By Prudence Hajmeli
For many of us college students the end of the scholastic year this means the start of summer internships, which also means the beginning of our transition from college students to full-fledged career people. Most of us will likely find ourselves in office spaces this summer, and if you live in metropolitan cities you will come to witness the drab beiges and grays of 9-to-5 life for yourself. It is important that as young people entering this uniform, and at times intimidating space, we can have fun and express ourselves in creative ways while adhering to professionalism. What we choose to wear at work can thus be a very pivotal part of our identity, and it is so that the “office siren” look has reached a wide scale of young office-goers throughout all social media platforms.
The look is nostalgic of the early 2000s. Movies like The Devil Wears Prada first brought this sleek and minimalist style to our attention in 2006. Yet the champion of all the office sirens is undeniably Jo Frost from the show Supernanny. Her recent reemergence on popular platforms can be seen in video clips from the show where Jo sternly steers disorganized parents and petulant children towards a more agreeable household. Her attitude is as much part of the look as any piece of clothing she wears, and has helped usher the look back into the popular consciousness. So what exactly makes for an office siren?
Of first and most importance, the office siren is nothing without her signature bayonetta glasses. Usually of dark rim and rectangular, these glasses mean both fashion and business. Their boxy shape pairs up very well with a slicked-back pony or bun. It allows for those sleek, minimalist shapes of the 90s and early 2000s. Pencil skirts or dress pants of neutral colors also lay a nice foundation if paired up with pin-striped button-downs or neutral-colored shirts. To finish off the look, anything from kitten heels to dress shoes will do, so long as they keep with the neutrality of color.
This is just one way to break into the office space as young and as of-yet-inexperienced career people. There are so many other avenues to explore with this kind of look, which can be customized and tweaked to personal preference. The office siren look is, after all, pretty basic, but it is the nostalgia of the 2000s that gives it life. It is more of an idea than anything else, and in a time where everything seems so bright and textured, perhaps a return to the minimalism of the 90s can offer us some unexpected novelty.
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