Can we discuss corpcore?
“My mind’s telling me no, but my body’s telling me yesss.”
A quiet campaign has been underway—and by quiet, I mean aggressively loud—to get us back in the office. And now, even more than last year, everywhere I look? Button-downs. Power suits. Shirt dresses. Like the establishment all got together and launched Operation Return to Office Fashion™.
On one hand, I love structure—in clothing, specifically. I’ve always had a thing for dressing within creative constraints (I even started an #officestyle Instagram series back in 2012, if you have patience deep to scroll).
But on the other hand, I’m also a full-on advocate for flexibility—in work, in wardrobes, in life.
Corpcore is not a costume, not cosplay—just a refreshed take on the classics that says “I show up, but I do it my way.”
So here I am, caught between my inner anti-commute rebel and my outer style enthusiast who wants to wear the whole look (yes, with the pants, not just the Zoom top).
Corpcore isn’t about raiding your auntie’s Working Girl wardrobe. It’s ease + effort + a wink, where traditional workwear gets the cool-girl treatment.
It’s a well-cut shirt dress. It’s suiting with breathability—and I’m here for it… mostly.
For me, getting dressed for work has always been about more than just dress codes. As a young Black woman starting out at The New York Times over 20 years ago, navigating “professionalism” through clothing felt like its own editorial challenge.
If you do the math, you’ll guess that my style back then was peak Y2K. My closet was stacked with the usual suspects: Juicy Couture and Miss Sixty sweatsuits, Miss Me or GAP bootcut jeans paired with Bebe rhinestone tees; brands like DKNY and Diesel; Von Dutch trucker hats and any Kangol I could get my hands on; bowling sneakers and Pumas; tons of Betsey Johnson; and yes—a very fake Louis Vuitton x Murakami bag to match. Pretty cringe-worthy to my Boomer parents.
During my first two years at The Times, I was still living with my parents. One morning, I attempted to leave our Queens apartment in my beloved baby blue 555 Soul sweatsuit—one that hugged my early-20s curves just so—to head into the office. That was the last time I tried it.
My dad had had it.
That outfit hit a nerve tied to something deeper: the weight of being young, Black, female, and relatively inexperienced in a white, male-dominated, corporate institution. For him, it was about the triple burden we carried—having to work three times harder, appear three times more polished, and present ourselves with the utmost respect.
But even more than that, it was about self-respect—respecting yourself and your work.
He was livid and demanded I change. And let me tell you, nothing humbles you quite like moving back home post-college and having your dad veto your outfit on your way to a grown-up job. But I could feel how much it mattered to him. So I reached for a white Ann Taylor Loft blouse and GAP jeans, and skedaddled to the F train.
As I matured, I realized I was becoming someone who saw business attire as a form of self-expression, not suppression.
The Times was a fairly casual place, but as I spent more time around actual grownups—while growing up myself—and started earning more, my style began to shift. At first, I swapped sweats for newsboy caps, cargo pants, crisp white blouses with jeans, and sometimes Zara pencil skirts with cropped knits. Eventually, I fell in love with BCBG, Marc by Marc Jacobs, and Phillip Lim.
Eventually, dressing for work became a deeply satisfying sport: expressing myself from head to toe while still giving off, “I respect this institution” energy.
By now, of course we’ve learned to work anywhere. We’re also back in this moment of fashion-meets-function-meets-office-reality. And we’ve earned the right to wear things that move with us. Let’s just make sure we’re not trading flexibility for fitted blazers without asking why.
So go ahead—wear the whole outfit. Pants included.
How has your office style evolved over the years?
🧬 The DNA of corpcore
✅ Structure Meets Ease
Relaxed tailoring with real-life comfort. Think wide-leg trousers, soft blazers, shirtdresses you can actually sit in.
✅ Layer with Purpose
Try a crisp white button-down under a vintage cardigan with special buttons or a sweatervest, all topped with an oversized blazer. Or double up on shirting—white over banker blue or tan—for an unexpected twist.
✅ Neutral Ground + Corporate Pops
Foundations in navy, charcoal, ivory, with accents like oxblood, pinstripes, or banker blue. Ties are always invited with or without a collar; use a ribbon as a bow tie for extra credit.
✅ Office-Ready, Not Office-Only
These aren’t just work clothes. They’re day-to-night, KPIs-to-Karaoke.
✅ Timeless with a Twist
Updated suiting. Sculptural shirts. Subtle surprises—like an asymmetric hem or an unexpected collar. It’s all in the details.
✅ Accessories with Authority
Modern loafers. Mules, sneakers, ballet flats. Structured bags. Minimalist jewelry that means business but still feels personal. This is also the time to play with different glasses frames.
✅ Fit Is the Flex
When you’re doing structured pieces, tailoring ranks over trends. Top layer volume.
This week, my edit is a mix of pieces meant to be layers, main characters and everything in between.
Dreamy
Lemaire’s light overcoat deserves a mule
Loewe wool cropped wrap trousers. Any time, any place.
Scanlan Theodore's pleated marble knit best layered over a crisp buttoned down, a blazer that has some waist definition and loose trousers
Acne Studios single-breasted suit jacket. The way Acne styled on the site is perfect inspo.
Treat yo self
anOnlyChild Alberta Wool Crop Polo Shirt is at the top of my wishlist
Romney Stretch linen waistcoat
You know I couldn’t write about work clothes without including Philip Lim:
Tagliatore pinstriped suit is best with white and most crips crewneck tee and Converse
Theory’s oversized vest is perfect for layering or worn solo
High style without the high price
Uniqlo wide pleated trousers that go well with thong heeled sandals
This Jenny Blazer is oversized by maintains its polish
Daily Paper knit polo — a great fit with a pair of mousse-colored Addidas Sambas
What I’m loving
One of my favorite style creators always has a refreshed approach to office style
Brooks Brothers celebrated 100 Years of the Button Down shirt
Corp sleaze is an old thing with a new name and I’m here for it
Quick visual history
I few up watching ‘Designing Women’ with my mom and they were truly a lesson in wearing shoulder pads
The master of suiting opened a store in Beijing
The corpcore will no doubt continue to linger as several designers sent office-ready looks down the most recent runways. This Erdem look is top tier for me
I’m from Queens, not attached to the Mets, but I am attached to this look
Yaaa love seeing you here . I recommend substacks in my newsletter I’ll be sure to add yours xx
You already had me at Bump n' Grind but then you went and relieved all my early 20s shame of wearing skateboarding sneakers and super wide leg jeans to the office. Thank you for your bravery