“Corporate-Core” Is Milan Fashion Week’s Most Basic Street Style Trend

“Cool” and “fashionable” are words not often associated with an in-office outfit. Instead, most of us—myself included—wear office outfits best described as “practical,” “sensible,” or “simple.” However, the street stylers at Milan Fashion Week are currently proving that traditional 9-to-5 outfits can fall into that elusive first category. “Corporate-core” is one of the biggest trends in Italy this week, giving hope to everyone lugging their laptop around in a pencil skirt and pumps.

While dramatic fur coats and sky-high stilettos reigned supreme at New York Fashion Week this month, showgoers in Milan are trading their brightest and most attention-grabbing silhouettes for Severance-coded staples like blazers, pleated trousers, and loafers. It was a welcome reminder that, for many attendees, fashion shows—while glamorous—are part of their workday. And after several weeks spent jetting all over the globe, packing light (and for comfort) is necessary for the agenda. Versatility was in the meeting notes, so to speak.