Gamines: a mix and match of yin/yang

Gamines are often described as a “juxtaposition of yin/yang”.

But what does it mean?

And how can you see it visually?

Juxtaposition is defined in the dictionary as “the fact of two things being seen or placed together with contrasting effect.”

Gamines have this mix and match of features going on, which many people describe as “juxtaposed” features.

Sometimes that can look like long limbs, with a very short torso (from shoulder to waist).

Sometimes it looks like short limbs with a very long torso.

The mismatch can also be in structure – they have a yang structure in a yin size (Remember yang features are sharp, angular, and straight, while yin features are small, rounded, and lush).

Gamines will have some elongation and sharpness in their bodies, but it will be on an overall petite frame.

For example, take a look at Vanessa Paradis – who is a flamboyant gamine (in my opinion).

She looks small and is actually small (5’3'“)- but her bones look sharp and angular. 

She also has visually very delicate bones as well as short bones which we can see with her limb lengths, but her overall frame and silhouette is very small.

Therefore, the overall effect is very petite – a yin trait.

This mix and match of yin and yang features is what you see described as a juxtaposition, and how you can see it visually.

This mix and match can sometimes be harder to see on soft gamines because they are going to be a bit softer than flamboyant gamines – which can make that yang structure harder to see.

Take a look at Halle Berry - a verified soft gamine.

She has some elongated lines in her bones (specifically her torso and limb lengths), but overall she doesn’t look long. She looks small and compact.

The “contrast” or “juxtaposition” that is used to describe gamines shows in her very angular, sharp bone structure on a yin frame.

Just like Vanessa Paradis, she also has visually delicate bones as well as short bones. Therefore, the overall effect is very petite – a yin trait – which she needs to accommodate for.

She’s also curvy, yes, but her curves are not continuous the way they are on romantics. They’re a lot straighter and more broken – which then needs to be reflected in her clothing. 

Emma Samms - a verified romantic

I wanted to show an example of a romantic to highlight how curves look different on romantics and soft gamines.

If you look at Emma’s torso, her curves are continuous and rounded. There are no angular lines from her bust to her hips. It’s all one continuous curved line.

On the other hand, Halle Berry’s torso in the last picture looks much straighter – almost an “| |” shape. There is a lot more angularity to her frame.

I mentioned before that gamines have petite in their frame.

Petite in your frame means you have two things: short bones, and narrow bones – which need to be accommodated for.

Accommodating for petite in your frame requires very narrowly and precisely fitted clothing.

Because gamines have petite in their frame and need to accommodate for it, they’ll never need to accommodate for vertical, meaning their clothing doesn’t need to reflect long lines in their body - because overall they’re not made up of long lines.

If you’re a gamine, don’t go for very long, drape-y clothes (think: ballgown dresses).

They want to maintain sharp, crisp lines as well as clothes that skim their figure.

Gamines also look incredible when they use color blocking in their clothes because it mirrors their short lines in their bodies.

Color blocking visually breaks up the silhouette because we generally look at any silhouette from top to bottom. If you wear the same color top and bottom, the eyes follow straight up and down. By introducing a different color on top than the bottom, it breaks the natural line that your eye will follow to form shorter lines in the silhouette.

If you want a full breakdown of your Kibbe image ID, be sure to check out my Kibbe Image ID package options!

Happy styling <3