Maybe you’ve heard of corpcore, or maybe you’ve seen it without realizing. This fashion aesthetic is taking Corporate America™ by storm, modernizing the office look according to Gen Z.
Use corpcore to make the nine-to-five grind less soul-crushing and more couture. We’ll walk you through how to master it.
What Is Corpcore?
Corpcore is how the next generation is dressing for the office, and it’s throwing tradition out the window. Gen Z and young millennials are uninterested in wearing stuffy, bland clothes that have dominated office culture for decades.
While corpcore styles exist for men, it’s more prominent among women. Ever since women entered the workforce, they’ve been expected to teeter on heels for 10 hours a day and find a magical balance between feminine/attractive and professional/appropriate.
Corpcore hits the refresh button, taking the classic corporate attire and twisting it into a luxe, alluring style. It’s all about blending traditional office clothes with on-trend pieces, perhaps with a splash of retro vibes in there. It’s where office clothes and street style unapologetically collide.
Some corpcore outfits might irk old-fashioned office workers, but most still fall into the appropriate category. They’re familiar office looks, but with some spice, a little zest, a pinch of pizzazz!
Building Your Corpcore Wardrobe
Before we dive in, we want to emphasize that these looks should represent your authentic style. Don’t be afraid to blend your favorite T-shirt or go-to shoes into an office look, because that’s the spirit of corpcore.
Now for the meat of this conversation — how can you master the corpcore look? Let’s build your wardrobe:
Tops That Can Do It All
From standard button-downs to band tees, a wide range of tops can work in corpcore. First, get a few basics, like fitted white or black V-necks or long-sleeved shirts — check out H&M for these.
To satisfy the corporate part of corpcore, you need classy tops — turtleneck sweaters, button-downs, polo-style shirts, and sweater vests.
Now for the fun ones. Incorporate graphic T-shirts, corsets, crop tops, and tank tops into your work wardrobe. Believe it or not, many of your “going out” tops can serve as your Monday morning shirts.
The key to making just about any top work for corpcore is layering and balancing the tops with the bottoms. Don’t wear a concert T-shirt with jeans — that’s way too laidback.
Relaxed and Refined Bottoms
Office bottoms for women can be tricky, cause they’re damn uncomfortable. With corpcore, you can rock wide-legged, loose pants that let you breathe. Feel free to size up when shopping.
Skirts are also definitely in play. Ditch the boring boxy office skirts — don a cute mini skirt, a flowing skirt, or a tailored pencil skirt. We’re also big fans of pleats.
Okay, what about jeans? Some companies have a strict no-jeans-in-the-office rule. We can’t help you with that; sorry. But if your office doesn’t specify denim dos and don’ts, we say jeans are fair game. To keep things professional, avoid distressed, ripped styles. Instead, opt for chic dark-washed jeans — skinny, bootcut, or flared are all acceptable.
Expressive Single Garments and Sets
You will nail the corpcore vibe with single garments — think dresses, rompers, and matching sets. Think of those adorable Chanel skirt suits or the silk suits you see on Instagram. Oversized pantsuits are also fabulous, offering a Hailey Bieber vibe.
Like with tops, you can experiment with dresses. Even a T-shirt dress can look haute if you elevate it with voguish accessories. A casual knit dress with a shiny blazer feels trendy but professional. Try a long pencil skirt with a matching cropped jacket. You can even wear sassy looks like one-shouldered dresses.
If you’re new to corpcore and aren’t sure where to start, start here. Adding a few sets to your wardrobe helps you hone your corpcore style. Once you feel more comfortable, these pieces can be worn separately to create even more outfits.
Wise Layers
Listen up; layers are integral to achieving this aesthetic. Blazers and bitty jackets are your new besties. Don’t hesitate to buy that denim vest or pull a sweater over that corset. For many of these outfits, the line between weekendwear and workwear is the layering.
But layering is also a wonderful way to create fresh and luxurious outfits. A sweater over a button-down or a blazer over a vest can make you look put-together and savvy. Consider a bold leather jacket over a classic pin-striped button-down or a funky denim vest over a black turtleneck. The combinations are endless.
For an extra interesting look, you can wear a blazer or jacket with cropped sleeves over a long-sleeved shirt. It creates a messy but daring aura.
Shoes You Will Actually Wear
With corpcore, heels and toe-pinching flats are not your only options for work. You can wear comfy loafers, ballet flats, combat boots, knee-high boots, platforms, and… even sneakers.
That’s right, go ahead and slip on your faithful Converse or New Balances and bounce to the office. Our dreams have come true.
To be clear, heels are still in the mix. Stilettos might be a bit much for a Tuesday morning, but block heels, kitty heels, and wedges can slay.
Thoughtful and Intentional Accessories
The accessories wholly depend on the undergirding outfit. If your corpcore fit leans toward playful, go with elevated and lavish accessories that will create an elegant balance.
Say you’re wearing a casual graphic tee, add pearl earrings! Bring in a smart leather belt if you’re sporting silky bottoms. Wear an upscale gold bracelet if you’re rocking jeans.
On the other hand, you can be more eccentric with your accessories if the outfit is tame. Include bright pink glasses, a quirky purse, or a bubble letter necklace to spice up your look.
Go laidback with a baseball cap or white socks. From neckties to blue tights, never underestimate the power of accessories.
Tips for Being the It-Employee
Maybe you already have all the clothes and items mentioned above, right down to the pink glasses and denim vest. If so, you’re just about a corpcore queen. Here are a few more tips for bringing it all together:
The Balancing Act
The beauty of corpcore is it’s not about dressing like a slob or wearing pajamas to work — despite what some Boomers might think. It’s about making workwear fun and personalized.
When curating your outfits, aim for that sweet spot between office-y and trendy. We offered advice on doing this above, but when in doubt, a simple formula is 20-40% street fashion and 60-80% traditional office wear.
Coordinating With Colors
The colors you choose matter just as much as the materials and silhouettes. A blah silhouette becomes exciting in neon green, and an edgy look can be toned down if it’s mocha brown. On the flip side, an avant garde outfit in hot pink could be a tad too much. Be sure to factor in what colors you’re using when finding that perfect balance.
Keeping it Office-Appropriate
When it comes to low-cut tops and teeny-tiny skirts, you do you. But we think it’s best to keep these outfits modest enough that you won’t get side-eye from everyone and their mother’s boss. We don’t want to be the focus of this morning’s office gossip.
If you wouldn’t wear it to brunch with your mom or Thanksgiving with the whole fam, it might be too saucy for the office. Ultimately, you make the call, but there’s no need to dress like a nun for work these days.
Outside the Office
Bella Hadid and other celebs — who never have to go to an office — rock the corpcore look on the streets. While these outfits should be acceptable, that doesn’t mean they won’t be fierce outside the office. If you fill your closet with corpcore clothes, you’ll have killer clothes for work and sophisticated clothes for heading out on the town!
