Why the Corpcore Look is Killing it For Menswear

While outdoorsy gorpcore-inspired fashionistas still dominate the current landscape of style microtrends, dapper and chic 9-to-5-inspired corpcore/librarian-inspired outfits for everyday looks are still making waves in the business of cool. Does unironically dressing up like Patrick Bateman from the classic thriller American Psycho actually elevate your style game?

The current style landscape is now seeing a resurgence of aesthetic-discerning younger Gen Z and millennials sporting vintage neck-ties with short-sleeve button down dress shirts together with a myriad of bottom and footwear combinations.

So, why are Gen Zs and millennials drawn to taking their boardroom workwear and corporate and semi-formal look inspirations to the hottest shindigs and concerts?

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A Louis Vuitton campaign with a corpcore look

If you frequent online discussion boards on places like Reddit and even scour through your Pinterest feeds to explore style possibilities, you might have come across terms thrown around such as “office siren,” “geek chic,” ”businesscore,” and even “corporate fetish.” Think of the dapper and chic looks from Don Draper and the other partnered advertising men from one of the greatest TV dramas of all time, Mad Men.

Ladies out there are also revisiting the timeless looks from Andy Sachs from The Devil Wears Prada.

These colloquialisms all boil down to a fashion ethos involving a phenomenon in fashion right now leaning towards the color gray, neutral colors, blazers, formal trousers, suits, neckties, and button-ups.

Other accessories and components of this aesthetic may include neckties made of different fabrics that are even making a comeback on runways.

When we talk about this fetishization of officewear, which gained traction last year, style aficionados glamorize freshly laundered 9-to-5 essentials, and sartorial properties for a chic look that commands power and attention.

Don Draper from Mad Men, a posterboy for the dapper man of the 1960s

The office siren look is primarily focused on women reviving early 2000s trends such as bayonetta style glasses, pencil skirts, and button-up blouses.

This is a stark contrast to the aforementioned and ultra-popular gorpcore, which fuses the functionality of camping gear and the effortless style of baggy parachute pants and gore-tex materials.

Corporate core or corpcore is also endearingly often referred to as corporate cosplay, which could be a mainstay for the everyman’s wardrobe for the foreseeable future.

Unlike other style trends, dressing up in chic office attire is unlikely to make you look out of fashion. Current style trends still heavily lean on blending nostalgia with creative twists on tried and tested silhouettes. Corpcore is no different, but still highlights timeless pieces that exude authority, power, and effortless sophistication even beyond the watercooler.

The fashion industry is now romanticizing business-appropriate garments out on the runway and we can’t say we're against it. Wearing something like a suit or even just a necktie just commands authority and competency. These outfits, which are meant to make people stand out less in the corporate setting, does the complete opposite out in the wild.

At the end of the day, this might be a form of a fashion counterculture much like the other nostalgia-driven ethos of current fashion trends.

We also see this trend as subversion, since you could just be wearing those edgy business clothes as an ironic statement and to show individuality especially if you’re doing it while you hate your job.

What really changed corporate culture worldwide was the coronavirus pandemic, which forever caused a shift toward more hybrid and flexible work arrangements and the diminished need to show up in these clothes on a daily basis.

And this even rings true on how Gen Zs are very vocal about the need for individuality even in the workplace and are even “anti-work” when it comes to workloads and balancing careers with personal lives and mental health.

A switch flipped after the pandemic as companies and businesses saw the practicality of doing away with renting out office spaces and having workers come in daily in person without compromising their product. The modern professional would more likely than not refuse to go back to the traditional corporate jobs with these stringent arrangements.

This translates into the fashion scene flipping the 9-to-5 dread and the tiresome monotony previously associated with the office, to focus on sophistication and power.

Corpcore also draws from the pendulum swing of the 2010s and early 2020 from relaxed streetwear fashion to an aesthetic centered on quiet luxury and class.

Below are our picks for what you need from your closet to make a statement with that corpcore flair.

Your Corpcore Starter Kit

1| A well-ironed, crisp button-up shirt

Crisp is the keyword here, and we leave it to you if you go for a short-sleeve or long-sleeve option. Keep the theme of neutral colors such as white, gray, or blue with this since this is meant to be a foundational piece in the corpcore bible.

2| A trusty pair of pleated trousers

Pleated trousers or tailored suit pants will be what ties your corpcore look together. Most people wouldn’t look twice at your bottoms, but it is crucial to don pants that are made from quality fabric and aren’t too skinny.

3| A well-tailored blazer

You can’t go wrong with a blazer that is either oversized, or tailor-fitting on any outfit. Just make sure that if you go for the looser option that the proportions aren’t comically unsettling. While many corpcore looks often ditch the blazer, we still favor sporting one to ooze maximum power and authority.

4| A vintage necktie

A future forward twist you can add to the conventional business attire is a vintage tie made of silk or other eye-catching textiles. Picking out an esoteric or not your run-of-the-mill formal necktie is giving a nod to nostalgia. This is where your personality and distinct flair will shine and signal to onlookers that you mean business.

5| A good pair of loafers

A chic pair of black honest-to-goodness leather penny tassel loafers should be a staple of any fashion-forward man’s wardrobe. The loafer has made a quiet comeback in fashion, not that it was ever out of  it, just that its versatility to effortlessly inject class into any outfit. We recommended the ol’ reliable Dr. Martens Adrian Arcadia loafers for a serviceable job.