From bringing back ballet pumps to wearing football boots as a fashion statement, Gen Z continues to push the boundaries when it comes to style – but according to critics, their latest trend might just get them sacked.
The ‘office siren’ trend is popping up on social media from creators across the globe, with influencers telling others to don fitted blouses, tight pencil skirts, kitten heels, and rectangular glasses, to their corporate workplace.
The trend encompasses short and tight items that are unlikely to feature in many workplaces, and are instead, more suited to the fictional offices in The Devil Wears Prada or Ugly Betty.
Perhaps like Betty would have thought in the hit show, many have deemed office sirens unsuitable for corporate environments, as reinforced by the trend using ‘siren’ in its name, which refers to women in Greek mythology that lured men to their death using sexual charm.
The trend has attracted criticism online, and one person said: ‘I frankly cannot believe that office siren has become a thing because who wants more attention in the workplace. Who are we dressing for girls?’
Generation Z have shared their take on work attire, including influencer Veronika Pafik (pictured), but critics have slammed the ‘office siren’ look as inappropriate
The office siren trend has boomed in popularity in recent times, with over 35 thousand people taking to TikTok to share their office-inspired outfits.
Many of the videos are accompanied by a narration from fashion content creator Erika Dwyer, who explained the trend rules.
‘How to dress like an office siren,’ she said: Erika went on to explain: ‘First, start with a fitted blouse, turtleneck, or high neck tank.
‘Next, a pencil skirt or low waisted trousers. For shoes, a pointed kitten heel. Put your hair either up and a little undone or down and sleek.
She concluded: ‘And the most important part, a pair of rectangular glasses. 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 tight fitted blouse.
Elsewhere, Matty Healy’s model fiancée, Gabbriette Bechtel, 26, has long championed the style, having made a pair of narrow Bayonetta glasses an essential part of her look.
Meanwhile, content creators have shared their versions of the look on TikTok. Raeann Langus, from Los Angeles, shared her take on the trend, dubbed: ‘Office siren curvy edition’.
Raeann Langas (pictured), from LA, donned knee high mesh black socks, a mini skirt, and a tight white shirt for her ‘office siren curvy edition’ look
Content creator Sofia Boman (pictured), from Stockholm, shared her take on the trend on TikTok
Supermodel Bella Hadid (pictured) took to Instagram to share a photo of her in full office siren attire
She completed her look with a buttoned-down white fitted 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 and donned a tight black mini dress layered with a white shirt underneath and pair of sleek black frames.
To accompany the video, the fashion content creator wrote: ‘What I would wear to office’.
Another content creator called Sofia Boman, from Sweden, donned a pair of tight low waisted trousers, a white shirt, and kitten heels in her take of the office siren trend.
However, critics have been quick to counter the style and claim that tight clothing is unsuitable for the office.
Model Gabbriette Bechtel (pictured), 26, from Los Angeles, has repeatedly adopted the office siren look
Gabbriette, who is Matty Healy’s girlfriend, frequently dons a pair of narrow black glasses in line with the trend
One said: ‘Office siren aesthetic is definitely rooted in [the] sexualisation of women in office setting’.
A second termed their own phrase for the office siren trend: ‘I want HR to send me home today’-core’.
A third agreed and said: ‘Immediate call from HR’. A fourth wrote: ‘I suddenly understand why they implemented work clothes etiquette training for Gen Z.’
It comes after Gen Z has declared football boots fashion’s next hottest trend.
Unlike football kits, studded trainers typically only appear on the pitch, but that’s all about to change because high fashion has taken on the studs as a key style piece this summer.
For instance, Prada released a pair of metallic silver ‘Copa Pure’ football boots in collaboration with Adidas for a steep £500, and they’re sold out in most sizes.
Critics took to TikTok to share their thoughts on the office siren trend, with many claiming its inappropriate
Football fanatics might consider it sacrilege, but in the name of streetwear, fashion-forward thinkers have now taken to TikTok to style their football boots for everyday wear, from classic pairs to upcycled kitten heel versions.
Designer Ancuta Sarca made headlines last month after releasing a small limited-edition collection of reworked Nike football boots into slingback heels and knee highs.
The Romanian-born designer took to Instagram to share the designs and claimed to have made them for none other than pop sensation Rihanna.
She wrote: ‘Some BTS of the custom pairs we made for @badgirlriri back in January. All shoes are remade from football boots.’
The designer, known for repurposing materials, quickly racked up over 20 thousand likes on her football-inspired environmentally friendly designs.
‘Championing an environmentally-conscious approach to fashion, Ancuta Sarca’s label offers a non-conformist yet feminine perspective on traditional sneakers,’ the brand’s website reads.
While the Rude Boy singer might have reserved Ancuta Sarca’s designs, Gen Z has taken to TikTok to share how they’ve put their spin on the trend for an affordable price.