Kibbe Soft natural
Body Type:
The Ultimate Guide
to Styling Your Relaxed, Elegant Silhouette
At Maeve Mélange, we celebrate the beauty of every Image Identity (body types isn’t what Kibbe calls them), and this page focuses on the effortless balance of the Soft Natural silhouette. This type blends a broad, slightly angular frame (YANG, pronounced YAH-ng) with a touch of softness (leaning YIN), creating a relaxed yet refined presence. There’s an inherent ease to this body type—never too sharp, never overly delicate—just an organic harmony of structure and curve.
What Defines the SOFT Natural Image Identity?
Soft Naturals (SN) are characterized by their broad shoulders and fleshy limbs, creating a natural blend of strength and softness. Their Kibbe “accomodation” (aka what makes them special) is width and curve - their clavicle is wider than their hip bones and therefore causes their shoulders to flare and become the widest part of their body, along with having a curve at their hip. Here at Maeve Mélange we refer to Naturals as the “Let the Décoletté Breathe” family because they need wide open necklines otherwise they look (and feel) trapped.
SNs have a softly defined hourglass figure and shine in styles that highlight natural shapes and gentle tailoring. Their look thrives in effortlessly chic silhouettes—never stiff, never overly structured—exuding an easy, timeless charm that feels both approachable and sophisticated. Here we call them ‘the Greek Goddess’ because when we dress them for special occasions we think, “Would they wear this on Mount Olympus?”
key features of a SOFT Natural:
Moderate to Small Height – Typically of average to shorter stature
Angular Bones with Broad Shoulders – A slightly athletic, yet natural frame
Fleshy Limbs, Hands, & Feet – Soft upper arms/thighs complement their angular bones; while hands/feet are moderate in size and slightly fleshy (aka soft)
Smaller Waist in Proportion to Bust and Hips – Doesn’t have to look like a corset, just has to be proportionally smaller
Blunt or Irregular Facial Features – Soft Naturals often have blunt, square, or slightly irregular facial structures, enhancing their unrefined, natural beauty
Soft Facial Features – Full lips, round eyes (though not always), and noses that range from small to broad create a harmonious balance of structure and softness
Facial Features: Wide-set eyes, broad lips, a wide nose, and fleshy or muscular cheekbones
Height: Typically moderate (5'2" - 5’6”)
You’re Not a soft NATURAL If…
Soft Naturals require a blend of broad shoulders and a curvy hip — if any of the traits below resonate, you’re probably a different body type:
Your features are evenly balanced without a mix of broadness and softness
Your arms and legs are lean or sinewy rather than soft and fleshy
Your bone structure is delicate or fragile instead of broad and angular
Your facial features are sharp or intensely angular rather than softened
Your hips are narrow and straight instead of rounded and full
Jennifer Lopez, Scarlett Johansson, Doris Day, Fergie, Katy Perry, Jane Fonda, Viola Davis, Kamala Harris, Julie Andrews, Kat Dennings, Shakira, Kim Kardashian, Britney Spears
Soft Natural Female Celebrities
Sources: E!News, GettyImages, Variety
The Soft Natural
Style Code
Effortless ease. Organic movement. The Soft Natural body type thrives in relaxed, unstructured silhouettes with subtle shaping. With a naturally feminine yet free-spirited frame, your wardrobe should embrace flowing fabrics, asymmetric details, and a softly defined waist—creating a look that is polished, yet never stiff.
Fabrics & Materials
Soft, Flowing Fabrics: Fabrics that drape, breathe, and move naturally
Moderate & Lightweight Materials: Light fabrics for daily wear, moderate weight for outerwear
Natural Fibers: Linen, cotton, cashmere, and silk provide breathability and comfort
Avoid: Clingy, stiff, or girly fabrics and materials (cotton poplin, ditsy lace, hard leather, etc)
Necklines
Wide & Open: Boatnecks, deep u-necks, scoop necks
Relaxed Styles: Cowl necks, flowy v-neck, collarless, soft drape
Avoid: Stiff collars, tight necklines, or intricate embellishments
Silhouette & Fit
Width & Curve Accommodating: Slightly oversized with draping stuns on you
Mantra: “Would a Greek Goddess wear this?” (doesn’t need to be dressy, can be casual)
Subtle Waist Definition: Swoops and gathers on dresses, belts the same color as the dress/skirt, & folds at the waist in dresses are all perfect examples of ‘soft’ waist emphasis
Avoid: Stiff tailoring and overly structured fits (that’s for Dramatics!)
Prints & Patterns
Moderate Size, Rounded Shapes: No bigger than a quarter (2.5 cm)
Abstract & Blended Prints: watercolor, ombre, marble/swirl, brushstroke
Soft Textures: Tactile fabrics like suede, soft leather, velvet, and cashmere
Avoid: large and angular patterns (triangles, diamonds, harsh/emphasized lines)
Accessories
Soft, Rounded Shapes: No larger than a quarter (2.5 cm)
Slouchy Bags: Large, rounded, shapeless bags (aka ‘boho bags’ - don’t worry if you don’t like the name, even Classic essences have a boho bag made for them)
Handmade, Creative Jewelry: The best place to find this is Etsy, Farmer’s Markets, or Craft Fair’s (if it looks like a hippie in a van made it, RUN - it’s for you!)
