The office-core aesthetic, introduced on April 25, 2025, has gained significant traction over the past year, becoming a defining trend in contemporary fashion. This movement goes beyond aesthetics; it’s a symptom of larger cultural changes and attitudes around work and workplaces. The BBC’s flagship international news programme, What in the World, recently diagnosed this phenomenon, prescribing a healthy dose of journalism in just 12 minutes.
The office-core aesthetic is perhaps best described by its pragmatic, chic creations where comfort and function always come first. It takes cues from formal officewear but mixes in contemporary flavors that make it more accessible to a wider audience. This trend goes beyond the aesthetic of appearing professional—it’s a whole way of thinking that encourages greater productivity and a better work-life balance. Society is constantly dealing with the realities of new hybrid workplaces. In reaction to these changing forces, the office-core aesthetic has taken root.
The BBC, Britain’s public service broadcaster widely praised for its rich range of content and programming, today counts this topic in its World Service daily programming. The BBC provides services in other languages, such as Cymraeg, Gaeilge, and Gàidhlig. This style of thinking helps make sure their impact is inclusive and far-reaching. This commitment to accessibility is further exemplified through resources like BBC Sounds Help, which assists listeners with various inquiries, including signing in.
If you’re as ready to immerse yourself in this office-core aesthetic as we are, listen to the episode of What in the World. You can hear it on the BBC’s own website at www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3ct73lh. Find more episodes on big ideas like this one at www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/w13xtvrv. This new resource provides an incredible amount of information and context about the trends happening right now to an engaged audience.
The office-core aesthetic emphasizes the productive meeting of form and function, style and social mandate. It serves as a leading indicator for what’s become accepted practice in the workplace. As the idea continues to take hold, it will start to affect individual style decisions. Beyond that, it will ignite bigger conversations about employee culture and self-identity.
