From bringing back ballet flats to wearing football boots as a fashion statement, Gen Z continues to push the boundaries when it comes to style, but according to critics, their latest trend could get them fired.
The ‘office mermaid’ trend is popping up on social media among creators around the world, with influencers telling others to wear tight tops, tight pencil skirts, kitten heels and rectangular glasses in their workplace corporate.
The trend encompasses short, tight-fitting garments that are unlikely to appear in many workplaces and are instead more suited to the fictional offices of The Devil Wears Prada or Ugly Betty.
Perhaps, as Betty would have thought on the hit show, many have considered office mermaids to be unsuitable for corporate settings, as reinforced by the trend of using “mermaid” in their name, which refers to women from Greek mythology. who lured men to death using their sexual charm. .
The trend has sparked criticism online, with one person saying: “Frankly, I can’t believe office sirens have become commonplace, because who wants more attention in the workplace?” Who are we going to dress for the girls?
Generation Z has shared their take on work attire, including influencer Veronika Pafik (pictured), but critics have called the “office mermaid” look inappropriate.
The office mermaid trend has been gaining popularity as of late, with over 35k people taking to TikTok to share their office-inspired outfits.
Many of the videos are accompanied by narration from fashion content creator Erika Dwyer, who explained the rules of the trend.
“How to Dress Like an Office Mermaid,” she said: Erika went on to explain, “First, start with a fitted blouse, turtleneck, or turtleneck tank top.”
‘Next, a pencil skirt or low-waisted pants. For shoes, a pointed kitten heel. Put your hair up and a little messy or down and straight.
And he concluded: ‘And most importantly, a pair of rectangular glasses. The job board is optional and that’s it.
It’s a look that several celebrities have also adopted. Supermodel Bella Hadid, 27, shared an Instagram post wearing a full office mermaid outfit, including rectangular glasses and a fitted blouse.
Elsewhere, Matty Healy’s model fiancée Gabbriette Bechtel, 26, has long championed the style, having made a pair of narrow Bayonetta glasses an essential part of her look.
Meanwhile, content creators have shared their versions of the look on TikTok. Raeann Langus from Los Angeles shared her take on the trend, dubbed: ‘Office Mermaid Curvy Edit.’
Raeann Langas (pictured), from Los Angeles, donned black mesh knee-high socks, a mini skirt and a fitted white shirt for her ‘curvy office mermaid edition’ look.
Content creator Sofia Boman (pictured), from Stockholm, shared her take on the trend on TikTok.
Supermodel Bella Hadid (pictured) took to Instagram to share a photo of herself in a full office mermaid outfit.
She finished her look with a tight white button-down shirt, a tight black mini skirt, knee-high mesh socks, and a pair of chunky Prada loafers.
Meanwhile, Veronika Pafik shared her take on the London trend, donning a tight black mini dress with a white shirt underneath and a pair of sleek black frames.
To accompany the video, the fashion content creator wrote: ‘What I would wear to the office.’
Another content creator named Sofia Boman, from Sweden, donned a pair of low-rise skinny pants, a white shirt, and kitten heels in her take on the office mermaid trend.
However, critics were quick to counter the style and claim that tight clothing is not appropriate for the office.
Model Gabbriette Bechtel (pictured), 26, from Los Angeles, has repeatedly adopted the office siren look.
Matty Healy’s girlfriend Gabbriette usually wears a pair of narrow black glasses in line with the trend.
One of them said: “The office siren aesthetic definitely has its roots in (the) sexualization of women in the office environment.”
A second mentioned his own catchphrase for the office siren trend: “I want HR to send me home today” -core.
A third agreed, saying: “Immediate call from HR.” A fourth wrote: “I suddenly understand why they implemented workwear etiquette training for Gen Z.”
It comes after Generation Z has declared the next hottest trend in football boot fashion.
Unlike football uniforms, studded sneakers typically only appear on the field, but that’s about to change because high fashion has embraced studs as a key style piece this summer.
For example, Prada released a pair of metallic silver ‘Copa Pure’ football boots in collaboration with Adidas for £500, and they’re sold out in most sizes.
Critics took to TikTok to share their opinions on the office mermaid trend, with many claiming it was inappropriate.
Football fans might consider it sacrilege, but in the name of streetwear, fashion thinkers have now taken to TikTok to design their everyday football boots, from classic pairs to upcycled kitten heel versions.
Designer Ancuta Sarca made headlines last month after launching a small, limited-edition collection of reworked Nike soccer boots with slingback heels and knee-high socks.
The Romanian-born designer took to Instagram to share the designs and claimed to have made them for none other than pop sensation Rihanna.
She wrote: ‘Some BTS of the custom pairs we made for @badgirlriri in January. “All the shoes are made from football boots.”
The designer, known for reusing materials, quickly racked up more than 20,000 likes on her eco-friendly, soccer-inspired designs.
“Championing an environmentally friendly approach to fashion, the Ancuta Sarca brand offers a non-conformist yet feminine take on traditional sneakers,” reads the brand’s website.
While the Rude Boy singer might have kept Ancuta Sarca’s designs to himself, Gen Z has taken to TikTok to share how they’ve put a spin on the trend at an affordable price.
