We asked stylist Julia Deshkova to talk about personal style, confidence, and the transformative magic of the Kibbe body type system. With over a decade of experience in fashion, photography, and fitness, Julia has helped countless women rediscover themselves through the power of intentional styling. Whether you’re just starting your journey or deep in the world of style archetypes, her insights are refreshing, practical, and full of heart.

Question 1: Can you explain what Kibbe is and why it’s important?

Imagine that there is a recommendation system where you will be told which hair coloring scheme, makeup methods, shapes, lines, prints, and which details will decorate your appearance. It sounds really cool, doesn’t it? After all, you save a lot of time and money on shopping, because now you understand What you are looking for.

This is a system to make life easier for every woman. A unique tool where recommendations are based on Yin (where Yin is responsible for softness and smoothness) and Yang (where Yang is responsible for big size, sharpness, and angularity), which interact to form 13 different types, each unique. The system aims to emphasize this uniqueness of each type with suitable lines and shapes.

This is important for every woman to know, because the appearance we are born with is the 1 and only for us for life, and the sooner you make friends with your appearance, understanding which shoulder line, cut, and length adorns you the most, the more confident and happier you will be. Kibbe tools don’t  limit you in style – they only tell you how to express any style with your appropriate lines.

Question 2: What first drew you to the Kibbe body type system, and how has it influenced the way you approach styling clients?

Since I was a teenager, I’ve felt insecure about myself, because I was bigger than my sister and mom. I admired my mom’s elegance in minimalism, it suited her so well. One day, I accidentally found a system that tells about the difference between types in bone structure, physique and facial features, and for me it was such an insight. I realized that I’m just different, a different type, and what will decorate me is different from what suits my mother or sister. From that moment on, I began to fall in love with my appearance, to study what suits me.

Question 3: Have you ever seen a major transformation in a client’s confidence after aligning with their type and season? Can you tell us about it?

We recently worked with a client to determine her type, style, and sort out wardrobe. After the end of our collaboration, she began to “see the geometry of clothes”, she began to understand her mistakes in purchases  she did and asked to supervise her purchases for several months. When I noticed her discipline in her shopping reports and how accurately she followed the advice, she noticed that now when she wear suitable clothes her colleagues began to compliment her, and when she saw by herself how different she look now, her desire to continue increased, because she realized that this wasn’t the limit of her potential.

Question 4: What are some common mistakes people make when trying to determine their own Kibbe type or season?

Very often, people are just biased about their facial features. And this is because of prejudice and stereotypes. There is a certain standard of beauty, and many women try to fit it, and many are not satisfied with their width, for example, or the sharpness of facial lines and angularity. They don’t want to see it.

The second reason is to compare yourself with an already known type. And some people think, “If I don’t look like this celebrity, then I’m not that type.” But the types should not be copies of each other. There are about 4 billion women on earth, and 13 types. Just imagine if all the representatives were almost like twins in appearance.

The type is determined by a clear understanding of the bone structure, the features of appearance.

Question 5: Can you walk us through how someone can begin to identify their correct color season at home?

There are several color theories, I use the theory of 12 seasons. The first and good way to determine one of the characteristics of your appearance (Cold or Warm) is to determine your vein color. If your vein color has a green undertone, then you have a pronounced warmth. If it’s blue-purple, then it’s pronounced cold. If it is difficult to determine cold or warm, you can be a soft color type.

In my opinion, the most competent and effective way is to put different shades of colors near to your face and check how your appearance is changing. With inappropriate colors, the face becomes pale, expressionless, if there are pimples or redness, they may become more pronounced. The lighting during this action should be natural and soft. No need to go out into the bright and contrasting sun, it will be difficult to understand. It is worth standing facing the window, towards the light.

If it is difficult for you to see what is suitable and what is not, then it is good to contact a professional for help.

Question 6: How do you incorporate all three pillars—style, hair color, and makeup—when creating a cohesive look for a client’s Kibbe type and season?

