Welcome back to Fetch Fits! With summer just a few months away, many people are starting to think about summer jobs and internships to get some spending money and resume points in their free time. Many young people want to make a good impression while staying on-trend, leading many of them to turn to increasingly popular styles like the “Office Siren aesthetic.”
Also known as “corpcore,” Office Siren pulls inspiration from the 90s and 2000s, iconic video game diva Bayonetta, legendary supermodel Bella Hadid, and The Devil Wears Prada. The style features sleek and revealing takes on traditional professional pieces, like button downs, vests, ties, pencil skirts, and its hallmark thin rectangular glasses. Hair and makeup can vary, ranging from slicked-back buns and natural makeup with thin brows to sleek long hair with a more prominent color on the eyes or lips. The style is a sleek, feminine, high-fashion take on typical office wear- but it isn’t quite as practical outside of the small screen.
Many young women on social media have been sharing stories about being told off and even sent home on the first day because of their leather miniskirts and ultra-cropped blouses. To older and more experienced working women, not wearing shorts skirts or exposing shoulders or your chest on the job might seem like common sense- but to influencers that have likely never worked a corporate job, anything is fair game. It’s becoming clear that despite its origins, many facets of Office Siren aren’t actually all that work friendly- but what are you supposed to do if you want to look cute without being marched to HR?
Above all else, look over the employee handbook. Depending on the job, your uniform will differ. If you’re working somewhere like a grocery store or drive-through, you’ll probably have a uniform provided to you and won’t have to think about much else. However, if you’re working a desk job, you’ll have to think a little bit harder. While rules will obviously vary from place to place, most offices will only allow jeans on Fridays, so stock up on slacks or skirts that are at least knee-length. Collared shirts aren’t required but stay away from t-shirts or tanks and stick with knits or other more professional-looking tops. Finally, avoid open-toed shoes, especially if you’re working inside, and for an air of extra professionalism, stick to simple jewelry and makeup that you can do quickly in the morning.
No matter where you end up working, be sure to take your breaks, make connections with the people you work with (you’ll never know when you’ll need them,) set up direct deposit if you can, and of course, work hard. You got this!
