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In this week’s newsletter: a closer look at a 1998 Vogue US editorial that was more than a mere fashion spread. Plus: styling tips from 1998 that remain relevant today, and a shopping selection featuring Ralph Lauren, Massimo Dutti, Theory and a long-forgotten American cashmere classic.
"The style is sleek yet feminine, structured, and tailored, with a refined and neutral color palette," reads a description of a certain TikTok trend that emerged earlier this year. "A TikTok trend called Cabmate?" you might wonder. Well, no. We’re talking about one of Gen Z’s latest christenings of a long-existing aesthetic that finds its origins in the ‘90s. We’re talking about the Office Siren.
Office Siren, an aesthetic centered around business-inspired, minimalist attire, "relying heavily on neutrals and even more heavily on black — all in an effort to let the silhouette and accessories pop while not distracting from the siren's intellect, personality, and ambition," allows early twenty-somethings entering the workforce to play a character of sorts (preferably one akin to Gisele Bündchen in The Devil Wears Prada) while tackling Excel sheets, editing PowerPoint presentations, or enduring hours-long Zoom calls.
There was a time however when minimalist business attire held deeper meaning beyond just dressing up as favorite movie characters. This week, we explore an editorial that encapsulated the more profound, original version of the Office Siren. In this week’s article: Steven Meisel’s “Corporate Chic”, the 1998 Vogue editorial that urged you to "forget cookie-cutter suits and glass ceilings," and provided empowering fashion and beauty notes that still hold true 25 years after its publication.
Finding Your Look — The Right Clothes, Whatever Your Life
The August 1998 edition of US Vogue, featuring Carolyn Murphy on the cover, highlighted four editorials under the theme "Finding Your Look — The Right Clothes, Whatever Your Life.” Three of them were, so to say, very Cabmate:
Uptown Lady
"New classics exude conservatism, yet are styled in ways that defy the traditional ladies-who-lunch crowd"
The Downtown Scene
"While Uptown signifies luxury, downtown exudes attitude, featuring sleek suits, slim sheaths, and high-tech totes"
and, focal point of this week’s newsletter: Corporate Chic
"This modern executive woman demands a stylishly constructed wardrobe that's both personal and sophisticated"
Corporate Chic
Captured on top of Condé Nast’s iconic NYC building by the legendary Steven Meisel and styled by Grace Coddington, the Corporate Chic editorial was more than just a fashion spread—it was a powerful statement. One that still appeals today.
In the editorial, Meisel and Coddington sought to underscore the profound impact of fashion in bolstering women’s confidence and authority in the workplace. With their safety helmets on, the women demonstrate that they are fully in command: they issue instructions, direct the workmen to their tasks, and are far more than just stylish accessories in a professional setting. Their poised demeanor and assertive presence assert their authority on the pictured construction site, and challenge the traditional gender norms. It's the women calling the shots, not 60+ year-old-white-haired Harry.
The featured clothes, from very Cabmate designers like Jil Sander, Calvin Klein, Helmut Lang, Donna Karan, Michael Kors, and Ralph Lauren, exude sophistication and empowerment, and show that elegance can go hand in hand with authority. "Higher-powered style no longer means an old-fashioned power suit—sometimes a simple sweater says it all," one of the editorial captions highlights. A sentiment that remains relevant today (Kamala Harris and Ursula von der Leyen, do you take notes?) Despite societal expectations, exuding power doesn't always require donning traditional suits; embracing sleek elegance can convey authority just as effectively, if not more so.
"Higher-powered style no longer means an old-fashioned power suit—sometimes a simple sweater says it all”
Let's delve into the imagery and uncover the fashion and beauty insights Vogue's editorial team incorporated in 1998 — all of which can be seen as guiding principles in creating a very Cabmate wardrobe that conveys authority and elegance.
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