Everything You Should Know About the Romantic Kibbe Body Type

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Embrace your feminine curves with style, hair, and makeup tips

Co-authored by Kalee Hewlett and Sophie Burkholder, BA

Last Updated: July 22, 2024 Fact Checked

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What is a Kibbe Romantic?

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Physical Characteristics

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Clothes & Styling

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Hair & Makeup

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Find Your Kibbe Body Type

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Video

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Tips

If you’re a Romantic Kibbe type, you’re in good company! Joining the likes of Marilyn Monroe, Beyoncè, and Christina Hendricks, the Romantic body type is all about softness, curves, and femininity. With the help of professional stylists Kalee Hewlett and Christina Santelli, we’ll give you everything you need to know about what a Romantic body type is and how to dress to embrace your feminine and voluptuous shape.

Kibbe Romantic Body Type

The Romantic body type is an hourglass defined by rounded shapes, delicate facial features, and the absence of sharpness and angularity. Romantics look best in soft and flowy silhouettes that define their waist, cropped tops, and high-waisted pants that hug their curves.

Section 1 of 5:

What is the Romantic Kibbe body type?

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The Romantic body type is an hourglass shape with petite and rounded features. The Romantic is one of the 13 body types defined by David Kibbe. According to Kibbe body types, each person’s shape falls on a spectrum from yin (softer and more delicate) to yang (sharper and more angular).^{[1]
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Research source} The Romantic type is the most yin of all the body types and is largely seen as the most stereotypically feminine or “bombshell” shape.
- Romantics have a small bone structure with full breasts, defined waists, and rounded shoulders and hips—this hourglass-like proportion stays consistent regardless of weight changes.
- Celebrity examples of pure Romantics include Beyoncé, Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, Madonna, Drew Barrymore, Helena Bonham Carter, Emilia Clarke, Christina Ricci, Elvis Presley, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Zac Efron.^{[2]
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- Theatrical Romantics are a subset of Romantics, but they have a slight yang undercurrent and sharper features in some areas where Romantics have only softness.^{[3]
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- Romantics are also sometimes confused with Soft Naturals, who have broader, thicker, and more angular bone structures than Romantics.

Section 2 of 5:

Characteristics of a Romantic Kibbe Type

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Romantics have a petite body structure with soft and rounded features. Often described as voluptuous or fleshy, the Romantic body composition is very delicate and generally looks short and wide (regardless of the actual height or weight of the individual). Every feature is extremely rounded and soft, and there are no hints of angularity, sharpness, or length.^{[4]
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Research source} Here's a full list of Romantic body characteristics:
- Height: Short or average height (no taller than 167 cm or 5’6”).
- Vertical lines: Very short vertical lines—may appear shorter than they actually are.
- Body type: Hourglass, regardless of the weight-to-height ratio. Pear shape is also possible.
- Shoulders: Sloped shoulders with rounded edges, often strong and full.
- Arms and legs: Short arms and legs in comparison to height and torso length.
- Hands and feet: Small and delicate hands and feet, whether narrow or wide.
- Bust: Full and rounded bust, especially in comparison to the waist.
- Waist: Narrow and very clearly defined.
- Hips: Curvy and rounded, especially in comparison to the waist.
- Forearms: Short and full, always slightly rounded.
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Romantics have delicate but full facial features. Romantics are considered the image of traditional feminine beauty, meaning that their features are delicate and small while also being full and rounded.^{[5]
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Research source} Their features are typically well-proportioned with the cheeks and lips often being most prominent.^{[6]
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Research source} Here's a full list of Romantic facial characteristics:
- Jaw: Delicate with soft lines. Round or slightly tapered, sometimes wide.
- Nose: Delicately outlines with soft lines, sometimes wide.
- Cheekbones: Delicate and rounded, not very defined.
- Eyes: Large or medium-sized and often rounded.
- Lips: Full and rounded, sometimes in a pouted shape.
- Cheeks: Delicate and rounded, regardless of weight.
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Romantics do not have sharp, long, or narrow features. The Romantic body type has absolutely no yang essence (if it did, that might make it a Theatrical Romantic type). The absence of yang means that the Romantic shape will never have:^{[7]
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- Sharp or wide shoulders
- Very lean limbs without fleshiness
- A very long bone structure
- Straight and narrow hips

