How to dress for the office? Let's ask cinema and television

As more and more workplace movies make their way into mainstream culture – like Mary Harron's American Psycho, David Frankel's The Devil Wears Prada, and Martin Scorsese's The Wolf of Wall Street – designers like Sabato De Sarno and Miuccia Prada incorporate more business attire into their collections, and social networks like TikTok create trends like the acclaimed Office Siren look, it's hard not to recognize the trend of the moment: the corporate look.

Office Siren and Corporate Core on TikTok: how to dress in the office?

From bayonetta glasses to blazers, the Office Siren trend flirts with whimsy and formality, rescuing many 90s fashion trends and a few from the 2000s. While the look aims to mix the late Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy's personal style with model and actress Gisele Bündchen's look in the film The Devil Wears Prada, Italian label Miu Miu is credited with cementing this new aesthetic – with collections like Fall 2022 and Fall 2023 – along with supermodel, beauty entrepreneur, and activist Bella Hadid, known for her eclectic street style that often incorporates business attire. With this look taking the fashion world by storm, here are some corporate girls' looks in movies and series to inspire your inner bossy legend.

Miranda Hobbes (Sex and The City)

While rarely considered the most obvious fashion legend of Darren Star's cult series Sex and the City, Miranda Hobbes, played by actress Cynthia Nixon, has finally achieved icon status with the popularity of Office Siren and the workwear that runs through the media. A lawyer with a direct and ambitious personality that matches her formal style, Miranda has never been short on sophistication. Often seen in tailored pieces, sharp office wear, casual pieces, and neutral tones, she emphasizes her working-woman archetype with a touch or two of meticulous sleekness.

Rachel Green (Friends)

From her days as a Bloomingdale's assistant to her Ralph Lauren buyer era, Rachel Green remains one of the most fashionable characters of all time. Dubbed by many as the '90s muse, the Friends character played by Jennifer Anniston had a cool yet chic flair while on duty many still resort to inspiration.

Serena (The Devil Wears Prada)

When it comes to Office Siren’s muses, one can’t forget about the iconic – although with little time on camera – Serena, a friend of the neurotic and judgemental assistant Emily and a Runway employee, played by supermodel Gisele Bündchen. Even though she was only on the screen for a short time, Serena left a lasting impact in fashion and the infamous creation of the Office Siren trend, from her use of tailored suits to the legendary bayonetta glasses.

Jessica Pearson (Suits)

Combining workwear with extravagance, Jessica Pearson played by Gina Torres style is based on elegant silhouettes and statement jewelry, which gives a cheeky twist to the so formal dress code. Whether it is peplum jackets, asymmetrical pencil skirts or neutral yet eye-catching colors, Torres' character remains an office wear muse to this day.

Rachel Zane (Suits)

Rachel Zane, played by none other than Meghan Markle, is a fan-favorite for her desire for independence from her family wealth and ambitious personality. But she is also a fashion icon in her own right. With a youthful yet formal office style, the character quickly captured the attention of fashionistas when wearing pencil skirts, neutral shades, and refined dresses.

Shiv Roy (Succession)

From being one of the muses of the infamous quiet luxury to power suit in season two onwards, Shiv Roy – played by Sarah Snook – in HBO acclaimed series Succession remains as one of the main sources for inspiration when the sartorial memo is sleek chic.