Flamboyant Natural Shopping Guide: Head to Toe

This article will show you a Flamboyant Natural shopping guide — from casual to formal outfits, accessories, makeup, and coloring.

Not sure how a pure Flamboyant Natural looks like? This article will show you with pictures and examples. It will also show you the styling principles.

The following were taken from the book Metamorphosis by David Kibbe, the image professional who created the Kibbe system.

1. Dresses

Flamboyant Naturals’ dresses should be sweeping. Broad shoulders and an elongated waist (usually dropped) are best. They are relaxed in outline and shape, and may be either very narrow and slinky or wide and full cut. Shirring, draping, appliqué, etc., should be kept low and executed in bold, abstract patterns.

Avoid:

• fussy trim
• severely tailored dresses
• flouncy dresses with excess detail and ornate
• overly fitted dresses with crisp or animated detail

2. Separates

Separates are extremely exciting on you and should make up the bulk of your wardrobe. A mix-and-match effect is excellent, but be careful always to maintain an elongated vertical line with strong shoulders as the basis of your ensemble. Artfully mixing textures is especially effective.

3. Jackets and blazers

Jackets and blazers should be long, unconstructed, and loose. Relaxed cuts with broad padded shoulders are best. Length should be from the top of the thigh down (never shorter). Simple, oversized detail is best: large lapels or no lapels, big roomy pockets, easy double-breasted styles (worn open).

Avoid:

• flouncy jackets
• cropped, fitted jackets
• severely tailored jackets
• symmetrical tailored jackets

4. Skirts

Skirts should be long and straight but not severe. Oversized and full skirts with deep folds are possible, as long as they are extreme, wide in shape, and worn with big tops. Short, straight skirts are fun and funky — again, worn with oversized tops.

Slits, pockets, kick pleats, buttons, plackets, etc., are good, but any draping or shirring should be kept low and loose (from the hips down), and no detail should ever inhibit mobility.

Hemlines are longish on straight skirts (except for funky minis, etc.), and should fall at the top of the calf or longer. Hemlines on full skirts are uneven and should be very long (bottom of the calf is the minimum length).

Avoid:

• flouncy styles
• smooth, flared styles
• long, pencil-slim styles
• short, symmetrical styles

5. Pants

Pants should be roomy and full. Man-tailored styles that are slightly wide and relaxed in construction. Deep pleats, full pockets, and wide, soft cuffs are excellent detail, as are pocket-flaps and plackets. Satiny evening pants that are wide and full are also excellent.

Avoid:

• sharply tailored and fitted pants
• overly draped pants with tapered legs

6. Tops and blouses

Blouses should be roomy and full with simple detail and relaxed construction. Wide and horizontal cuts with clean necklines that are unrestricted are best. Camisoles are very useful under jackets.

Avoid:

• overly fitted blouses
• severely tailored blouses
• blouses with high, stiff, or constricted necklines
• overly ornate blouses with intricate or fussy detail

7. Sweaters

Flamboyant Naturals’ sweaters should be long, roomy, and boldly cut. Thick, heavy, rough, or ultraplush knits are best. Long-haired or shaggy knits are also good. Patterns should be bold and oversized. Skinny knits should be extremely oversized. Lastly, look for sweaters that accommodate your broad shoulders.

Avoid:

• fluffy knits
• cropped sweaters
• lightweight, clingy knits
• symmetrical, fitted styles such as crew-necked shetlands

8. Evening wear

Bold shapes with sweeping lines. Shoulder emphasis. Easy necklines. Bold prints. Glitzy fabric. Smooth fabric. Slightly plush fabric. Ultradrapable fabric (matte, jersey, etc.). Either minimal detail or bold, broad detail.

The following are the most flattering evening wear designs for a Flamboyant Natural:

• evening caftans
• evening sarongs
• bare gowns with bold jewelry
• evening sweater dress with glitz
• Broad-shouldered gowns with dropped waists
• widely cut, unconstructed gowns of draped fabric (matte jersey, silk, etc.)
• evening pants ensemble (long, bed jackets with wide legged satin pajama pants, etc.)

