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A blue and indigo Girlboss banner that says, ''The Monday Manual in Collaboration with QVC.''

DECEMBER 9, 2024

Talking Points

A GIF of a woman sitting at her desk and looking around confused.

If You're Too Busy...

Last time we checked, nothing was titillating about the faint smell of your insensitive coworkers’ microwaved salmon. Or the click-clacking sound of typing a passive-aggressive message on Slack. Or the itchy wool trousers riding up your crotch for eight hours straight.

But according to pop culture this year, there is nothing that turns us on more than working in an office. Pardon moi? Sorry, we just spat out our room-temperature coffee.

We’re unpacking why we’re all suddenly sexualizing 90s-era professional attire (Tight-fitting pencil skirts! Bust-exposing blouses! Bayonetta glasses!) and fantasizing about having a desk-shakingly steamy affair with your coworker (or even better, your boss). Time to crank up the crappy office A/C. 🌶️ 🥵 🔥

Since When Did the Office Get So Slutty?

But first, let’s do a quick pulse check on these recent pop culture examples of walking HR violations:

🥵 The pearl-clutching new movie Babygirl starring Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson (set to hit theaters on December 25th) tells the story of a high-power CEO (Kidman) who has an illicit affair with her intern (Dickinson). It’s a refreshing gender-reversing take on the tired trope.

🥵 I.AM.GIA’s GIA Office Collection. The ad features “office worker” models bending over desks, photocopying their breasts, and making their male colleagues spoon-feed them yogurt and tie their shoes. This imaginary office’s dress code includes slinky black hosiery, shorter-than-short pleated skirts, and see-through lace dresses. The ad ends with the telephone operator saying, "All of our associates are currently busy serving c*nt.”

🥵 In FKA twigs’ “Eusexua” Music Video, the artist goes from working at her desk in a stuffy pantsuit at a place called “CroneCorp” to doing office chair choreography in her underwear with all of her other hot half-naked colleagues.

Then, of course, we can’t discount one of the biggest archetypes of womanhood that emerged this year: the Office Siren, which some called “working-class cosplay.”

As writer Jennifer Nguyen wrote in Girlboss Daily earlier this year, in response to the trend: “For many, the allure of the Office Siren trend lies in its visual appeal rather than practicality. While form-fitting skirts, shirts, and Y2K shoulder bags may evoke a ‘we mean business’ feeling on a Pinterest board, it doesn’t necessarily align with the daily grind of office life.

In certain fields like hospitality and finance, wearing heels and pantyhose is still very much part of the job description, and while it may be fun to dress up momentarily for a TikTok, it can be tiresome (and uncomfortable) to adhere to outdated dress codes daily.

It also begs the question: Who gets to reinvent what a working professional looks like? And why is it rarely serving the folks who clock in and do the work?”

Vogue France intern Asia Bieuville described the Office Siren archetype as a way to push back on male-dominated office spaces with feminine energy: "We've often been told that women have to adapt to masculine codes to be respected and admired in the corporate world, but I think there's another, more sensual and stylish way," she writes for Who What Wear. "The woman who represents this has ambition, likes to assume her sensuality and femininity, and doesn't care about judgment. She's Samantha Jones in Sex and the City.”

And most recently, The Cut’s culture writer Cat Zhang argues that embracing the Office Siren trend goes beyond clothing. “For other women, attitude is all they’ve got. With no real [job] security, their only option is to approximate power through costume.”

Maybe we’re nostalgic for a more traditional corporate environment (in the '80s and '90s) that never existed, where work was just, well, work and you could go home at the end of the day and not be inundated with notifications from your boss. Or maybe we want to watch our deepest office romance fantasies play out on the big screen. Or maybe the thought of throwing rigid boundaries, strict deadlines, and suffocating rules (all things that workplaces thrive on) out the window really just turns us on.

And doing it in kitten heels and Bayonetta glasses? All the better.

