u/drunk-reactor

Ever since I started getting into Kibbe body type analysis, I immediately classified myself as Soft Dramatic for being tall and curvy. The examples you usually see for that category are women like Monica Bellucci and Sophia Loren: very defined curves, a narrow waist, wider hips, and a very obvious hourglass shape. I automatically placed myself there.
The reason was also because, unfortunately, when it comes to the Flamboyant Natural category, the examples shown online are often very extreme: people with very broad shoulders, very narrow hips, almost no visible waist, and a very straight silhouette. Because of those examples, I never really felt like I belonged in FN. In fact, I think FN was probably the category I was most certain I wasn’t.
I spent a lot of time wondering if I was Soft Natural instead. I went back and forth between different categories so many times. But eventually, I started understanding what that open, broad upper-body structure actually means. It’s not necessarily about having a large bust or not. In my case, my chest area doesn’t project forward that much; it spreads more sideways, creating a wider appearance across my upper body.
I actually noticed this through clothing as well. I always felt like wide necklines didn’t look good on me. Whenever I wore something with a very open neckline, I felt like my upper body looked too exposed and empty. Instead, I always preferred halter necks, crew necks, and pieces that cover the front of the chest area more. Interestingly, those are usually not the first recommendations for Soft Dramatic. SD is often encouraged to wear more open necklines, especially V-necks that show more of the chest. But I never felt comfortable or balanced in those styles.
In general, I never really felt like Soft Dramatic clothing worked for me. I couldn’t make that style “click”. But now, when I look at myself in the mirror, I can genuinely see that I have more width than I used to notice. Yes, I am tall, but there is definitely a horizontal element to my frame.
My shoulders are genuinely broad. My shoulder bones create a wider, more substantial shape. And even though I have a defined waist, there is a widening effect above my waist. I can see that very clearly now. It feels like my waist looks small partly because my ribcage and shoulders create this broader structure above it.
With Soft Dramatic women, the waist often looks narrow because of the actual indentation of the waist itself — almost like there is still a lot of volume around the ribcage and bust area, and then the waist curves inward. For me, my upper body feels a little longer, more open, and more fluid. There is more of that FN “flow” rather than the sharper, more compact curve of SD. That softness and openness is what finally convinced me that FN actually makes sense for me.
Then I found some examples of FN women with defined waists, like Lynda Carter and suddenly I could see myself in them. There are definitely women in FN who are curvy, feminine, and have a noticeable waist. That helped me understand that FN doesn’t automatically mean a completely straight body with no curves.
Looking at the dresses I shared above, the first dress is actually very much my preferred style: fitted, feminine, and showing the shape of the body. But because the neckline is so open, I think it looks unbalanced on me. It highlights my hips and waist a lot, but it doesn’t give enough emphasis to my shoulders or upper body, so the proportions feel slightly off.
The second dress has a similar fitted silhouette, but because it is closed up to the neck, it creates much better balance on my body. I think it sits much more naturally on me and looks more harmonious.
Of course, FN recommendations usually lean towards flowy, relaxed, boho-inspired styles. But honestly, I don’t think I look my best in extremely oversized or loose clothing. I prefer pieces that follow my body shape while still balancing my shoulders and hips.
The third dress is actually a very FN-friendly style: short, showing the legs, and creating that long-leg effect. But again, I chose a version that covers the upper chest area rather than having thin straps and a very open neckline. That creates balance because while my legs are exposed, my upper body doesn’t become too visually open.
If I wore a very thin-strapped dress with a low neckline, I feel like my shoulders would become too dominant and the proportions would look less balanced.
For the last outfit, I wore flared trousers with a slightly lower rise — not extremely low, but definitely not high-waisted. The top has thin straps, but because the neckline isn’t too open and the top comes higher up, it still balances my proportions. I think that outfit made me look much slimmer, taller, and more proportionate.
I also think flared trousers are one of the best pieces for FN. At least on me, they look amazing. Skinny jeans, for example, don’t really work that well on my body. But wide-leg trousers and flared pants create much better harmony with my frame.
I would love to hear your thoughts on this topic as well.