HAUTE ÉLÉGANTE
Soft Classic
The Soft Classic is a balanced Classic with a pronounced Romantic influence. This type retains the elegance and symmetry of the Pure Classic but is also influenced by additional Yin, which adds restrained femininity and refinement to the look.
Rounded, delicate facial features and soft contours combine with a refined body structure.
This is a calm, noble type of beauty, which David Kibbe called "Graceful Lady".
Rounded, delicate facial features and soft contours combine with a refined body structure.
This is a calm, noble type of beauty, which David Kibbe called "Graceful Lady".
Face
The Soft Classic’s features are more noticeably influenced by Yin. They are symmetrical, evenly spaced, and not exotic—large eyes, soft cheeks, full lips. If weight is gained, the face may become quite full.
Bone Structure
Height: Short to moderate—168 cm (5'6") or below.
The bone structure is straight and slightly delicate—a balance between Yang and extreme Yin. It can also be small and slightly wide but never large or angular. Soft Classics have a symmetrical body with soft or slightly rounded edges.
The bone structure is straight and slightly delicate—a balance between Yang and extreme Yin. It can also be small and slightly wide but never large or angular. Soft Classics have a symmetrical body with soft or slightly rounded edges.
- Shoulders are tapered or slightly sloping.
- Hands and feet are typically small to medium, slightly wide.
- Arms and legs are moderately short in proportion to height.
- Facial bones (nose, cheekbones, chin) are small and wide.
Body Line
The Soft Classic’s figure is slightly rounded with a tendency toward softness—gentle arms, upper thighs, and stomach. Balanced bust-waist-hips proportions. The waist may be slightly high.
When weight is gained, the body becomes proportionally softer, with the waist being the first area to fill out.
When weight is gained, the body becomes proportionally softer, with the waist being the first area to fill out.
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Based on those in David Kibbe's 1987 book Metamorphosis
Brief recommendations
The Soft Classic's dress form should echo the lines of the body: flowing, softly flowing, symmetrical, clean and uninterrupted.
— Graceful Lady
David Kibbe
The author of Metamorphoses
Silhouette
Silhouette lines gently expand in the lower half of the figure, forming an elegant curl. In this Soft Classic will help draperies: flat, horizontal or diagonal.
Soft Classic is advised to avoid any extravagant silhouettes:
- Excessively stiff and fitted, strict geometric silhouettes
- Wide, oversized silhouettes
- Elaborate and overly embellished silhouettes
Hairstyle
Hair that is well-groomed, elegantly styled, smooth and soft will help bring out the full beauty of your face. An elegant clean contour with wavy edges is preferred.
Moderate curls and sophisticated waves are a great styling option.
Both straight haircuts and sophisticated layered haircuts framing the face will suit you. Hair lengths range from medium to long:
Moderate curls and sophisticated waves are a great styling option.
Both straight haircuts and sophisticated layered haircuts framing the face will suit you. Hair lengths range from medium to long:
Soft Classic is best avoided:
- Rigid geometric haircuts
- Elaborate comb-overs and styles
- Sloppy hair
- Short boyish haircuts
Hair coloring
The hair color of Soft Classics should be soft and luxurious. You should not stray far from your natural color, it is better to choose the most realistic, natural shades, with soft and easy transitions of color between individual strands.
Soft Classic should not color hair in unnatural shades (blue-black, bright red, platinum) and refrain from brightly highlighting individual strands:
Makeup
Makeup is extremely important for Soft Classics. The main rule in its application is balance.
For the eye area, eyebrows and cheekbones and cheeks with lips it is worth choosing moderately bright colors. Shades for shadows, blush and lipstick are better to choose from soft to bright. Touched up to a soft watercolor effect, they will create an elegant, delicate feminine face. A bit of gloss around the eyes in a color palette that suits you and some lip gloss will bring the Soft Classic look to perfection.
For the eye area, eyebrows and cheekbones and cheeks with lips it is worth choosing moderately bright colors. Shades for shadows, blush and lipstick are better to choose from soft to bright. Touched up to a soft watercolor effect, they will create an elegant, delicate feminine face. A bit of gloss around the eyes in a color palette that suits you and some lip gloss will bring the Soft Classic look to perfection.
Soft Classics are recommended to avoid:
- Heavy contours with sharp angles
- Minimal makeup
- Overly shiny makeup
Dresses
Refined, flowing, elegant. Soft details with a hint of complexity, draping.
! Avoid: austere dresses; loose, shapeless dresses; flamboyant tight dresses with too much detail.
- Flared dresses, with a highlighted waist.
- Tight-fitting dresses with undersized waists.
- Evening dresses with symmetrical flowing shapes.
- Richly embellished details in small quantities, elegant trim. Light, draped, transparent slightly shiny, smooth fabrics.
! Avoid: austere dresses; loose, shapeless dresses; flamboyant tight dresses with too much detail.
