Why you SHOULDN’T dress like an office siren: Sexy workwear may be sweeping TikTok. But City supremo HELENA MORRISSEY says there are smarter ways to look feminine

When you hear the word “siren,” you might think of the image of a mermaid-like figure luring sailors to their deaths on the rocks.

In modern parlance, a siren is a femme fatale who draws strength from her sexual appeal.

And it’s this dynamic that is now capturing the imagination of the young women of Generation Z, who have coined the term “office siren” to describe their desired work wardrobe.

Their mood board? Think pencil skirts, tight turtlenecks, sultry heels, knee-high socks and tailoring – Tom Ford in his Gucci era, Calvin Klein in the 1990s/2000s and the corset dresses from Dolce & Gabbana. Just add a pair of oval-shaped Bayonetta glasses and you’re good to go.

In short, it’s the modern evolution of the “sexy secretary” look of yesteryear and, says Parisian fashion student Asia Bieuville, who coined the phrase “office siren” in her TikTok videos, it’s “everything we strive for.” this year’. With more than 138 million views of videos tagged #officesiren, many young women seem to agree.

According to Asia, the office siren look is aimed at ambitious women who avoid masculine work clothes and want to dress feminine. “The woman who represents this doesn’t care about judgment. She proves herself through her actions,” she says.

Well, as a woman with over 30 years of experience in the workplace, I can say that the words “office” and “siren” do not belong together in my lexicon.

I’ve long been an advocate of women dressing as women in the office, and it’s great that most of us now actually have that option. Long gone are the days when we had to dress like men to be taken seriously. But dressing up as an “office siren” takes feminine dressing to a whole new, much more controversial level. And so, for any young woman looking to embrace this trend, I would be cautious.

Because in reality, this look is less about being “feminine” and more about being “sexy.” If you want to feel empowered in the workplace, giving in to the male gaze is not the way to go about it.

And before you scoff at how much influence TikTok has on our wardrobes, this really does seem to be a trend, from the fashion catwalks to the clothes rails on the high street. Gucci’s spring/summer ’24 collection featured dark oxblood patent leather slingbacks, bags, skirts and even jackets. Smart, but with a dominatrix vibe. Last month, Oscar de la Renta unveiled an autumn/winter ’24 collection packed with leopard print.

While browsing through the selection at Zara recently, I saw loads of leather and bodycon dresses.

That’s all fine in everyday life, if that’s your style. But for the office? Given the House of Commons Treasury Committee’s recent Sexism in the City report describes a ‘shocking prevalence’ of sexual harassment in the financial sector, and that other sectors continue to face their own problems, wearing a style that deliberately provocative is a No.

It’s perhaps no surprise that many have suggested that the office siren trend is “office wear for those who don’t actually work in an office.”

I certainly cannot imagine that the women of my generation, who have fought for so long for our position in the workplace, will take this up.

I started my finance career in New York the same month the first Wall Street movie was released. It was, in the infamous words of Gordon Gekko, a time when ‘greed was good’, ‘lunch was for wimps’ and everyone – including the women – brashly wore pinstripes as we tried to appear as environmentally fit as the men.

Over time, the women’s office uniform became less aggressively macho, but it was boring: lots of black and nondescript, shapeless tailoring. Instead of trying to compete with men for space, it felt like we were trying to blend into the background. I felt miserable in those dark clothes; it was difficult to exude presence when you dressed invisibly.

It wasn’t until the financial crash of 2008 that things really started to change. The world needed new leaders who were not afraid to challenge conventional thinking, to shake up the all-male boardrooms that had failed so badly. It spurred me to launch the 30% Club in 2010 to increase the number of women in board and leadership roles at companies around the world – and to make a personal bid for sartorial freedom at work.

I left the dark, shapeless and masculine styles that didn’t suit me and looked for feminine fashion that made me feel good and confident. I stopped apologizing for being a woman through my clothing choices and started celebrating it.

Fortunately, this coincided with the rise of designers such as Roland Mouret and Roksanda Ilincic, whose early collections featured classic shapes with a twist; a navy blue dress with hot pink cuffs was one of my favorites.

Women working in male-dominated industries started dressing in the clothes they really wanted to wear – and felt more powerful as a result. It’s a game changer to be dressed for success in a world where you’re vastly outnumbered.

At age 58, I’ve learned to look for pieces that I know from experience will fit my body shape and schedule—and stand the test of time.

I know there are some aspects of the office siren trend that really work for the office, and are arguably better than some other recent fashions (floral dresses and wildly oversized suits come to mind).

As you can see from these photos, I favor slim dresses and skirts that fit close to the body (and don’t hang around – a crucial distinction). Kitten heel slingbacks like the cream Dune pair (£95, dunelondon.com) are polished but more wearable than very high heels. Zara’s Silk Lip Print Shirt (£35.99, zara.com) is playful without being provocative. I was skeptical about the black leather cigarette trousers (£99, Neverfullydressed.com) but when worn with a conservative top, such as a white shirt or simple blazer, they can still look professional. Needless to say, knee high socks are always off limits.

The key is to understand that looking feminine doesn’t require you to look sexy on purpose. Think of a modern Audrey Hepburn or Grace Kelly rather than the famous leopard print-loving Bet Lynch.

So if you don’t normally wear glasses, leave them at home. And when in doubt, remember that less is definitely more when it comes to this trend and workwear. A full-on office siren is, ironically, a look best saved for Friday nights.