Ask a Recruiter

Should you put a short job stint on your resume? 💨

Some jobs just aren’t meant to be. Whether it was a bad fit from day one or you quickly found yourself in a toxic environment, sometimes it’s necessary to leave a job after just a couple of weeks or months. If you find yourself with a role that didn’t last long, should you put it on your resume? Style Nine to Five career expert Christie Lohr weighs in.

1️⃣ Is it relevant to the new roles you’re applying for? If you have a business background and are looking for executive positions but held a short job as a dog walker, it’s not worth mentioning. On the other hand, if it’s in your field and aligns with your career path, consider adding it to your resume with a brief summary of the role.

2️⃣ Do you have anything positive to say about it? You might have had a terrible experience with your colleagues or had an evil boss, but did you leave with any new skills or valuable career takeaways? Did you grow professionally or learn something about yourself in the process? If you don’t have anything good to say, leave it off your resume.

3️⃣ Can you speak about it in a professional manner? When asked about any previous role in an interview, you must keep it professional, no matter how awful your workdays were. If the mere thought of the job still gives you chills, chances are you won’t be able to keep your cool when talking about it in an interview, so it’s best to omit it.

4️⃣ Does it elevate your current position or advance your career in any way? Let’s say you have your eyes set on a leadership role, and the job was your first step into management; it could be worth putting on your resume. If it was a lateral job or doesn’t move your career forward, leave it off.

5️⃣ What does your gut tell you? Applying and interviewing are all about confidence, and if you’re just not sure or feel uneasy, leave it off. On the other hand, if you feel confident in the job’s takeaways and think it adds value to your job path, go for it. Listen to your instincts!

🚨 GIVEAWAY alert! We partnered with Style Nine to Five to give one lucky winner a FREE career makeover. You’ll receive a complete LinkedIn profile revamp, a resume update, and a personalized cover letter. Enter now. The giveaway closes tomorrow at 11:59 p.m. EST.

On the hunt for a new position? Set your job search up for success with Style Nine to Five’s Get Hired in Your Dream Job Workbook. 🚀

Got a job-hunting question for Christie? Drop it here (submissions are anonymous), and the answer to your q could be featured in an upcoming newsletter.

Hey! Got a forward from a friend? Click here to make it official and subscribe to our next one.

IN COLLABORATION WITH

QVC

Three Kindle Paperwhites in black, pink, and dark teal on a watercolor background.

#BookTok Girlies, This One’s For You 📑

Victoria here, Girlboss’ executive editor! 👋 Call me old-fashioned, but I still love flipping through the physical pages of a fashion magazine or an NSFW smutty novel. Or so I thought.

I had the chance to poke around my mom’s Kindle recently—and I have to admit, I get the hype. No wonder everyone’s been raving about it for over a decade! I might have even put it on my holiday wishlist (because I’m so over lugging around a stack of hefty books in my suitcase on vacation). 👀

A Kindle is such a fool-proof gift idea, and there’s no better place to purchase it than QVC, which has the all-new Kindle Paperwhite for just $129.98 until December 11, 2024 (original retail price is $160). It has 16 GB of storage (think of how many books that is!), a 12-week battery life with regular usage, and a larger-than-ever 7-inch glare-free screen.

Sorry to all of the reading material on my bookshelf, but I think you’ve just been replaced…

SHOP NOW

Snacks

⚖️ If you’re feeling stuck in your career in your 20s and 30s, ask yourself this question.

👏 Belgium is the first country to give sex workers employment rights. Hell yes!

📄 Does your resume scream “competitive Executive MBA candidate?”*

🚨 Um, why are so many Forbes 30 Under 30 honorees ending up in prison?!

🍷 Your holiday office party survival guide: small talk edition.

_{*This link is sponsored}

GIRLBOSS X SUNDAYS FOR DOGS

ICYMI

Sundays For Dogs co-founder Dr. Tory Waxman feeding her rescue dog Mabel a treat on a hike.