My experience of 12 years of studying the topic of Kibbe and colortypes and 5 years of personal work with people helps me in this. And also my experience of working in the gym for 4 years. This gave me the opportunity to observe and analyze women’s bodies, as well as how the body changes when gaining and shedding fat/muscle.

I’ve also been involved in photography since I was 14, and I noticed that different types of lighting are suitable for different types. For example, contrasting light suits people with pronounced Yang in appearance (this is angularity, sharpness). But soft types (those with rounded lines in their appearance) look very good in a soft background light, for example at sunset, which emphasizes the volume well. I regularly analyze new images of celebrities, and study trends to help my clients stay relevant, because this is also important. Combining all 3 different areas is very difficult, but it is my 12 years of experience that helps me in this.

Question 7: How do you approach current fashion trends that don’t necessarily suit all Kibbe types or seasonal palettes—do you adapt, skip, or style around them?

Of course, there are some trends that suit one type more and the other less. But in our modern world, a lot of brands and designers create clothes, and they are so diverse that each type can choose what they want. The right cut and shape of clothing is very important for each type. Whether it’s a leather or suede coat, for example. A looser cut is suitable for one type, which creates a slight sense of freedom, for the second type, the option with a belt and a rounded shoulder line is important, while the third type will look great in a clear cut, with angular neckline lines and a wider shoulder line.

The strip that is relevant this season is released by brands in absolutely different sizes and contrasts. And most importantly, it is made in different shapes and silhouettes. Each of the representatives of a different type will be able to wear it.

If we want to adapt a color that we like, but it is not in our palette, then the easiest thing is to place it away from the face (skirt, trousers, handbag or shoes).

If it’s a dress or blouse where the color is located next to the face, then you should make sure that the selected makeup colors and hair color are from your palette, then even if you choose color from different colortype you, you will look not bad!

Question 8: How do you help someone find their signature style when they feel like they don’t have one?

Every style expresses something. Sensuality, rebellion, femininity, some kind of creativity or conciseness. First of all, I try to help a person understand what he wants to express, what he is like, what he is about. After all, there is such a beautiful phrase “we are what we like.” I ask the client some leading questions, send images that help me to see what my client prefers.

Question 9: For someone brand new to the world of color analysis and Kibbe typing, what’s the best place to start without getting overwhelmed?

Any new information will always cause difficulties for us, but on my page I try to explain complex things in simple language with pictures and text. I also always interact with clients and answer any questions. I consider my page to be very warm and welcoming, so I can recommend my instagram space.

Question 10: Have you ever had a client resist their Kibbe or seasonal diagnosis at first? How do you handle that as a stylist?

Of course, this happens both with the color palette and with the types. This is very often due to the stereotypes that people have. A lot of people think that a type is a certain style. I try to convey this information to them and explain how they can express the desired style with their appropriate lines and shapes, and tell them how to wear colors from other palettes.

Question 11: How do you adapt styling advice for different life stages, like postpartum, career shifts, or aging gracefully?

The advantage of the recommendations is that they are suitable for any woman at any age, weight and life period. For example, if you have recovered, you can simply buy larger clothes while maintaining the same style, lines, and fabric. If your style was more creative and feminine, and you want to change it to a more concise and strict one, then your lines will still adorn you.

Let’s take a concrete example of the mildest type of “Romantic”. This type suit emphasizes the waist, draperies, rounded lines, soft and flowing lines, floral print. Romantic woman who wants to express her strict elegant style does not need to rush to extremes and wear a strict tight suit with an angular shoulder line and sharp neckline. A beige suit consisting of elegant straight trousers combined with a blouse with a soft fabric rounded neckline and a softened shoulder line will look great on her. 

You can express any style, the main thing is to use your lines and shape to achieve a harmonious result.

Question 12: Can clothing style affect your perceived facial attractiveness?

Yes. Theory reveals the beauty of every woman. Once you know your type and try on what suits you, you will definitely fall in love with your unique appearance!

Want to learn more? Follow Julia on Instagram @juliadeshkova for approachable tips, visuals, and one-on-one guidance in finding your signature look.