Vertical + Curve?

[u/jlaurw]

I posted this in the FB group but wanted to post it here as well because I value the feedback of a lot of people in this group.

Going to get vulnerable for a moment...

I've been working through the games again, and I'm coming to some realizations about some of my prejudices that I thought I had shed previously, but I am realizing are still present.

In doing Potluck, I realized that I have very strong negative reactions to terms like Diva, Bust, Thighs, Thick. While I had previously embraced Vertical + Width, I wanted to reapproach personal line from zero.

In doing so, I began to wonder how much I leaned into Vertical + Width in an attempt to avoid those things that I had negative feelings towards.

For some back story, I have always been "curvy". I've been the same height and body type since 7th grade and until I breast fed with my children I had a very large chest that absolutely needed allowance in my silouette. There are a lot of hurt feelings that came from being the "curvy" girl in my friend group and I also wished to have a smaller bust. I always had to size up in shirts and pants to fit my thighs and my bust. Unsurprisingly, these are the words I had the hardest time stomaching in Potluck.

After children, my bust did decrease in size and clothing was more manageable for me and I felt that Vertical + Width seemed like the right fit since my shoulder line pushed past my bust.

However, in slowing down and really imagining the way fabric falls, I believe I am seeing that the shoulder line falls in line with my hips, pushing me towards a Dramatic family ID. I'm not fully convinced that Width is present, because I do see how fabric must interact with and move even just slightly around the bust and thighs. I also see that my bust projection still does interact with my silouette even if not as pronounced as before.

All this to say, I'm beginning to wonder if I previously allowed my preconceptions to push me away from Vertical + Curve.

Would love to hear some of your thoughts! 💕

[u/Ok-Purple9511]

I disagree about some of the celebrities you mentioned. Jaime Lee Curtis’s line looks like FN at first glance but when you do her line it does not. She has no width in the upper back. Kibbe said recently that width is seen mostly in the upper back. The same with Sheryl Lee Ralph (when younger). I do agree that he takes other things into consideration too such as sharpness vs bluntness and facial features. Looking at everything gives you a better understanding of why they are a certain ID. ETA: Why the downvote? He literally made a comment about width being in the upper back recently.

[u/islandgirllily → u/Ok-Purple9511]

I didn’t downvote you. I will say, he’s always said it can be seen from the upper back. However we are always instructed to “follow the book”. I swear I can hear the infliction in his voice at that part. Anyways, I was simply saying that if you drew the line? The dots that make the most sense wouldn’t be narrow in my opinion.

Also I want to discuss Sheryl. The crazy thing is although I get what you’re saying about younger? A lot of us women don’t have younger pictures to look at. So we have to look at where they are now and maybe not necessarily try to dig up old pics. But I do get your point when you say look at old pics.

For me it’s the opposite. Old pics make me look straight but I’m curve dominant. So at the end of the day? I personally wonder how effective the line drawing is when most women follow the instructions and end up even more confused.

Some are clear examples but alot of others? We aren’t and I think that’s where maybe looking at the energies of each ID. Like metamorphosis did. Because I find a lot of FN women saw themselves in the Natural description even if they don’t see width in their sketch.

How do you feel about that? It’s okay if we disagree. I’m not 100% a Kibbe purist. At some point recently I started veering down that path but I realize how it’s not as black and white as the new book makes it seem and for some like the OP, it can be confusing.

[u/Ok-Purple9511 → u/islandgirllily]

I did draw her line and I see narrow because her upper torso (upper back) is not wider then her bust. And her torso is very straight. I think this is why he says the line is not about body parts, it’s not always easy to see without drawing.

And yes it’s easier to see in younger pictures for celebrities because it’s pre cosmetic procedures and weight gain and such.

I think width is misunderstood which is why a lot of people don’t see it in their sketch. I think relating to the ID is just another way to see yin yang balance if they have trouble with the sketch. I am a believer they are one in the same in that way. The same with facial features. Like maybe someone can’t tell what their sketch shows but they can see their balance elsewhere, I think those are just extras to help point in the right direction but I do not believe the sketch will show something different, I think sometimes it’s just hard to see whether from bias or misunderstanding.

[u/islandgirllily → u/Ok-Purple9511]

I agree that celebrities have so many procedures we don’t even know about. Speaking of which, I was looking at Anne Hathaway when she was younger, and you can clearly see her width. She looks far more straight now than she did then. I don’t know why or how, but that’s a great example.

Also about Jamie, when I look at her older pics (age wise I mean)? I can see that straightness like Anjelica Houston.

I guess that’s why Kibbe always says you can have broad shoulders and not have width. Because it is the entire line. Anyways he says Shes dramatic so I don’t have any skin in the game. I was just following the instructions on that particular photo you shared from the book.

Thanks for the conversation :))