From bringing back ballet flats to wearing football boots as a fashion statement, Gen Z continues to push the boundaries when it comes to style – but critics say their latest trend could get them fired.
The “office siren” trend is popping up on social media from creators around the world, with influencers telling others to don fitted blouses, tight pencil skirts, high heels and rectangular glasses to their corporate workplace.
The trend includes short and sleek items that aren’t likely to be found in many workplaces, but are instead more suited to the fictional offices in The Devil Wears Prada or Ugly Betty.
Perhaps, as Betty on the hit show might have thought, many have deemed office sirens unsuitable for corporate environments, as reinforced by the trend of using “siren” in the name, which refers to women in Greek mythology who kill men with sexual charm into lures. .
The trend has attracted criticism online, with one person saying: ‘I honestly can’t believe the office siren has become a thing because who wants more attention in the workplace? Girls, who are we dressing for?’
Gen Z have shared their take on workwear, including influencer Veronika Pafik (pictured), but critics have labeled the ‘office siren’ look inappropriate
The office siren trend has skyrocketed in popularity lately, with more than 35,000 people taking to TikTok to share their office-inspired outfits.
Many of the videos are accompanied by a story from fashion content creator Erika Dwyer, who explains the trend rules.
“How to dress like an office siren,” she said. Erika further explained, “Start with a fitted blouse, turtleneck, or high-neck tank top.
‘Next, a pencil skirt or low-waisted trousers. For shoes, a pointed kitten heel. Put your hair up and a little loose, or down and slicked.
She concluded, “And most importantly, rectangular glasses. A work bag is optional, and that’s it.’
It’s a look that several celebrities have also adopted. Supermodel Bella Hadid, 27, shared an Instagram post in full office siren attire, including the rectangular glasses and figure-hugging blouse.
Elsewhere, Matty Healy’s model fiance, Gabbriette Bechtel, 26, has long been an advocate of the style, having made narrow Bayonetta glasses an essential part of her look.
Meanwhile, content creators have been sharing their versions of the look on TikTok. Raeann Langus from Los Angeles shared her take on the trend, called: ‘Office siren curvy edition’.
Raeann Langas (pictured), from LA, wore knee-high black mesh socks, a miniskirt and a crisp white shirt for her ‘office siren curvy edition’ look
Content creator Sofia Boman (photo), from Stockholm, shared her take on the trend on TikTok
Supermodel Bella Hadid (pictured) shared on Instagram a photo of her in full office siren attire
She finished her look with a white fitted button-up shirt, a tight black mini skirt, knee-high mesh socks and a pair of chunky Prada loafers.
Meanwhile, Veronika Pafik shared her take on the trend from London, donning a tight black mini dress with a white shirt underneath and some sleek black frames.
The fashion content creator captioned the video: “What I would wear to the office.”
Another content creator named Sofia Boman, from Sweden, wore tight, low-waisted pants, a white shirt and kitten heels in her version of the office siren trend.
However, critics have been quick to slam the style, claiming that tight clothing is unsuitable for the office.
Model Gabbriette Bechtel (pictured), 26, from Los Angeles, has repeatedly adopted the office siren look
Gabbriette, Matty Healy’s girlfriend, regularly wears narrow black glasses, keeping with the trend
One said: ‘The office siren aesthetic is definitely rooted in that [the] sexualization of women in an office environment’.
A second mentioned their own phrase for the office siren trend: ‘I want HR to send me home today ‘core’.
A third agreed, saying: ‘Immediately called HR’. A fourth wrote: ‘I suddenly understand why they introduced workwear etiquette training for Gen Z.’
It comes after Gen Z declared it the next trend in football boot fashion.
Unlike football kits, studded sneakers usually only appear on the pitch, but that is about to change as fashion has adopted studs as a key style component this summer.
For example, Prada has released a pair of metallic silver ‘Copa Pure’ football boots in collaboration with Adidas for a whopping £500, and they have sold out in most sizes.
Critics took to TikTok to voice their opinions on the office siren trend, with many claiming it was inappropriate
Football fanatics may consider it sacrilege, but in the name of streetwear, fashion-forward thinkers have now used TikTok to style their football boots for everyday wear, from classic pairs to upcycled versions with kitten heels.
Designer Ancuta Sarca made headlines last month after releasing a small, limited-edition collection of reworked Nike football boots in slingback heels and knee-high socks.
The Romanian-born designer shared the designs on Instagram, claiming to have created them for none other than pop sensation Rihanna.
She wrote, “Some BTS from the custom pairs we created for @badgirlriri in January. All the shoes are remade from football boots.”
The designer, known for reusing materials, quickly racked up more than 20,000 likes for her football-inspired, eco-friendly designs.
“Ancuta Sarca’s label champions an environmentally conscious approach to fashion, offering a non-conformist yet feminine perspective on traditional sneakers,” according to the brand’s website.
While the Rude Boy singer may have pre-ordered Ancuta Sarca’s designs, Gen Z has taken to TikTok to share how they put their spin on the trend at an affordable price.