9. Shoes

Flamboyant Naturals’ shoes should be tailored and angular, but have soft edges instead of sharp ones. Flats can be clean and simple or man-tailored and slightly funky. Evening sandals should be very bare.

Avoid:

• overly delicate, strappy, and intricate shoes with trim
• plain pumps

10. Bags

Your bags should be large and unconstructed or large and cleanly tailored. Metallic, box-shaped bags are excellent for evening. Briefcases should be moderate width to elegantly narrow, and have firm construction.

Avoid:

• small, rounded bags with delicate shoulder straps or ornate trim
• symmetrical bags with a frame and handle

11. Belts

Belts should be original and unique: sashes, ties, metallics, ropes, etc. Wide belts with extremely bold buckles (hand-carved, asymmetric, etc.) are possible.

Avoid:

• small, symmetrical belts
• antique, intricate belts

12. Hats

Your hats should be oversized, bold, and unconstructed. Fur hats should be large and shaggy.

Avoid:

• severe, man-tailored styles
• small, ornate styles
• crisp, perky caps

13. Hosiery

A flesh-toned stocking is your best bet for daytime, suited looks. Colored stockings are funky on you and give a wild, free, casual effect. Ribbed stockings, all textures, and vivid opaque colors are all excellent for fun.

To retain your strong vertical silhouette, be sure to pick up the stocking color elsewhere in your outfit and accessories when you use the “bright leg” look. Dark, sheer stockings are sexy in the evening on you, but they can seem overpowering during the day.

Likewise, a “light leg” where the stocking and shoe are one or two shades lighter than the skirt can be elegant in a very special outfit (very “garden party”). But it can be too fussy for everyday wear, as it will be too matronly on you.

14. Jewelry

Your jewelry is one of the most important elements of your entire look. It shows your sophistication as well as giving you the chance to express your creativity. Bold, heavy pieces are essential to you. Chunky shapes that are thick, rough, or asymmetric are always necessary.

“Wearable art” that looks as if you picked it up at an expensive gallery, or on a journey overseas, is excellent. (Anything that seems as though it was designed by an artist, or creatively crafted, falls into this category as well.)

Your version of conservative jewelry is thick and chunky metal in irregular shapes or soft-edged geometrics. Your version of glamorous jewelry is wildly executed “faux jewel” pieces — very sophisticated works of art.

Funky costume jewelry is fun for you, but it’s for your casual look. Just remember to keep it big and bold.

Avoid:

• ornate, intricate jewelry
• delicate, antique jewelry
• sharp-edged geometrics
• small, symmetrical pieces
• “no jewelry” or minimal look

15. Hair

Hair should always be loose, relaxed, and free. A tousled effect is best, so layering is always called for. If your hair is ultrafine, thin, and wispy, you look best with a shortish cut that is layered around the face to create the illusion of volume.

The outline is geometric, but the edges are softened by the layering. If your hair is thick, you can opt for a wilder, “lion’s mane” effect, if you wish, but layering is still important.

Avoid:

• smooth, sleek styles
• all severe geometrics
• boyishly cropped cuts
• blunt-edged symmetrical cuts
• overly ornate, teased, or coiffed hair

16. Haircolor

Your haircolor should be rich and vibrant, in keeping with your free-spirited freshness! If you choose artificial coloring, keep the base of your hair very close to your original shade. Streaks and highlights are generally best, for they give you more of that “outdoorsy” glow.

Be careful with lightening the hair. Anything designed to “soften” the color is going to be very dull and aging on you. If you are extremely bold, you could opt for bold, dramatic streaks, giving you a lynx-cat look. This is very extreme, however; don’t do it unless you are prepared to carry off the flamboyant theatrically in your everyday life.

Avoid:

• excess lightening of the hair
• softening of your natural color
• extremely artificial shades (blue black hair, platinum, or brassy yellow-blond, fiery red, etc.)

17. Makeup

Your makeup is the finishing touch for your look, providing the final bit of sophistication and the slightly exotic air for which you are famous.

Emphasize your strong bone structure and features with strongly accented cheekbones and a deep or bright lipstick. Exotic eyes with a touch of color (even a little sheer frost) will bring in the hint of drama that spells elegance on you. In the evening, you can go much more heavily into opaque frosts if you wish.