Jackets
Smooth cuts that delicately show off your curves, with understated details and tapered sleeves. Shoulders are neatly emphasized with clearly defined shoulder pads or gathers and pleats.
! Avoid: sharp angular and stiff jackets; loose, shapeless jackets; shortened bold and stiff jackets; flamboyant jackets, jackets with ruffles and excessive trim.
- Long jackets with a belt.
- The length of classic jackets is short to medium.
! Avoid: sharp angular and stiff jackets; loose, shapeless jackets; shortened bold and stiff jackets; flamboyant jackets, jackets with ruffles and excessive trim.
Skirts
Smoothly flowing, with a slight fit or soft pleats sewn at the hips.
Flared skirts, with irregular, softly flowing hem, up to the middle of the calf.
! Avoid: long austere skirts, spacious, shapeless skirts, puffy or too tight skirts, with too much detail.
Flared skirts, with irregular, softly flowing hem, up to the middle of the calf.
- Straight skirts made of light fabric, slightly tapered to the hem.
- Straight short skirts, no longer than 3 cm below the knee.
- The slits in classic skirts are small and elegant.
! Avoid: long austere skirts, spacious, shapeless skirts, puffy or too tight skirts, with too much detail.
Bags
Small to medium size, made of soft leather, with slight trimming (pleats, shirring).
- Elegant bags with a rounded shape.
- Medium and small size clutches with elegant lock.
Coats, jackets and outerwear
- Smooth, elegant, moderately fitted, feminine silhouette.
- Soft, flowing, and easy-to-fit high quality fabrics of light to moderate weight.
- Pastel and moderately bright colors, soft monochromatic color combinations.
- Soft, flowing, watercolor prints in rounded shapes.
- Moderate, smooth and symmetrical details in rounded shapes.
Sweaters
Soft and smooth, short to medium length, with softened intricate details (appliques, beading, shirring).
Lightweight knitwear, cashmere, bouclé, angora and woven silk.
! Avoid: bulky, oversized sweaters; coarse or coarse-knit sweaters; tight, smooth-knit sweaters.
Lightweight knitwear, cashmere, bouclé, angora and woven silk.
! Avoid: bulky, oversized sweaters; coarse or coarse-knit sweaters; tight, smooth-knit sweaters.
Pants
Softly fitted to the figure, made of lightweight fabric.
- Pants with soft pleats, and slightly tapered pants.
- Slightly shorter, tapered pants.
Tops
Smooth and elegant, with soft edges and a hint of intricate detailing, with tapered sleeves and a defined waist.
Soft bows, small lace edges, jabots, draped necklines.
Understated trims: beautiful and unusual buttons, small pieced details, etc.
Light fabrics: slightly shiny silk, soft and transparent linen, batiste, etc.
Clean and soft necklines: draped collars, soft collar collars, round high or deep necklines, necklines with ruffles, soft pleats, crimping, etc.
Formalized shoulder line.
! Avoid: strict shirts, free shapeless blouses, too motley, "cheerful" blouses.
Soft bows, small lace edges, jabots, draped necklines.
Understated trims: beautiful and unusual buttons, small pieced details, etc.
Light fabrics: slightly shiny silk, soft and transparent linen, batiste, etc.
Clean and soft necklines: draped collars, soft collar collars, round high or deep necklines, necklines with ruffles, soft pleats, crimping, etc.
Formalized shoulder line.
! Avoid: strict shirts, free shapeless blouses, too motley, "cheerful" blouses.
Lingerie and Swimwear
With a flowing, elegant, moderately fitted, feminine silhouette.
- Soft, flowing, and easy-to-fit high quality fabrics of light to moderate weight.
- Pastel and moderately bright colors, soft monochromatic color combinations.
- Soft, flowing, watercolor prints in rounded shapes.
- Moderate, smooth and symmetrical details in rounded shapes.
Accessories
Clean, elegant, tapered shape, with a slightly refined or sophisticated finish.
Belts are narrow to medium in width. In fine leather or fabric. Buckles are elegant, moderately decorated.
Hats are small and elegant, rounded in shape, with clean and crisp brims. Exquisite women's hats for outdoor social receptions (with soft details like silk flowers).
Belts are narrow to medium in width. In fine leather or fabric. Buckles are elegant, moderately decorated.
Hats are small and elegant, rounded in shape, with clean and crisp brims. Exquisite women's hats for outdoor social receptions (with soft details like silk flowers).
Jewelry
Clean, elegant and unobtrusively feminine. Careful, refined and delicate, slightly shiny.
- Round, richly decorated and flowing, symmetrical jewelry.
- Antique jewelry with elegant curls.
Shoes
A delicate, slim, slim shape.
- Slightly revealing shoes (without a back and with a strap at the back, with an open toe, etc.).
- Elegant, feminine shoes without heels.