David Kibbe
Meet the visionary behind the revolutionary style system that has transformed how millions understand personal style and self-expression.
Who Is David Kibbe?
David Kibbe is more than a stylist—he's a style visionary who transformed how people think about personal fashion. In the 1980s, Kibbe became a pioneer by introducing a style philosophy that wasn't about strict body types but about finding what makes each person unique. His approach focuses on working with your natural shape, not against it, making him a major influence in the world of fashion and style.
1980s Style Icon
The Kibbe movement began in the 1980s with his groundbreaking book, Metamorphosis, which transformed how people viewed personal style. This book, now out of print (and often priced at $800 for a used copy!), encouraged readers to embrace their natural beauty rather than conforming to trends. With his fresh approach, Kibbe quickly gained national attention, appearing on shows like Oprah and in top magazines. His philosophy reached millions, making him a key figure in the world of self-discovery through style.
The Kibbe Comeback
Today, David Kibbe's ideas are seeing a resurgence, especially among Gen Z and TikTok enthusiasts who love his authentic, empowering approach to style. With a new book published in January 2024, Kibbe's wisdom is reaching a whole new generation, allowing anyone to explore their personal style identity from anywhere. While Kibbe himself remains mostly offline, he continues to offer private sessions for those looking for a hands-on style transformation. Kibbe's timeless ideas are more accessible than ever, proving that great style truly has no expiration date.
Who Is David Kibbe?
David Kibbe is more than a stylist—he's a style visionary who transformed how people think about personal fashion. In the 1980s, Kibbe became a pioneer by introducing a style philosophy that wasn't about strict body types but about finding what makes each person unique. His approach focuses on working with your natural shape, not against it, making him a major influence in the world of fashion and style.
1980s Style Icon
The Kibbe movement began in the 1980s with his groundbreaking book, Metamorphosis, which transformed how people viewed personal style. This book, now out of print (and often priced at $800 for a used copy!), encouraged readers to embrace their natural beauty rather than conforming to trends. With his fresh approach, Kibbe quickly gained national attention, appearing on shows like Oprah and in top magazines. His philosophy reached millions, making him a key figure in the world of self-discovery through style.
The Kibbe Comeback
Today, David Kibbe's ideas are seeing a resurgence, especially among Gen Z and TikTok enthusiasts who love his authentic, empowering approach to style. With a new book published in January 2024, Kibbe's wisdom is reaching a whole new generation, allowing anyone to explore their personal style identity from anywhere. While Kibbe himself remains mostly offline, he continues to offer private sessions for those looking for a hands-on style transformation. Kibbe's timeless ideas are more accessible than ever, proving that great style truly has no expiration date.
The Philosophy: Love-Based Beauty
What is Love-Based Beauty?
David Kibbe's philosophy centers on the idea that true style begins with self-love and acceptance. Rather than trying to "fix" or hide parts of yourself, Love-Based Beauty celebrates your unique features as gifts to be honored. It's not about following trends or fitting into boxes. It's about discovering and expressing who you truly are.
You Are A Star
In Kibbe's words, "You are made of stardust." His approach treats every person as the star of their own life, deserving of a style that makes them shine. This isn't about copying celebrities or conforming to ideals. It's about recognizing that your unique combination of features is already beautiful and learning to dress in harmony with it.
A Dedication: "The Power of Style" is dedicated to Susan Slavin, David's wife, soulmate, and eternal partner. She was deeply involved in every aspect of the book, lending her heart, soul, wisdom, and artistry to bringing Love-Based Beauty to life.
David Kibbe In The Media
Explore David Kibbe's journey from his groundbreaking 1980s television appearances to his recent interviews and podcasts. Discover how his revolutionary style system has captivated audiences across decades.
Oct 15, 2025
The Style Therapy Podcast
Episode 28: "The Time We Interviewed David Kibbe (Pt. 1)"
In this two-part podcast special, hosts Blair & Jess sit down with David Kibbe to talk about his then-new book The Power of Style and his creative process. Kibbe shares insights on how his system has evolved over the years and what it truly means to express one's essence through personal style. This in-depth conversation was aimed at helping listeners apply Kibbe's "love-based" style principles to their own wardrobes.
