The Office Siren: All about the latest aesthetic, what to buy, and how to style it
We’ve mentioned the office siren before but it’s only fair that the aesthetic gets its moment in the spotlight. We’ve shortlisted all the best pieces to nail this style and included some fabulous styling tips from our team so you can become the siren of your office. If you’re looking for more inspo, check out our full office siren style guide here.
Image Credit: The Devil Wears Prada
What is the office siren?
The office siren aesthetic is a mix of business casual fashion choices from the 90’s and early 2000’s with a hint of a modern twist mixed in. One of the best examples to date is the movie The Devil Wears Prada with some fabulous examples all the way through. Looking back at runways from Calvin Klein, Prada, and Georgio Armani during this period and some of the most recent shows from Miu Miu, we can see a clear influence.
You’re going to want to stick to a neutral and dull colour palette with greys, navy, white, black, and tan. We’ve compiled a list of some of the key pieces you’ll need to nail this aesthetic and some of our favourite options to shop.
Key pieces
Bayonetta glasses
The holy grail of the office siren are the Bayonetta glasses with their skinny shape and thin arms. They round off the whole look no matter what else you have on. You’ll see these glasses most famously in The Devil Wears Prada and on so many runways in the 90s and early 2000s.
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Fitted trousers
Look for trousers with that classic 90s silhouette – low-waisted, fitted, and with a slight boot cut at the ankle. This is a key piece for the office siren and can be worn to the office or out at night. Pair it with a button-up shirt or a blouse and flats to nail styling this piece.
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Flats and kitten heels
Work-appropriate heels are all the rage for the office siren. With a little more comfort when compared to a stiletto heel, we are loving the fun shapes and embellishments. Look for a pointy toe, buckles, or studs to peek out from under your trousers and add flare to your outfit.
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Knee-high socks
Instead of wearing stockings which are also a big part of dressing business casual opt for a knee-high sock instead. Pairing with your above-the-knee skirt and ballet flats to add a flirty touch to your office attire.
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Fitted button-ups
A button-up shirt is always going to be a classic piece of business attire but for the office siren, we’re styling it a little differently. Without pulling the shirt apart at the seams we’re looking for the tightest possible button-up that’s perfectly fitted to your figure. We love seeing a vertical stripe as well as the classic white cotton shirt too.
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Above-the-knee skirts
We’re raising the hemlines from the classic pencil skirt and letting our knees out for this piece in every office siren’s wardrobe. The above-the-knee skirt, while not a new idea by any means, is just making its way into the spotlight after the mini and maxi skirts have had their moments. We love seeing a change up in what’s in because it’s great to see new ways that everyone is styling these pieces. Pair an above-the-knee skirt with your fitted tops or button-ups and a kitten heel.
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Capris
The capris have been blacklisted by many of us since the early 2000s and we’re not sure if we want to see more of them – I’m not sure if I will be opting in, but they’re a key part of this aesthetic. They’re super practical in autumn and spring in those awkward in-between weather situations but I’ll let you decide whether you’ll be rocking these anytime soon.
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