Style type #2: How Natural–Relaxed Are You?

Illustration by Sue Tait Porcaro

Do you hate anything binding such as tight turtlenecks, ankle straps or constricting belts? Would you rather be in sneakers than stilettos? Does your “uniform” consist of loose sweaters and comfortable pants? If you say “yes” to more than one of these I’m guessing you have a good deal of the Natural – Relaxed style type.

In the Personal Style Counselors (PSC) system, Natural is the second most “yang” of the seven style archetypes. But it couldn’t be farther from the first one, Dramatic-Theatrical. In fact, almost everything about the Natural-Relaxed style is just about the opposite of how we would describe the Dramatic-Theatrical. Whereas Dramatic is all about intensity, Natural is all about being laid back. Where Dramatic controls the action (either directly or indirectly) Natural lets the river flow.

My own opinion is that as we age, most of us inch a little bit toward Natural. Maybe that’s because it’s the path of least resistance, as gravity does its thing. But don’t get the idea that Naturals are lazy. Most Natural-Relaxed types are pretty hard workers – or players. They tend to love the outdoors and sports in general. You’ll often find them playing tennis, working in their flower or vegetable gardens, or baking up a few dozen cookies for neighbors.

Fortunately, the design world has found a large demographic in this style – or it appeals to a broad range of women, across many styles. Natural-Relaxed types embrace natural fibers and easy draping, and those factors are a big draw for many of us. So let’s look at a few examples of how this style is interpreted in fashion.

We’ll start from the bottom up, as shoes are a big part of what identifies the Natural-Relaxed style archetype. Sneaks, slip-ons, huaraches, espadrilles – all these say Natural.  If it doesn’t require a lot of fussing with, is more about substance than style, comfort than statement, it’s likely a Natural-Relaxed shoe.

Many natural fibers, of course, read as Natural-Relaxed – with the possible exception of silk, unless it’s sueded silk. Suede, wool, cashmere, linen, hemp, bamboo (yes, a great new fabric) generally are less structured and more forgiving. Whereas leather says a bit of Drama, suede is usually Natural-Relaxed (and sometimes Romantic, as we can see both elements in this gorgeous coat…the drapiness is a bit Romantic, but it’s a pretty yummy suede and yumminess often says “Natural.”)

One of the hallmarks of this style archetype is the idea of un-constructed tailoring. That means you won’t find a lot of stiffness in a Natural’s garments. No shoulder pads, no stiff lapels, crisp pocket welts, or clean creases. The easy hang of the blouse and linen trousers on our girl to the right, plus the raffia woven tote, all say Natural. The only hint of something slightly Classic is the belt, but even it is styled almost as an afterthought.

And let’s not forget denim. Denim is the go-to fiber for almost every Natural-Relaxed type. Yes, it’s so ubiquitous that it’s become a classic and therefore everyone is wearing it. But there is denim…and there is DENIM. Only someone with a lot of Natural-Relaxed could get away with this much of it at a time. But a Natural’s denim won’t be in a super skinny, bedazzled or embellished pair of jeans.

And finally, just so you don’t despair of ever looking very pulled-together if you have a lot of  the Natural-Relaxed archetype, here’s a lovely example of how it works in a less casual environment. This green wool pantsuit (I think it’s a pantsuit -maybe just a jacket and pants) is a Natural’s version of classic. The styling may be a bit more formal, but everything about it says easy-going. One more boon here: pockets! Naturals love pockets on anything.

So, how much of the Natural style type do you have? As for myself – I can definitely relate. I’ve got 30% of this style essence. Anything over 15% is considered a pretty strong element of one’s personal style. In chapter 3 of Shopping for the Real You I offer a detailed questionnaire to help you figure that out. You can also get a Skype style consultation with my mentor, John Kitchener to find your style essences.

Post script: That illustration at the beginning? It was actually designed as a “Don’t” in the chapter in my book about Proportion, Balance and Scale. Wouldn’t ya just know that those shapes and proportions would appear everywhere in fashion now! (Look a sites like COS and Ayr if you don’t believe me.)

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