Oct 29, 2025
The Style Therapy Podcast
Episode 29: "The Time We Interviewed David Kibbe (Pt. 2)"
In Part 2 of the interview, Kibbe continues answering questions from the hosts and listeners. He delves into the creative philosophy behind the Kibbe system and addresses "burning questions" from fans about how to use his Image Identity system to find one's authentic style. Notably, this episode marked the finale of the Style Therapy Podcast, making Kibbe's interview the show's grand conclusion.
Jan 31, 2025
Fat Mascara
Episode: "The Truth About Kibbe Body Types" (Interview)
Kibbe was the featured guest on this popular beauty podcast (hosted by Jessica Matlin & Jenn Sullivan). In the episode (Fat Mascara Ep. 572), Kibbe discusses his journey to becoming a "style mentor," the origins of his Image IDs, the influence of seasonal color analysis, and why his system has gone viral on social media. He also promotes his new book David Kibbe's Power of Style (2025). The podcast's recap notes that Kibbe explains why "most people get it wrong" about his typing system on the internet.
May 3, 2024
Air Mail
Profile: "Dress for Success!"
Journalist Jessica Shaw profiled David Kibbe in Air Mail's Look section. This extensive interview piece (Issue No. 15, May 3, 2024) revisited Kibbe's life story and philosophy, with Kibbe sharing anecdotes over lunch in NYC. The article describes how he styled the author (identifying her as a "Flamboyant Natural") and includes his candid take on modern fashion ("Who knows what they're made out of? Petroleum?" he quips about today's fabrics). Air Mail highlighted Kibbe's early TV fame – noting he first explained his system on Oprah and CNN in the '80s – and how it's more popular than ever.
Aug 2024
Gabrielle Arruda – Style POV
Interview with David Kibbe (Power of Style)
Style blogger Gabrielle Arruda sat down with Kibbe to discuss the concepts in his forthcoming book The Power of Style. In this video interview, Kibbe elaborates on evolving one's personal style and addresses misconceptions in the online "Kibbeverse." Fans noted Kibbe's positive, encouraging tone: e.g., he explains that true style is about sharing your story, not vanity, and that "style is an expression of the soul, not just putting together looks".
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May 16, 2023
Byrdie
Interview Feature: "Style Systems Are Taking the Internet by Storm — But Do They Actually Help?"
In this piece on the popularity of style-typing systems, Kibbe was interviewed about the online fervor around his method. He cautioned against third-party "typing," stressing that "It needs to be a journey of self-discovery…You can't type somebody" without proper training. Kibbe provided historical context for the 1980s origins of his system and emphasized its artistic, personal essence.
Mar 24, 2022
The New York Times
Profile/Interview: "What's Your Kibbe Type?"
The NYTimes published a feature by Mariah Kreutter examining the revival of Kibbe's system among Gen-Z and online communities. Kibbe (age 66 at the time) was interviewed for the piece, commenting on why his method has "stood the test of time" and clarifying misconceptions. "There's nothing like this, and there never has been," he said of his approach. The article noted his 1980s appearances on Oprah and Today, and described how TikTok and Reddit had fueled a Kibbe resurgence.
May 5, 2022
Bustle
Article: "What's The Kibbe Body Type Test That's All Over TikTok?"
Kibbe was directly consulted for this Bustle explainer on his suddenly viral body-type system. He is quoted rejecting simplistic body labels (calling common shape categories "horrible information") and reiterating that "style is a journey…It's how to use technique to express who you are". The piece, which also featured input from content creator Gabrielle Arruda, walked readers through Kibbe's 13 Image Identity types.
Mar 21, 2021
MEL Magazine
Feature Interview: "The Enduring Cult of David Kibbe's Body Types"
In this in-depth article, Kibbe was interviewed about the explosion of online interest in his 1980s body-typing system. He reflected on the complexity and appeal of his work and emphasized his "love-based" philosophy of style (e.g. "You have to learn to see yourself with loving eyes…This is a love-based system."). Published in MEL's digital culture section, this piece reintroduced Kibbe to a new generation and noted a Wall Street Journal story back in the '80s that originally launched his book.
