This type is retired. It belongs to the 1987 thirteen-type system. The current ten-identity system treats Natural as a family centre rather than a final result. Read Flamboyant Natural and Soft Natural next.
The definition
Natural was the middle type of the Natural family in the 1987 book: a slightly broad, blunt, relaxed frame with moderate length and no strong waist emphasis. Kibbe retired the pure type in the current ten-type system; readers who match it are usually directed to Flamboyant Natural or Soft Natural.
Natural is useful as a reference point even though it is retired. It describes the middle of the Natural family: relaxed, blunt and moderate. Most people who recognize themselves here will find a sharper answer in Flamboyant Natural or Soft Natural once they compare length and curve.
What you may notice
These are the cues the identity is usually described with. They are not a checklist, and a single feature does not decide the type: the overall line does.
- A straight, slightly muscular frame with broad, blunt bones.
- Moderate length and an easy, unconstructed line.
- Flat hips and a straight bust line rather than pronounced curve.
- Slightly broad or irregular facial features with taut cheeks.
Read them as a description of a silhouette, not a rating of a body. The same cues can appear in other identities, especially near a family boundary.
The line in clothes
The styling direction follows the line. It is a starting point for silhouettes, fabric and detail — not a list of rules about what you are allowed to wear.
| Silhouette | Relaxed and straight: softly tailored jackets, straight trousers, simple knits, an unbroken line. |
|---|---|
| Fabric | Natural, textured and mid-weight; nothing shiny or stiff. |
| Detail | Moderate, asymmetric or softly geometric. Keep the palette easy. |
| Friction point | A tightly fitted waist, ornate detail and high-contrast dressing. |
Natural, Flamboyant Natural or Soft Natural?
The pure Natural sits between the two current identities. If the line is long, start with Flamboyant Natural; if curve dominates, start with Soft Natural.
Height and the current rule
Usually moderate to slightly tall in the 1987 description, up to about 5 ft 8 in (173 cm). In the current method, 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) and above is treated as a vertical dominant line; below that, the visual answers decide. Height is one input, not a verdict.
Test your read
The 18-question test returns a current identity, a runner-up and a confidence level. If Natural is one of your top two, read this page and the runner-up page side by side before you settle.
Natural: questions
Is Natural still a Kibbe type?
It is a retired type. The 1987 book listed it; the 2025 system keeps ten identities and drops the three pure middle types, including Natural.
I always tested as Natural. What now?
Compare Flamboyant Natural and Soft Natural. The deciding question is whether your line is longer and wider (FN) or shorter and curve-led (SN).
Is Natural the same as the “natural” style aesthetic?
No. The aesthetic borrows the name, but the Kibbe identity is a specific combination of bone structure, flesh and line. Linen and beige do not make someone a Natural.