Soft Natural Kibbe Body Type: The Ultimate Styling Guide

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What clothes and accessories look best on a Soft Natural

Co-authored by Alena Le Blanc and Aly Rusciano

Last Updated: July 14, 2024 Fact Checked

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What is Soft Natural?

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Characteristics of a Soft Natural

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Styling Dos & Don’ts

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Celebrities

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Are you a Soft Natural?

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Expert Interview

So, you think you have a Soft Natural Kibbe ID and you're looking for style tips? You’ve come to the right place! Soft Natural body types have broad shoulders, an hourglass figure, and a square face, but those characteristics are just the tip of the iceberg. In this article, we'll cover everything you need to know about David Kibbe’s Soft Natural body type description, plus plenty of styling dos and don’ts. For a full walk through of the Soft Natural’s characteristics and best styling choices, read on!

Things You Should Know

If you have a Soft Natural body type, you have broad shoulders, an hourglass figure, and a square face.
Wear flowy fabrics with wide necklines that drape over your shoulders to bring out your frame’s softness.
Accessorize with delicate jewelry and cinch your waist with a belt to romanticize any look.

Section 1 of 5:

What is Soft Natural?

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Soft Natural is a body type with broad shoulders and an hourglass figure. The Soft Natural body type is a part of the 13 Kibbe body types from David Kibbe’s 1987 book Metamorphosis: Discover Your Image Identity. Kibbe’s descriptions of the different types of bodies fall under a yin/yang spectrum—where yin represents the most feminine or romantic figure, and yang identifies the most dramatic or masculine figure.^{[1]
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Research source} The Soft Natural ID leans toward yang, presenting a figure with a masculine frame and softer features.^{[2]
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- The Kibbe scale has 3 Natural body types: Flamboyant Natural, Pure Natural, and Soft Natural.
  - Flamboyant Naturals have a straight and angular body type.
  - Pure Naturals have a straight and muscular body type.
  - Soft Naturals have a soft and proportional body type.
- When gaining weight, a Soft Natural’s body will become soft and full. The waist loses its definition, and the upper arms, thighs, and hips fill out first to create a rectangular shape.^{[3]
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Section 2 of 5:

Characteristics of a Soft Natural

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A Soft Natural body type can be described by several factors or characteristics in women. More often than not, you’re a Soft Natural if you have these physical attributes:^{[4]
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- No taller than 5.9 ft (71 in)
- No shorter than 5.5 ft (66 in)
- Broad shoulders
- Fleshy upper arms and thighs
- Small waist
- Soft hourglass figure
- Blunt or square face shape
- Round eyes and full lips
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A Soft Natural body type can also be defined by what a person doesn’t have. In women, if you have one of these physical characteristics, you’re likely not a Soft Natural:^{[5]
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- Taller than 5.9 ft (71 in)
- Shorter than 5.5 ft (66 in)
- Lean limbs
- Delicate bone structure
- Sharp features
- Narrow or straight hips

Section 3 of 5:

Style Guidelines for Soft Natural

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Clothing Soft Naturals shine in slightly fitted garments that define their waist. Your soft, subtle hourglass figure looks best in styles that are flowy but not oversized. Opt for clothing that fits your frame comfortably without being too tight or baggy to accentuate your proportional figure.^{[6]
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- Tops: Draped, round, or open necklines
- Bottoms: Cinched waists, straight-leg jeans, and pants with a folded hem
- Skirts: Above the knee in length, flared at the end, cinched at the waist
- Dresses: Waist definition, unconstructed, lightweight
- Sweaters: Lightweight, cropped, scooped neckline
- Outerwear: Belted jackets and mid-thigh length
- Shoes: Open-toe, round-toe, or tapered sneakers
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Fabrics Soft Naturals look best in flowing material that’s undefined, relaxed, and asymmetric. Opt for lightweight cotton, linen, and silk fabrics that drape effortlessly over your soft, angular frame.^{[7]
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- As a general rule, stick with natural fibers and materials, as these will beautifully hit your subtle curves and cascade over your broad shoulders.
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Prints As a Soft Natural, stick with rounded prints and patterns with minimal or abstract designs. The softer the pattern is, the better. Loud and bold prints can overpower your naturally soft and broad features, so work with them by choosing garments with subtle patterns or prints.^{[8]
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- For instance, go for a baby blue and ivory polka dress rather than a brightly-colored floral dress.
- Stick with prints that have round shapes like circles, ovals, diamonds, and hearts.
- Stay away from bold animal prints and loud geometric patterns.
- Avoid monochromatic schemes and small symmetrical prints.
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Accessories Soft Naturals look best in delicate jewelry and belts. Because of your broad frame, delicate jewelry helps round your angular edges to accentuate your softer features. Belts do a fabulous job of highlighting your hourglass figure and making almost any look more feminine.^{[9]
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- Stick with jewelry with rounded edges and swooping designs.
- Pair belts with looser clothing to cinch the waist, letting the rest of the fabric drape elegantly over your frame.
- Avoid bulky jewelry with elaborate designs.
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Hair If you’re a Soft Natural, stick with sleek, tidy hairstyles that open up your face. Try to avoid messy up-dos since the messier look may contrast with your soft yet masculine features.
- Try pin-up looks for a retro vibe.
- Stick with a classic slicked-back ponytail for an effortless but cute look.
- Keep your haircut simple and polished, with long, face-framing layers and a side or middle part.
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Makeup Soft Naturals glow in neutral tones and shimmery looks that adhere to their soft features. If you’re a Soft Natural, your best bet is always to keep your makeup natural. Opt for neutral eyeshadows, a nude or pink lip, and peachy blush to make your subtle femininity pop.^{[10]
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- Go with a bold red lip on special occasions, but keep the rest of your makeup natural and subtle.
- Aim to accentuate one part of your face rather than every part. For example, if you want a bold makeup look with lashes and a smokey eye, go with a nude lip and a hint of bronzer.

Section 4 of 5:

What celebrities are Soft Natural?

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Verified Soft Natural Celebrities These celebrities are confirmed to have a Soft Natural Kibbe ID by fashion or Kibbe body type experts:
- Barbara Hershey
- Betty Grable
- Carole Lombard
- Chloe Sevigny
- Doris Day
- Drew Barrymore^{[11]
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- Ellen Barkin
- Fergie
- Jennifer Lawrence
- Jennifer Lopez
- Julie Andrews
- Julianne Hough
- Kamala Harris
- Katy Perry
- Lana Wood
- Molly Ringwald
- Renee Zellweger
- Scarlett Johansson
- Stephanie Powers
- Teri Garr
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Suspected Soft Natural Celebrities These celebrities haven’t been confirmed to have a Soft Natural body type by experts, but it’s suspected they do:
- Britney Spears
- Florence Pugh
- Kim Kardashian
- Pink
- Sandra Bullock
- Shakira
- Sydney Sweeney

Section 5 of 5:

How do you know if you’re a Soft Natural?

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You’re likely a Soft Natural if you identify with the characteristics. The best way to determine if you have a Soft Natural body type is to ask yourself, “Do I fall into these categories?” If you read this article and said, “Yes! That’s totally me!” chances are, you’re a Soft Natural.
- Still not sure? No worries! Try taking a free online self-evaluation test, like the one from The Concept Wardrobe or Our Fashion Garden.