The Office Siren: How Women Redefined Office Style
Written by Alexis Loftis
Photography by Hallie Lukeing
Modeled by Ashlyn Sorrells, Alexis Loftis, Perla Oxlaj, & Vivian Rodriguez
Catherine Tramell, the dangerous novelist from “Basic Instinct”; Selina Kyle, the antihero and alter ego of Catwoman; Xenia Onatopp, the villainess bond girl from “GoldenEye”; Jane Smith, the skilled assassin from “Mr. & Mrs. Smith.” These characters are beautiful, mysterious, dangerous and most importantly, intelligent, and they use these traits to further their goals. Some common names to call these ladies are sirens. The idea of sirens dates back to Greek mythology. Sirens were women who would lure men to their deaths with their alluring melodies. Now they don’t lure men to their death, but they are extremely charming and goal oriented. Bottom line, these women are cutthroat, beautiful, and smart all at the same time. Gen Z is now starting to embody this captivating energy with a new style called “office siren.”
Gen Z women are now establishing their careers and gradually, more of them are wanting to work in office settings. Corporate American life has been changing from male-dominated work settings to inclusive spaces where an increasing number of women are starting to claim their place.
Historically, women have been limited in corporate spaces, with workplace fashion and dress codes being non-inclusive and discouraging personal style; these elements restrict women even more. However, we see a boom in women joining the corporate world around the 1970s, sadly resulting in official workplace dress codes. These corporate rules often discouraged individuality and expression, upholding and pushing ideas of excessive modesty and conformity. The book “Dress for Success” written in 1975 by John T. Molloy remarks how clothing affects a person's success in the workplace. This book really puts into perspective the struggle of the corporate woman at this time.
Molloy says “a woman will do her best on the job when she is wearing a conservative suited skirt, a light colored blouse, with plain pumps and never boots.” He also features a section in the book that describes what makes women “sexy” to men in the workplace. Women at the time were outraged, given the inappropriate section, and the sexualization of women’s clothing. But in the 1980s, we do see a change in women's workplace fashion with the rise of the power suit. Women like Princess Diana and Nancy Reagan, who typically donned the power suit, were commanding yet feminine. Women felt they needed to dress more masculine in order to be taken seriously. With more women orienting themselves with the corporate world around this time, appropriate clothing that could also be stylish was something that felt needed.
Unlike women, men who work in corporate settings will easily find something to wear. A suit and tie will always be their best friend, and has been for decades. But for women, there are hurdles to jump through when it comes to office fashion. You are expected to look polished, feminine, and classy, but not too feminine or too expressive to the point where you are seen as a “distraction.” It's very hard to win in situations like this. Especially, when women typically have a diverse array of body types, which we know are not always treated the same. There is not a workplace “uniform” for women like the suit and tie for men.
Sadly, the history of women in corporate settings has been short but very rocky. The corporate world has demanded that women follow what men believe to be “professional.” But, what a woman wears in the workplace should not determine her abilities. The 2006 film “The Devil Wears Prada” executes this idea perfectly. You can be a career driven woman with goals to meet but you can also be feminine, stylish, and chic while doing so. This is why we are seeing so many young women start to embrace and show interest in the office siren trend. Women are starting to claim their place in corporate settings and they are going to be unapologetically themselves, and looking good while doing it. They are challenging the office traditions of using fashion as a source of empowerment rather than a weapon in the office.
The office siren look has been a trend embraced throughout the fashion world. Some of the trends' early beginnings can be seen in specific shows like Prada Spring/ Summer 1996, Gucci Fall/ Winter 1995, Calvin Klein Fall/ Winter 2001, and Yves Saint Laurent 2006. These shows feature items like pencil skirts, collared shirts, blazers, ties, cute bags, and sophisticated accessories, styled in a more neutral color palette. When we look at the present looks of this trend, the biggest influence is two brands: “Miu Miu” and “Sandy Liang.” Specifically, both of their 2023 seasonal collections featured the same familiar silhouettes we've seen before — heels, coats, cardigans, and collared shirts. While the “office siren” trend is coming back as a popular trend due to Gen Z women wanting to look good, feel good and advocating for themselves in the office. Women's empowerment, self expression, and individuality in the workplace is not a new thing. The overarching message, style, and influence has deep roots, Gen Z is just putting their own twist on it.
Being an office siren is an idea — she's a confident woman who knows what she wants and there's nothing wrong with that.
