The trend of “office sirens” revitalizing the styles worn for long periods of work has been attracting attention online thanks to Tiktok. In the form of an evolved power dressing, the aesthetic combines a steamy pencil skirt, smoky eyes, kitten heels, and early 2000s glamour.
In some workplaces, office siren aesthetics are seen as a confident embrace of personal style. Others can ask questions about professionalism, reliability, or leadership potential.
That tension raises a greater question: how does workplace fashion choices shape how women are perceived?
To answer this and learn more about trends, we spoke with career and leadership coach Phoebe Gavin.
What are the trends in office siren?
Popular on Tiktok under “Corp-Core” or “Girlboss 2.0”, Office Siren Look adds a more sexy and feminine twist with traditional office outfits.
“I define a standard corporate office dress code as merging with a sexy spin that shows a little more skin, a little more curved, a little more feminine, a little more (sexy), and a little more of that,” Gavin says.
Many view office silent trends as more than just a fashion statement. This is a form of self-expression for young professionals who participate in the workforce, and perhaps even a subtle form of rebellion.
“This has something to do with young professionals being rebels and wanting to change workplaces,” explains Gavin. “It’s also about personal expression. This is very important for this younger generation to enter the workforce and be authentic,” she adds.
Office siren styles allow young professionals to express their confidence and personality, but also create tension in a more traditional workplace.
Choices like sultry pencil skirts and bold makeup may be celebrated online, but in the office it can influence how colleagues and managers perceive professionalism and leadership possibilities.
“When we think about the workplace trends seen in this generation (people under the age of 30), the idea that it goes against this credibility and oppressive workplace norm, exploitative workplace norm.”
This is not necessarily a bad thing, but you need to clearly understand what it means and make decisions at work.
Is Office Silent Trends dangerous?
The office siren trends offer a form of self-expression, but can also come with unexpected workplace consequences. Many young professionals who adopt this style may not understand how they can shape credibility, authority, or perceptions of ideas.
“Unfortunately, many people in Tiktok who see this trend and bring it to their offices are not informed about it,” Gavin says.
Often, the people driving this trend are not people with experience in the corporate workplace, she explains. “They are people who make money from the scenery of Tiktok.”
What is the risk?
If you make this decision because you’re genuine and confident, but you’re overlooking potential outcomes, like being drawn into HR or rejecting ideas at meetings, it’s not a good thing, says Gavin.
While employees may argue that they should take the freedom they feel most comfortable with, office silent toks often clash with workplace bias – whether fair or not.
“Women are judged much more harshly in dressing in suggestive ways or in a more sexual way that draws attention,” she observes.
Even if an employee is perceived as less serious, competent or incompetent, even if his or her ideas could be discounted, they could be taken over for promotion or face workplace bullying and judgment from colleagues.
Performance ratings, including improvement plans and terminations, can also be influenced based on perceptions rather than merits.
According to a 2024 study published by the Journal of Applied Psychology, work colleagues increase your abilities and warmth based on your outfit, and those judgments affect your perception of your performance and how pleased they are to help you.
“In this situation, this is a choice people welcome, but unfortunately it’s very likely to cause some of these outcomes,” Gavin says.
Despite potential drawbacks, some employees may want to incorporate the siren-style elements of the office into their professional wardrobe.
The important thing is to make conscious choices.
“What you make for yourself is the right decision for you if you are doing it from an informed perspective,” she adds.
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