If you’ve spent five minutes on TikTok lately, you’ve probably come across the office siren trend. It’s a glossy mashup of late ’90s power dressing and late 2000s clubwear. Satin pencil skirts, sultry tops, moody liner, tousled hair, and “main character at the copy machine” energy. The vibe? Be bold. Be confident. Be hot at work.
It’s aesthetic. It’s empowering. It’s… not actually new.
Fashion is cyclical, and this isn’t the first time we’ve seen the “sexy secretary” look pop up. Back in the early 2000s, this kind of outfit was popular too. We just wore it to the club, not to client meetings. And in the ’90s, it was all about sultry silhouettes paired with sharp tailoring and minimal makeup. The difference now? TikTok has repositioned this look as a rebellion against corporate dress codes, and that’s where things start to go sideways.
According to fashion creators, the office siren look is meant to challenge outdated norms and allow women to express themselves without sacrificing professionalism. That’s a fine idea in theory. But recently, the trend sparked controversy when people started showing up to actual offices in outfits better suited for bottle service.
One viral video called out the absurdity of it all: someone out here risking a six-figure job for the right to wear a tube top and call it “corporate baddie behaviour.” In this economy? With egg prices through the roof and people sending out dozens of résumés just to land one interview? There is a difference between breaking norms and breaking common sense. We’re not saying don’t express yourself. But some outfits just aren’t appropriate for your 9-to-5, especially if you’re still on probation or trying to land your first career position. Sometimes the right look at the wrong time will cost you way more than the outfit is worth.
This isn’t just about fashion. It’s part of a larger conversation about how Gen Z is getting career advice from platforms designed to prioritize views over value. And sometimes that advice is good, but only in the right context.
Take quiet quitting, for example. The idea of setting boundaries and not going above and beyond for a job that doesn’t reward you? That’s healthy workplace behaviour. Salary transparency and negotiation tips? Vital. Knowing your worth? Absolutely.
But here’s the catch: those strategies hit differently when you’re brand new to your career.
If you’ve been working for two weeks and you’re already refusing tasks because you “don’t get paid enough for that,” your manager might just decide not to pay you at all anymore. If you haven’t proven your value, it’s a lot harder to demand more of it. You need time in the role, a track record, and experience before you start implementing advice meant for people with leverage.
It’s not that the guidance is wrong; it’s just not universal. And TikTok doesn’t always make that distinction clear.
The issue isn’t just one trend. It’s the platform. TikTok is entertaining. It’s a creative playground. But it’s also a highlight reel, a performance space, and an algorithm machine. It rewards confidence, controversy, and hot takes. Not accuracy or nuance.
That means a creator can give you life-altering career advice without ever having worked in a traditional job. Or they might film a day-in-the-life at their startup where anything goes. But you’re trying to land a job in finance, education, or health care where policies are different. Or they’ve already made it and can bend the rules, while you’re just trying to make rent.
Context matters. And that’s what’s missing when you get all your workplace wisdom from a feed designed to entertain you.
None of this is to say that you should shrink yourself. You don’t have to ditch your style or abandon your sense of individuality. But don’t confuse fashion trends with career strategy.
Dress for where you are and where you want to go in a way that actually supports your goals. Find ways to weave in your personal flair through colour, accessories, and silhouette, without making your outfit the loudest thing in the room. And remember that building trust and credibility gives you more freedom to be bold later.
This isn’t about rejecting Gen Z style. It’s about protecting Gen Z potential.
You are creative. You are smart. You are ambitious. Don’t let a trend tank your momentum.
Subscribe to our newsletter for updates on how social media shapes real life and when to take advice with a grain of salt.
If you’re still thinking of social media as a space dominated by teens and twenty-somethings, you’re missing one of the most engaged, loyal, and financially powerful audiences out there: adults over 60. This isn’t just a feel-good insight. It’s backed by real numbers,...
If you're running a healthcare or sports medicine clinic, you already know how competitive the landscape can be, especially in busy urban areas like the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Standing out requires more than excellent services. It demands a strong digital...