Romantic Natural: Formal Options For A Casual Style Identity?

Last week I posted some suggestions for dressing casually when your style identity seems rather formal.

A Romantic Natural reader asks, "What about more casual style identities that need formal solutions?" She needs to manifest her style identity, which is inherently somewhat laid-back, in a more formal work environment. A lot of us find ourselves i a similar situation. 

Let's start by assuming that we need to wear a suit or a suit equivalent. We can do this while still bringing in a lot of R and N. To do this, we'll choose a few options from the first list below, and a few from the second.

To add R elements to your basic office suit look:

- choose skirt suits that you buy as a set
- ...or if you go with a pants suit, make sure the slacks are fitted, tapered, and ankle-revealing
- try a lacy camisole under your blazer
 - choose a blazer that emphasizes your waist and shows your wrists
- add chandelier earrings or an ornate necklace
- choose sexier shoes, with a tapering heel and perhaps a peep toe
- create an hourglass silhouette
 - overall, go for items with feminine details, such as ruffles, lace, rounded edges, and gathers

To add N elements to your basic office suit look: 

- create your "suit" look with separates
- choose straight-leg slacks
- choose a blazer that's straight through the waist, not fitted, and longer (hitting at the hips or upper thighs)
- accessorize minimally,  with a simple, larger necklace or a simple pair of distinctive, larger earrings
- choose comfortable, simple shoes with a stacked or lower heel
- go for a loose, easy fit
- overall, choose items that have a more masculine appearance, with straight lines and very little detail


If you only do the first list, you'll be completely Romantic; if you only do the second list, you'll be completely Natural. So to read as Romantic Natural, combine a few elements from each. 

(It's important to note: for this combo identity, and for every combo identity, your effect is not created by averaging the two identities or finding some middle ground. Your effect is instead created by combining elements of each of the core identities.)

Good luck!