Organic Materials: Usually made out of leather, metal, pearls, feathers, gems, precious stones, etc. Anything real that came from the earth is perfect.
Avoid: Wire jewelry, geometric designs, arrows, chandelier earrings, tons of vertical/elongation
Shoes
Open-Toe Styles: Adds an airy, relaxed feel (espadrilles, anyone?)
Round-Toe Shapes & Minimal Detail: Simple, clean designs work best (The Natural/Naturals are gonna love this one: yes, Birkenstocks count here)
Tapered Styles: A comfortable, stylish option (If pointed and rounded had a baby, it’s this - essentially it’s every shoe that isn’t pointed, rounded, or square.
Avoid: Pointed toes and stiletto heels (you aren’t a Dramatic, there isn’t enough Yang in you for these)
Tops & Dresses
Tops
Relaxed Fit with Gentle Draping: Not too tight, not too loose
Effortless Layers: Light, unstructured layers add depth
Slightly Oversized: Enhances your width - drop shoulder, oversized button-downs, slouchy sweaters
Best Sleeve Types: Dolman, batwing, raglan, flutter, peasant
Best Sleeve Lengths: 3/4 and the widest part of your upper arm (typically where your bust meets your armpit)
Avoid: Overly fitted button-down styles
DRESSES
Subtle Waist Definition: Swoops and gathers on dresses, belts the same color as the dress/skirt, & folds at the waist in dresses are all perfect examples of ‘soft’ waist emphasis
Best Dress Lengths: Slightly above the knee or midi
Look For: Relaxed wrap dresses, A-line dresses, shirt dresses, tiered/peasant dresses (you’re basically the only type that gets these, it’s your duty to ROCK THEM for the rest of us!)
Avoid: Stiff, tight silhouettes - need to emphasize width and curve
Skirts & Pants
SKIRTS
Skirt Length: Slightly above the knee, midi length, and sometimes maxi (truly depends on the SN)
Flared: Softly flared skirts follow natural curves
Tiered: Skirts with tiers (typically three) are for you; make sure they’re flowy
Shaped at the Hip: Skirts should gently flow over the body
Bias-Cut: Enhances movement and organic elegance
Avoid: Overly fitted, skin tight, or thick/starched fabric skirts
Pants
Best Pant Length: Lower than a crop, but higher than the ankle (it’s that perfect midway), slightly tapered/pegged
Soft, Draped Fabrics: Linen on you is -chef’s kiss-
Straight or Mom Jeans: Relaxed fits provide balance
Pegged & Folded Hems: Adds a natural, laid-back touch
Avoid: Sharp tailoring, straight jumpsuits, skinny jeans
OUTERWEAR, JACKETS
& Sweaters
outerwear & jackets
Unstructured with Subtle Waist Shaping: Relaxed, yet polished
Belted Jackets (Soft Fabric): Adds shape without rigidity
Shorter Lengths: Avoid heavy, long coats - best length for heavier jackets is cropped or right above the knee
Long, Soft Coat (Left Open): Adds effortless movement and best length is midi
Best Sweaters: Wrap sweaters, tunics, textured/chunky knit pullovers, midi-length dusters
Avoid: heavy coats, thick materials, stiff materials
Hair & Makeup
Hair
Free & Soft: Natural movement over structured styles (ya look better with a little bed head)
Loose & Layered – Frames the face softly (curtain bangs, anyone?)
Tousled Waves & Soft Curls: Think mermaid
Moderate to Long Length: Versatile and easy to style
Avoid: Pixie or angled cuts and sharp bangs
Makeup
Light, Natural Finish: Wearing too much makeup looks like a costume on you
Soft, Well-Blended Colors: Smoky, blended, smudged
Pink Cheeks: Looks like you’ve been basking in the sun
Glossy, Natural Lips: Get your lip color, just a tad bit better and in a satin or gloss
Avoid: Liquid eyeliner or an overly precise/sculpted look
Brands for
soft Naturals
Brands that love you back embrace wide necklines, relaxed silhouettes, and gentle waist emphasis. Ones like the below are no brainers:
Aday
Karen Kane
Anthropologie
Boden
Free People
Madewell
Eileen Fisher
Sezane
Ulla Johnson
Mara Hoffman
Rachel Pally
The soft Natural MindseT
Style is about embracing your natural beauty. The Soft Natural aesthetic is all about effortless movement, organic flow, and relaxed elegance. When you lean into your natural lines, you exude all the confidence of a Greek Goddess.
Discover Your Personal Style
At Maeve Mélange, we celebrate the beauty of every body type, offering Style Analysis, Personal Styling, Personal Shopping, and inspiration tailored to your unique body type. Learn more about our services below!