This Vet Couldn’t Find Dog Food Good Enough For Her Pup—So She Created Her Own

Dr. Tory Waxman’s rescue dog Mabel is the heart and soul of Sundays For Dogs. "Mabel is so much more than a dog to me—she has been a constant companion and my best friend."

READ NOW

HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS 🎁

Staff Picks

A woman wearing yellow headphones is smiling at her phone. Around her head are animated images of candy canes, snowflakes, a snowman, a hat, and different words in different languages.

Rosetta Stone

The Creative Gift That’s Way Better Than a Gift Card

“Sure, I love fuzzy reading socks, candy cane-printed pajamas, and a Sephora gift card as much as the next gal—but you know what’s even cooler? A gift that will last a lifetime. Like learning a new language, perhaps? Rosetta Stone has been the most trusted name in the language-learning game for over 30 years (she’s always been that girl 💅) and right now, you can get 60% off a lifetime subscription (just pay $149 once for unlimited access to 25+ languages—a steal!). But hurry, the offer ends tomorrow! No wrapping required or worrying about the gift arriving on time—just a creative present that’s perfect for everyone on your list, from the picky, travel-obsessed aunt to the too-cool niece studying abroad. You’re welcome for just saving you a stress-sweat-inducing trip to the mall!” — Victoria, executive editor

^*^{This link is sponsored}

CLAIM YOUR DEAL

Feather and Down Pillow, Shop Marriott, from $85

The Essential For a Good Night’s Rest

“A hotel sleep just hits different. 😴 It’s one of life’s greatest feelings and one that I—a freelancer with a sleep schedule that needs improvement—intend on recreating in my very own space. The first step? Swapping out my sad, flat, and def-past-their-prime pillows for a new pair from none other than Marriott Hotels. (Really committing to the hotel theme here!) And guess what? These heavenly pillows are 30% off for the holidays! With a firm inner core wrapped in luxe allergen-free down, these pillows are both fluffy and supportive, cradling your head for endless nights of restful sleep. Long story short, in the words of our dear girlie pop Lizzie McGuire, this is what dreams are made of. 💤 💞*” — D’Loraine, contributor

^{*This link is sponsored}

SHOP NOW

A model wearing the Flannel Long PJ Set in Red Ribbon from Print Fresh

Flannel Long PJ Set in Red Ribbon, Print Fresh, $168

The Ultimate Cozy Christmas PJs

“Even though I’m a grown-ass adult, waking up on Christmas morning in a fresh set of jammies is still one of my deepest delights. Sue me! I’m always keeping my eyes peeled for the perfect print (after all, it’s going to appear in all of my mom’s Christmas morning Facebook photos 😜), and to say I’m obsessed with the playful snowglobes on these Print Fresh PJs is an understatement (Mermaids! Poodles! Leopards!). What I especially love is the lightweight flannel material: it’s perfect for cozying up in all holiday season long, and you can even have your set monogrammed. Oh, and did I mention it has pockets too?!” — Lara, contributor

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Discover more Girlboss-approved gifts for everyone on your list here.

Job Board

JOB OF THE DAY

Social Media Manager, Teen Vogue

Teen Vogue is seeking an enthusiastic Social Media Manager to manage day to day social posting and optimization for the digital team. This role is primarily responsible for daily posting and scheduling on Facebook and Twitter as well as assisting on posting and scheduling for various other platforms including Instagram and Pinterest for Teen Vogue.

This role works collaboratively across teams to roll out monthly cover launches and features, deliver on sponsorships, manage social partnerships, and collaborate on growth strategy.

APPLY IF YOU: Have a minimum requirement of 3-4 years of social media experience; Are passionate about social media and growing audiences; Have familiarity with Teen Vogue’s content, tone and voice; Are a positive team player and an enthusiastic work ethic; Have strong writing and communication skills and editorial judgment; Have a basic understanding of social media analytics and experience optimizing content.

SALARY: $80,000-$90,000

Girlboss

🤔 Work is sexy now?