Also, always keep your lips sheer and glossy, even though you are using a strong color for the base. Blot, then coat with heavy gloss.

Avoid:

• overly smoky makeup (too stark on you)
• overly ornate makeup (too unsophisticated on you)
• no makeup or minimal effect (too tiring and aging on you)
• neutrals, without a hint of colorful makeup (too dull and cold on you)
• overly pastel makeup — especially a too-light lipcolor (too matronly on you)

Flamboyant Natural Shopping Guide & Styling Principles

Shape

Bold geometrics with rounded edges. Oversized asymmetrics with rounded edges. Rectangles, oblongs, and irregular shapes

Avoid:

• symmetrical shapes
• sharp-edged geometrics
• ornate and intricate shapes

Line and silhouette

Unconstructed silhouettes. Bold, sweeping lines — elongated and straight. Relaxed, unconstructed outlines. Strong vertical and horizontal lines (T-shaped).

Avoid:

• sharp, severe, or still silhouettes (Gamine)
• intricate, delicate lines (Romantic)
• hourglass silhouettes (Romantic)
• symmetrical silhouettes (Classic)
• sharply straight lines (Dramatic)

Fabric

Texture, in all weights, from every light to very heavy, is the most exciting way to express yourself through fabric. A rough surface is always preferable to a flat surface.

Very shiny fabrics are excellent for evening, if the weight is kept to the heavy side (stiff satins, brocades, metallics, etc.). Daytime sheen should be in texture only (raw silk, shantung, etc.).

All leathers, suedes, and plus fabrics are excellent. Draped fabrics must be ultrathick and heavy. Knits should be thick, rough, bulky, heavy, or ultraplush. Skinny and ribbed knits are possible in oversized garments. Loosely woven fabrics.

Avoid:

• stiff, flat fabrics
• tightly woven fabrics
• delicate, shiny fabrics
• ultrasheer, flimsy, or clingy fabric

Detail

• Detail should be bold, oversized, irregular, asymmetric, and relaxed.
• Shoulders should always be broad and extended, but not particularly sharp (blunt)
• Necklines should be loose and open, always unconfined (boatnecks, camisoles, simple slashes, oversized cowls, open notched collars, etc.).
• Waist should be elongated. A dropped waist does this best, although a “bloused-over” effect at the waist is also possible.

Be very careful with waist emphasis! It is rarely helpful to you, even if your waist is small, because it destroys the strong, vertical line that is the core of your silhouette.

• Gathers, folds, sashes, etc., should be ultradeep and long — asymmetrical in shape, and low on the body — preferably from the hips down.
• Sleeves should be simple and straight, or very full and sweeping. They should always be unrestrictive to movement.
• Pleats should be soft, low, and deep (inverted or kick-style, or stitched down through the midsection.
• Trim should be bold, oversized, and asymmetrical or clean and minimal.

Avoid:

• severe detail
• sharp, tailored detail
• ornate, intricate detail
• small, symmetrical detail
• animated, “cute” detail (perky and crisp)

Accessories

Flamboyant Naturals’ accessories should be bold and angular with soft edges.

Color

Your use of color should be bold and vivid, with rich, vibrant tones the most exciting intensities for you. Wild and unusual color combinations express your free spirit most effectively, although rich neutrals in those lush textures you wear so well are also nice, particularly if you use vivid accents.

Monochromatic schemes tend to be a little dull on you, although you may want to go with one major color that is accented by another bright shade.

Avoid:

• multicolored splashes (too perky for you)
• monochromatic schemes without vivid accessories
• dull colors unless they are executed in rich textures

Prints

Flamboyant Naturals’ prints should be bold and vivid, expressed in abstract geometrics, irregular shapes, or soft-edged asymmetrics. They should also have a blended edge as opposed to a sharp edge.

Color combinations should be dramatically vivid, but the colors should fade into each other instead of being crisply defined. Wild animal prints, tropical prints, and any highly original motif that is both sophisticated and earthy, with a touch of wit, may all be used with ease.

Avoid:

• sharp geometrics
• watercolor florals
• small, animated prints
• intricate or ornate prints
• small, symmetrical prints