Why you SHOULD NOT dress like an office siren: Sexy work clothes could sweep TikTok. But City supremo HELENA MORRISSEY says there are smarter ways to look feminine.

When you hear the word “mermaid,” you might think of an image of a mermaid-like figure luring sailors to their deaths on the rocks.

In modern parlance, a mermaid is a femme fatale who draws her power from her sexual appeal.

And it’s this dynamic that has now captured the imagination of young Gen Z women, who have coined the term “office mermaid” to describe their desired work wardrobe.

Their mood board? Think pencil skirts, tight turtlenecks, sultry heels, knee-high socks and suits: Tom Ford in the Gucci era, Calvin Klein in the 1990s/2000s and the corset dresses of Dolce & Gabbana. Just add a pair of oval shaped Bayonetta lenses and you’re good to go.

In short, it’s the modern evolution of the “sexy secretary” look of yesteryear and, according to Paris-based fashion student Asia Bieuville, who coined the phrase “office siren” in her TikTok videos, it is “all we aspire to be”. This year’. With over 138 million views of videos tagged #officesiren, it seems many young women agree.

According to Asia, the office mermaid look is for ambitious women who eschew masculine workwear and want to dress in a feminine way. “The woman who represents this doesn’t care about judgment. She proves herself by her actions,” she says.

Well, as a woman with over 30 years of professional experience, I can say that the words “office” and “mermaid” don’t go together in my lexicon.

I’ve long been an advocate for women dressing like women in the office, and it’s wonderful that most of us now actually have that option. The days when we had to dress like men to be taken seriously are long gone. But dressing like an “office mermaid” takes women’s dressing to a whole new, much more controversial level. I would therefore advise caution to any young woman looking to adopt this trend.

Because in reality, this look is less about being “feminine” and more about being “sexy.” If you want to feel empowered in your workplace, pandering to the male gaze is not the way to go.

And before you scoff at TikTok’s influence on our wardrobes, it really does seem to be a trend, from fashion catwalks to High Street clothing racks. Gucci’s spring/summer 2024 collection featured slingbacks, bags, skirts and even coats in dark oxblood-colored patent leather. Intelligent, but with a domineering vibe. Last month, Oscar de la Renta revealed a fall/winter 2024 collection full of leopard prints.

While browsing the offerings at Zara recently, I saw masses of leather and bodycon dresses.

All of this works great in everyday life, if that’s your style. But for the office? Given that the House of Commons Treasury Committee’s recent Sexism in the City report describes a “shocking prevalence” of sexual harassment in the financial sector and that other sectors are still experiencing their own problems, dressing in a Deliberately provocative style is a No.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, many have suggested that the office mermaid trend is “office wear for those who don’t actually work in an office.”

Certainly, I don’t think this is something that women of my generation, who have been fighting for our place in the workplace for so long, will take on.

I started my financial career in New York the same month the first Wall Street movie came out. It was, in the infamous words of Gordon Gekko, a time when “greed was good”, “lunch was for wimps” and everyone – including women – wore pinstripes, while we tried to appear as adapted to the environment as the men.

Over time, women’s office uniform became less aggressive and macho, but it was boring – lots of black suits, nondescript and shapeless. Rather than trying to compete with men for space, we felt like we were trying to blend in. I felt unhappy in these dark clothes; it was difficult to exude a presence when you dressed to be invisible.

It was after the financial crash of 2008 that things really started to change. The world needed new leaders who weren’t afraid to challenge conventional wisdom and shake up the all-male boardrooms that had failed so cruelly. This inspired me to launch the 30% Club in 2010 to increase the number of women in leadership and leadership roles in companies around the world – and to make a personal bid for clothing freedom in the workplace.

I moved away from dark, shapeless, masculine styles that didn’t suit me and sought out feminine fashions that made me feel good and confident. I no longer apologized for being a woman through my wardrobe choices, but I celebrated it.

Fortunately, this coincided with the emergence of designers such as Roland Mouret and Roksanda Ilincic, whose early collections featured classic shapes with a twist: a navy dress with hot pink cuffs was one of my favorites .

Women working in male-dominated industries have started dressing in the clothes they really want to wear – and feeling more powerful as a result. Being dressed for success in a world where you are vastly outnumbered is a game changer.

At 58, I’ve learned to be on the lookout for pieces that I know from experience will suit my shape and schedule – and will stand the test of time.

I know there are some aspects of the office mermaid trend that really work for the office and are arguably better than some other recent fashions (I’m thinking floral dresses and massively oversized suits).

As these photos show, I’m all for slim dresses and skirts that hug (and don’t cling to – a crucial distinction) the body. Kitten heel slingbacks like Dune’s cream pair (£95, dunelondon.com) are polished but more wearable than very high heels. Zara silk shirt with lip print (£19.99, zara.com) is playful without being provocative. I was skeptical about the black leather cigarette pants (£99, never fully dressed.com) but when worn with a conservative top, like a white shirt or simple blazer, they can still look professional. Needless to say, knee-high socks will still be a no-no.

The key is to understand that looking feminine doesn’t require looking deliberately sexy. Think modern-day Audrey Hepburn or Grace Kelly rather than famous leopard print lover Bet Lynch.

So if you don’t usually wear glasses, leave them at home. And when in doubt, remember that less is more when it comes to this trend and workwear. Ironically, the full-on office siren is a look best saved for Friday night.