Fashion trends often pop up on TikTok, making you feel inspired and want to head straight to ASOS to revamp your wardrobe.
But while some may see it as a harmless fad, others believe there’s something a little deeper to it.
Take the “office siren” trend, which began sweeping the runways as an unexpected style during last September’s 24-hour Spring/Summer Fashion Month.
That month, TikTok user Asia Beuvil explained in an interview with Who What Wear how this new idea “challenged” workplace culture and the prevalence of more traditional dress codes.
(Getty Stock Image)
What are the trends for office sirens?
People noticed that the predictions for Spring/Summer ’24 were all about sexy ’90s and ’00s-inspired corporate looks: We’re looking at you, Gisele Bundchen. The Devil Wears Prada Or Amanda Ugly Bettythat’s it.
Ms. Biouville, a fashion student in Paris, continued: “We’re often told that women have to conform to masculine norms to be respected and admired in the corporate world, but I think there’s a more sensual and stylish way to do it.”
“A woman who represents this type is ambitious, likes to embody sensuality and femininity, and doesn’t care about what others think of her. She proves herself through her actions.”
Becki Newton as Amanda on Ugly Betty. (ABC)
It has become increasingly popular on social media in recent months for making women feel powerful and sexy at the same time, with one person joking on X: “I’ve been banned from wearing contact lenses for two weeks so you know what that means… I’m getting the office fairy aesthetic.”
Why is the office siren trend so controversial?
But while some believe the trend will help women reclaim their sexuality in the workplace, sending out a broader message that women can and should wear what they want, others are opposed.
While this style certainly accentuates a feminine silhouette and exudes a bold, bossy vibe, many argue that it ultimately falls short of the realities of the workplace, making women feel like they have to dress performatively to feel powerful in the workplace.
Gisele Bundchen in “The Devil Wears Prada” (20th Century Fox)
“The Siren Office craze is really scary,” one critic wrote in a recent TikTok post.
She added: “Don’t listen to the trends in seductive office fashion.”
Showing off her blue jeans and grey sleeveless cardigan, she continued: “This is just regular casual office wear, appropriate for the workplace.”
“If you can’t wear jeans, swap them for white pants!”
On X, some people were outraged that the trend was “a costume for what non-workers think it means to work”, while others thought the trend was “definitely rooted” in “the sexualisation of women in the office”.
“Just a warning, if you wear knee high socks to work you will definitely get some ‘school girl’ comments from your coworkers… be careful,” someone else said.
But Buville disagrees with the backlash against the idea, telling Who What Wear: “The corporate side is still there; [the office siren] The clever combination of materials makes everything stand out, ultimately creating a very delicate balance.”
