While you may be tired of hearing the terms ‘‘corp-core” or ‘‘office siren,’’ there is no doubt that the business-chic look is here to stay. Born on TikTok in late 2023, the aesthetic blends the power dressing of the ’80s, with the sophistication of the ’90s, and the sultriness of the millennium.  

As a visual that is meant to be sleek, mysterious, and professional all at once, the Office Siren is bringing sexy back to fashion. Frequently seen on the runways of fashion week in collections such as Miu Miu FW2022 and FW2023, Gucci SS2024, and Markgong SS2024—traditional workwear pieces such as blazers, tailored pants, pencil skirts and bayonetta glasses with a sultry structured silhouette have taken over our screens. If you can’t picture it yet, think Gisele Bündchen’s character in The Devil Wears Prada, Calvin Klein archive from the ‘90s and 2000s, or Bella Hadid wearing Tom Ford’s SS98 collection for Gucci. 

From haute couture to social media influencers, the corp-core phenomenon is not going anywhere if not netizens’ closets. On TikTok, accounts like @juliaquang and @beckykim_ are devoted to sharing their Office Siren looks with their followers. The tag #officesiren has now amassed 48.8K on the platform, while Pinterest reports that searches for office outfit inspo on the app have increased +950% through 2024. But why corporate chic? Why now?

Historically, women have been marginalized in the workforce, with significant strides toward inclusion only emerging in recent decades. Thanks to the feminist movement’s efforts to secure rights and opportunities, the corporate world has become more welcoming to women—though remains predominantly male. However, challenges persist; women are frequently deprived of authority in these spaces, and are often subjected to dress codes that are designed to align them with masculine ideals, as if professionalism and femininity are mutually exclusive. 

Enter the Office Siren trend: a provocative direct response to traditional workplace attire. This fashion movement reclaims feminine energy in the often sterile corporate environment, transforming it into a space of empowerment and self-expression. It celebrates women’s hard-won progress in a male-dominated field—but pushes the boundary even further by contradicting the stereotype that a woman can only be smart or feminine. 

Despite its indisputable popularity, the Office Siren look has also attracted some criticism. Some consider it unrealistic and impractical, while others see it as an overtly sexualized workwear fiasco. Even Human Resources professionals reviewing certain looks on TikTok to determine if they are appropriate or not for the workplace. As women are often sexualized in the work environment—and everywhere they go—comment section crusaders are now raising concerns about intentionally amplifying this dynamic with corp-core outfit checks.

Yet perhaps that’s the whole point of the Office Siren trend—to challenge and critique the dress codes that have been imposed by men on women in the work environment. It’s a constant battle of objectification, one that seems to be questioned by a TikTok fashion trend. Coming from the most controversial social network among fashionistas, it could be seen as a negative. But given its confrontational context, it’s not. And it’s that context that ensures it’s here to stay, despite the disapproval of some. In a way, Office Siren is here to stay because it means changing the future. It’s a form of rebellion—a way of disrupting the working environment while cementing women’s place in it.