1991
"Talk of the Town" Infomercial
Makeover Video with Shelley Hack
Kibbe starred in a 30-minute infomercial hosted by actress Shelley Hack, in which he performed head-to-toe makeovers on five women. The video, titled Talk of the Town, was one of the early '90s infomercials capitalizing on Kibbe's makeover fame. This allowed a TV audience to witness Kibbe's transformations in a long-form advertisement format.
Late 1980s
CNN
Style Segment/Interview
Kibbe's work was featured on CNN (for example, on the fashion program "Style with Elsa Klensch"), where he explained his image identity system to a television news audience.
Late 1980s
PBS
Television Feature
Kibbe made an appearance on PBS (in a program or segment about style/beauty) as a makeover and style expert, extending his reach to public television viewers.
1989
Sally Jessy Raphael
Hour-Long Makeover Special
Kibbe was the featured guest on an hour-long episode of The Sally Jessy Raphael Show, where he introduced his "head-to-toe" makeover concepts to a live studio audience. This program allowed Kibbe to demonstrate his system in depth, one of the first full-hour talk show segments devoted to his work.
Late 1980s
Major Women's Magazines
Multiple Feature Interviews/Profiles
During the height of Kibbe's initial fame, numerous fashion and beauty magazines ran profiles or interviews with him. Notably, TV Guide dubbed him "The Beauty Guru," and he was featured in Allure, Harper's Bazaar, Glamour, Town & Country, Cosmopolitan, Ladies' Home Journal, Redbook, Good Housekeeping, and Woman's Day – all discussing his revolutionary approach to style and body types. These articles, published circa 1988–1990, often included Kibbe's makeover tips and celebrated his philosophy of embracing one's natural features.
Late 1980s
Major Newspapers
Additional Profiles
Around this time Kibbe was also profiled in the New York Times, The London Times, and USA Today, which described his image consulting work and growing cultural impact. For example, the NYT highlighted his "head-to-toe transformation" approach that upended traditional beauty standards, calling him a "source" for personal image advice.
Late 1980s
Boston AM
Recurring Guest Expert
Kibbe served as a regular guest on Boston's morning talk show Boston AM, appearing in multiple episodes to provide style and makeover advice. He was said to have been a guest on virtually "every major morning show" across the U.S. during this era.
1988
The Oprah Winfrey Show
Guest Appearance – Kibbe's Makeovers
Kibbe was a guest on Oprah's show, explaining and demonstrating his style system to Oprah's audience. This brought his "image identity" concepts to one of the biggest TV audiences of the 1980s.
1988
CBS This Morning
Interview/Segment: "The Makeover Dreams Are Made Of!"
Kibbe appeared on CBS's morning program, which promoted his segment as "the makeover dreams are made of". He showcased dramatic before-and-after transformations using his techniques.
Oct 26, 1987
People
Feature: Kibbe's "Metamorphosis" Salon
People profiled Kibbe's Manhattan makeover studio, quoting his philosophy ("I believe there's not one thing about your appearance that isn't absolutely perfect for the individual you are"). People dubbed him "The Master!" in their coverage.
1987
NBC Today
Interview/Makeover Segment
Kibbe appeared on the Today show to demonstrate his head-to-toe "Metamorphosis" makeovers (billed as "Not a Makeover…a Metamorphosis!" by the show). By late 1987, he had appeared on Today and was introducing his system's upbeat, individual-centric approach to a national TV audience.
1987
ABC Good Morning America
Interview/Makeover Segment
Kibbe was also featured on GMA around this time, sharing his image identity system with viewers. Like his Today show appearance, this was part of the media blitz following his book's release.
1986
Wall Street Journal
Profile on David Kibbe's makeover practice
An article in the WSJ about Kibbe's head-to-toe makeovers led to his book deal for Metamorphosis. This early profile helped introduce Kibbe's concepts to a wider audience.