The new ‘office siren’ trend that you ‘shouldn’t follow’

You’ll often see fashion trends pop up on TikTok, and feel inspired to hop straight onto ASOS to overhaul your wardrobe.

But while some may seem like harmless fads, some people reckon there’s often a little more to it.

Take the ‘office siren’ trend, which started off the back of Spring/Summer 24 Fashion Month last September after a surprising look started to dominate the runways.

Speaking to Who What Wear that month, TikToker Asia Bieuville explained how the new idea ‘challenged’ workplace culture and the prevalence of more traditional dress codes.

What is the office siren trend?

People noticed that forecasts for the Spring/Summer 24 season seemed to be all about sexy 90s and 00s-inspired corporate looks – we're talking Gisele Bündchen in The Devil Wears Prada or Amanda in Ugly Betty, that sort of thing.

Bieuville, a fashion student in Paris, continued: “We’ve often been told that women have to adapt to masculine codes to be respected and admired in the corporate world, but I think there’s another, more sensual and stylish way.

“The woman who represents this has ambition, likes to assume her sensuality and femininity, and doesn’t care about judgment. She proves herself through her actions.”

By allowing women to feel powerful and sexy at the same time, it seems to have taken off on social media in recent months, with one person joking on X: “I’m not allowed to wear contact lenses for 2 weeks so you know what that means… I’m owning the office siren aesthetic.”

Why is the office siren trend controversial?

But while some people believe the trend helps women reclaim their own sexuality in the workplace – shouting the message far and wide that they could, and should, wear exactly what they want – others have warned against it.

Yes, the style helps celebrate feminine silhouettes while also giving off bold, girl-boss vibes, but many argue that it’s ultimately unfit for the reality of a working office, and makes women believe they have to dress performatively to feel strong in the workplace.

Posting on TikTok recently, one critic said: “The siren office trend is so scary.”

She added: “Don’t listen to the siren office outfit trend.”

Showing off her blue jeans and grey sleeveless cardigan, she went on: “This is a normal and casual in office outfit that is workplace appropriate.

“If you can’t wear jeans swap for white trousers!”

Someone else fumed on X that the trend was ‘a costume of what people who don’t work think what it’s like to work’, while another believes it's 'definitely rooted' in the 'sexualisation of women in the office setting'.

“Just a warning if you wear knee high socks to work your colleagues will absolutely make a ‘school girl’ remark... Be warned," someone else said.

But Bieuville disagreed with the backlash to the idea, telling Who What Wear: “The corporate side is still very much present, but [the office siren] lifts it all up with a play on materials, and in the end it’s quite a subtle balance.”