Think Like An Artist: Capsule-ish Wardrobe Edition (pt 1)

If you have been getting targeted on social media for the trending themes of Color Analysis, Kibbe Body Types, choosing your 4 style words, and/or style recipes then this post is for you. I’m going to be creating a capsule wardrobe, a collection of essential clothing items that can be mixed and matched to create a variety of outfits, making it easy to get dressed quickly and confidently. However, I like the way that Kristine Fernandez creates her wardrobe. She has a main capsule and then additional pieces that are statement pieces that are not a versatile. I think that still allows for fun and creativity in your closet. In one of my design concept courses, we learned about how to brainstorm new ideas by taking four things that exist in the world, mashing them together, and creating something unique. It is basically the same concept from Justin Kleon’s Steal Like An Arist because like he said, “If we're free from the burden of trying to be completely original, we can stop trying to make something out of nothing, and we can embrace influence instead of running away from it.”

So let’s break down the four influences:

Using Color Analysis for your color palette. Color Analysis is a process of determining which colors are most flattering for an individual based on their skin tone, hair color, and eye color. By identifying your own unique color palette, you can choose clothing and accessories that enhance your natural features and make you look your best.

Determine your season. The first step in creating a capsule wardrobe with color analysis principles is to determine your season. There are twelve seasons you could fall into Bright Spring, True Spring, Light Spring, Light Summer, True Summer, Soft Summer, Soft Autumn, True Autumn, Dark Autumn, Dark Winter, True Winter, and Bright Winter.

Choose your palette. Once you have determined your season, it's time to choose your color palette. Your base colors should be versatile and easy to mix and match with other items in your wardrobe. These colors will form the foundation of your capsule wardrobe. My favorite resource I found for seasonal color palettes is dream wardrobe. Just click on your season and scroll through the entire page to find resources for makeup, recommended color combinations using color theory (contrast, analogous, neutrals, etc.), and my personal favorite is the color palette that has base colors, neutrals, and accent colors. The example here is true spring and I love it.

Using Kibbe Body Types for fit. Kibbe body types are a set of thirteen body types that were identified by David Kibbe, a fashion and image consultant. Kibbe believed that each person's body has a unique combination of yin (soft, curved, and feminine) and yang (angular, strong, and masculine) features, and that understanding these features can help individuals dress in a way that highlights their best features and makes them feel confident. I still have so much to learn when it come to the body types, and am still trying to figure out where exactly I land. There are tons of resources to help you determine yours like this video and I would also highly recommend Ellie Jean-Royden.

Here are the thirteen Kibbe body types:

1. Theatrical Romantic - small, delicate bone structure with softly curved body lines and lush, feminine features.

2. Romantic - rounded and softly curved, with a short-to-medium height and a gentle, delicate bone structure.

3. Soft Classic - softly angular, with a medium height, moderate bone structure, and gently curved body lines.

4. Classic - symmetrical and balanced, with a moderate height and a medium bone structure.

5. Flamboyant Natural - tall and ruggedly athletic, with an angular, elongated bone structure and broad shoulders.

6. Natural - strong and rugged, with an athletic build, a straight bone structure, and angular features.

7. Soft Natural - softly angular, with a medium-to-tall height, a slightly curved bone structure, and a toned, athletic build.

8. Dramatic - long, lean, and angular, with a long bone structure and a pronounced vertical line.

9. Flamboyant Gamine - short, sharp, and angular, with an exaggerated bone structure and a bold, lively presence.

10. Gamine - small and compact, with a short-to-medium height, an angular bone structure, and a youthful, spunky presence.

11. Soft Gamine - softly angular, with a small-to-medium height, a slightly curved bone structure, and a lively, impish presence.

12. Theatrical - tall and elongated, with an angular, exaggerated bone structure and a bold, dramatic presence.

13. Ingenue - delicate and petite, with a slight, softly curved bone structure and a youthful, innocent presence.

Each Kibbe body type has specific recommendations for clothing fit, hair styles, and makeup application that will help in developing your personal style and feeling confident in your appearance.

Using Four Words for styling your outfits. There is a woman who is the best resource for choosing your four words to help you determine your style and help you put together outfits that feel like you. Her name is Orly Shani. I found her through TikTok but you can also find her on Instagram because she does helpful videos with her tips and tricks for unlocking you Style Language. She basically says that everyone’s style can be described in three to four words. I linked the three videos that helped me most when choosing my words. Watch videos one, two, and three to start.

Using Style Recipes for purchasing new items. This is an idea I found through Payton Dale. I did exactly what she said and I narrowed down my favorite style pins to just twenty and saved them to a separate board keeping in mind my four style words I put together earlier. Then I went back through my board and figured out the items I have already then wrote a shopping list of the items missing from my closet.

I hope you found these resources helpful and maybe even started to work on your own closet. I’ll come back soon for a part two when I start putting together all the pieces for my closet.