Section 3 of 5:

Clothes & Styling for the Romantic Kibbe Type

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Overall Shape & Dressing Lines When putting together an outfit, choose soft and round lines throughout your look.^{[8]
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Research source} Opt for clothing items that are both fitted and flowy—like a drapey dress with a well-defined waist. Round necklines are best, and ornate details like ruffles or ruching can add a touch of softness to your look.
- In general, you want to highlight your hourglass shape as a Romantic (which is why waist definition is so important). Keep that goal in mind whenever you’re picking out clothing options and putting together outfits.
- To enhance the hourglass shape, Hewlett recommends wearing “lots of form-fitting styles and accentuating the shoulders and waist…to give yourself a more exaggerated curve.”
- However, you may feel more comfortable choosing one part of your body to accentuate, adds Santelli. Ask yourself, “'What curves do you want to highlight?' Then highlight that and be conservative everywhere else.”
- “Every woman has a part of their body, curves-wise, that they love,” continues Santelli. “Whether you have…a great butt or you have a nice chest, stick with whatever you feel comfortable or confident in” and highlight that.”
Look for tops that are fitted with waist definition and that have draped or rounded necklines. A heart-shaped neckline also looks great on the Romantic figure, and strapless tops will complement the roundness of your shape. Try a corset-style top or an off-the-shoulder blouse with flower appliques or ruffled sleeves.^{[9]
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Wear high-waisted pants that accentuate your waist and the fullness of your hips. Choose between styles like skinny jeans, mom jeans, and pants that are fitted at the hip but straight leg at the bottom. For a more professional look, opt for straight-leg, high-waisted pants that have a slight pleat.^{[10]
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Choose a mid-length skirt that ends slightly above or slightly below the knee. Wear skirts that are slightly fitted at the waist and hips but are gently draped throughout the rest of your silhouette. This style will accentuate your curves while also enhancing the softness of your shape. Tulip, wrap, and flounce skirts are all excellent choices!^{[11]
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Wear feminine styles that have flowy skirts with an emphasis on the waist.^{[12]
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Research source} A mid-length or knee-length hem works well for the Romantic body type, as does an off-the-shoulder neckline. Look for dresses with ornate and draped details, including delicate lace, ruffles, and fabric gathers.^{[13]
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Play up the natural femininity of your Romantic body type with soft and fluffy sweaters. Choose knits that are lightweight and delicate, and if you need something warmer, go for plush and fuzzy materials. In terms of shape, cropped sweaters that highlight your natural waist are a must!^{[14]
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Look for outerwear with rounded lapels to complement the round and soft nature of your face and shoulders. As always with the Romantic body type, stick with coats and jackets that highlight your waist. Cropped jackets and blazers or those that come with belts will provide waist emphasis while still keeping you cozy.
Wear rounded shoes or shoes with a tapered point to continue the round lines of your body all the way down to your toes! Choose shoes that have an overall delicate look, especially if they have thin straps, intricate details, or feminine ornaments. “High heels always give a sexy, feminine finish to any look,” adds Hewlett, so go for a strappy pair of heels if you want to up the feminine factor of your outfit.
Choose ornamented accessories that have delicate details like bows, lace, and thin buckles or straps. Go for purses and jewelry that have rounded edges and shapes.^{[15]
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Research source} If you’re not sure, shiny details and classic pearls almost always suit a Romantic body type.
Wear fabrics that are soft, delicate, and lightweight. You want the materials you wear to drape easily and highlight the curvature of your body.^{[16]
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Research source} Sheer finishes also complement your Romantic body type and enhance the softness and femininity of your overall look.
Find clothing and accessories with subtle feminine patterns, as overly busy or loud prints may overwhelm and clash with the softness of your Kibbe type. Try small and delicate flower prints, rounded patterns like polka dots, or pastel-colored watercolor prints.^{[17]
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Section 4 of 5:

Hair & Makeup for the Romantic Kibbe Type

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Wear your hair in soft and timeless styles. One of the go-to hair looks for Romantics is a waterfall of soft, large curls throughout the hair. However, any look that’s sophisticated and classic will look good with your Romantic type, including a low-bun updo with wispy face-framing layers. Keep your hair color natural or blend soft highlights into your natural hue.^{[18]
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- Medium-length hair is often recommended for Romantics, but you can really wear your hair at whatever length that you like best.
- Keep in mind that not all of these hairstyles will look good on every Romantic person. Faces have a lot of variety, and each suits its own style.
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Accentuate your lips and wear soft, smokey face makeup. Wear a shiny lipstick, lip gloss, or bold lip stain to show off your full lips (Hewlett recommends a glamorous red lip). Wear soft and blurry eyeshadow in light colors like champagne, pink, and warm brown—for a more glam look, do a smokey eye with soft and shimmery colors.
- Like hairstyles, a lot of other factors go into the makeup looks that work for your face. Some people feel comfortable in bolder styles, while others may feel their best in softer looks. Customize these guidelines for your personal features and aesthetic!

Section 5 of 5:

What Kibbe body type are you?

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If you’re not sure that you’re a Romantic, you can take a quiz to find out. Take wikiHow's Kibbe Body Type Test to see what your Kibbe type is in just a few minutes. If your result doesn’t resonate with you, read through a full guide to Kibbe body types and find the type that sounds the most like you:^{[19]
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- Dramatic: Tall with fully angular, sharp, and sleek features, e.g., Tilda Swinton, Keira Knightley.
- Soft Dramatic: Angular bones with a round hourglass figure, e.g., Tyra Banks, Sophia Loren.
- Flamboyant Natural: Long, wide lines with blunt edges and a broad frame, e.g., Princess Diana, Michelle Obama.
- Natural: Straight and athletic bone structure with blunt edges, e.g., Ali MacGraw, Jennifer Aniston.
- Soft Natural: Straight and angular shape with soft curves, e.g., Jada Pinkett Smith, Molly Ringwald.
- Dramatic Classic: Balanced and symmetrical with slightly angular features, e.g., Diane Kruger, Olivia Wilde.
- Classic: Perfectly balanced and symmetrical, e.g., Grace Kelly, Cybill Shepherd.
- Soft Classic: Balanced and symmetrical with slightly rounded features, e.g., Meryl Streep, Marion Cotillard.
- Flamboyant Gamine: Balanced in a petite frame with one exaggerated feature, e.g., Audrey Hepburn, Penelope Cruz.
- Gamine: Petite and narrow frame with full and round facial features, e.g., Mia Farrow, Emma Watson.
- Soft Gamine: Broad and angular bone structure with delicate facial features, e.g., Bette Davis, Jenna Coleman.
- Theatrical Romantic: Soft and delicate body type with broad and sharp facial features, e.g., Rihanna, Hedy Lamar.
- Romantic: Soft, rounded, curvy features within a short and wide frame, e.g., Marilyn Monroe, Beyoncé.
David Kibbe, Creator, Kibbe Body Types

The Kibbe body types were designed to help women develop their style. "Style is a journey. It’s a journey you should go on your entire life, but you also have to learn technique. I wanted to give women techniques to understand how their bodies are."

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If you’re a romantic but don’t like the recommended clothing style, that’s okay! You can try following the structure of these outfits but switching up the details, colors, and patterns. Or, you can just dress however you want! The Kibbe typing system is meant to help you accentuate your natural shape, but it’s completely fine to dress in what you like wearing.

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