The What
In Power of Style, Kibbe presents readers with a DIY guide to love-based beauty as a contemporary revisit to his seminal styling system, often referred to as ‘the Kibbe method’.Through the use of fun, interactive games, Power of Style helps explain and apply love-based beauty to styling decisions to help readers express their most authentic self!
The book lays out what is meant by style, to give readers their potential (or ‘wings’) to express themselves. Kibbe defines style as a celebration of inner and outer beauty, and way to communicate your identity, without conforming to the trends that so quickly pass by in the fast-paced environment of the current fashion world.
Power of Style uses the idea of love-based beauty to help re-invent dominant models of beauty based on fear, negativity and needless ‘self-correction’. Love-based beauty helps readers see themselves through loving eyes, by accepting and embracing the unique magic nature has given each and every one of us.
The How
In Step 2 of the book, Kibbe guides readers through ever-important image identity (using yin/yang balance), personal line and silhouette. There’s a nod to psychology here as Kibbe describes image ID as “your personal Gestalt: a composition that is more than the sum of your parts!” (p. 55).
You may have heard image IDs referred to through names such as ‘soft classic’ or ‘flamboyant gamine’, for example, and can read more about them in my article here. Here, the book really does show the power of style by including a style transformation for 10 real-life women aligning with each of the image IDs. This really helps bring Kibbe’s styling system to life.
He also speaks to using your image identity in a way that helps you stay true to your style foundation, whilst being flexible in how you express yourself. The take-home message here is: be prepared to evolve! Each of the image identities are gorgeously illustrated using examples not only from ‘classic’ Hollywood icons, but also with women from backgrounds that may not have traditionally been represented in the white, Western, young, and thin style discourse of the times. I found Kibbe’s focus on inclusivity and equality a refreshing move away from the harmful narratives too often seen in the fashion industry.
the interview
I had the pleasure of asking David a few questions, here are his engaging and insightful answers.
What do you think the single biggest benefit is to people finding their style wings?
The EMPOWERMENT from realizing you are exactly who you are ‘supposed to be! And, the JOY from sharing your light with the world!
If you could sum up Power of Style in a sentence, what would it be?
It’s bible of style; redefing it’s meaning and purpose along with providing the complete, comprehensive technique for everyone to achieve their own unique, authentic version of it.
What is your favourite game, and why?
This is a hard one- like asking a parent who is their favorite child!!! The ‘correct’ answer should be: “I love them all the same!” (However, if you promise to keep a secret I will share this with you.):
MY THREE LOVES, because this game is the foundation of the vision of the book:
LOVE-BASED BEAUTY, everything MUST start with self-love and self-acceptance— leading to self-celebration!
You write about Old Hollywood as a repository for style inspiration. What - from our current era - do you think will be most influential decades down the line?
The inspiration from Old Hollywood isn’t really about the styles related to the decades it occurred during. It’s about the techniques and artistry that were used as a function of the star factory portion as the integral component of the studio system. These techniques of how these timeless stars were created as well as the excellence in artistry are still (and will always be), visionary standards to reach for.
Today, we have social media with its incessant turnover of trends that make ‘style decades’ a thing of the past. Everything is niche in this environment, so there simply can’t be the “one strong factor” that visually defines a decade. (i.e. WW2 and the 4Os power shoulders and fabric-rationed slim lines).
What we do have from today that has definitively changed fashion and will last are 2 things:
A) STRETCH IN FABRIC. This has completely redefined the concept of Silhoutte as well as created new fabrics that didn’t exist previously.
B) INCLUSIVITY. While this is still in early stages, thankfully we have new additions to our vision of what constitutes beauty.
What advice would you give to someone picking up Power of Style for the first time?
Keep an open mind and open heart as you undergo a fun-filled, eye-opening guided journey to discover your Authentic Style. There is now, has never been, and will never be: ANOTHER YOU!!!! You are one-of a kind. You are a STAR— it’s your IRREFUTABLE BIRTHRIGHT! PREPARE TO FALL IN LOVE WITH YOURSELF.
The Take away
There’s a theme of subjectivity that runs through Power of Style, and so it goes without saying that the best way to experience the book is to read it yourself! To help you get the best out of it, I recommend going in with an open mind, reading the book in order, not rushing any parts, and, by the end, being prepared to see yourself as a style aficionado!
I loved the dedication to joy, playfulness, inclusivity, and beauty that runs through. Whether you’re a David Kibbe fan, or new to his work, Power of Style is a unique adventure into the world of style, and a book I’ll be reading more than once!
