airiness to your skirts. 

Light-weighted fabric

Your elegant body will shine in soft, airy fabrics, such as chiffon, georgette, satin, crepe, silk, etc. 

Soft classic dresses

You glow with airy, frilly ¾ dresses. It should have a waist definition but be breezy from the waist down. Choose soft and gentle prints while selecting your wardrobe.

Nude and light colors are beautiful choices, with delicate polka dots and small floral patterns. 

Necklines and sleeves. 

1/4th sleeves with frills are great. Here are other great suggestions: 

• Bell sleeves
• Kimono sleeves 
• ¾ sleeves
• Ornately detailed sleeves. 

Necklines

• Button-down shirts, keep the button open. 
• Gentle v-necklines. 

Other details for soft classic outfits:

Adding bows to your outfits brings out your true essence. You use cloth belts with big bows as a detail, along with bow hair ties.