When you think of corporate dress code, there’s a picture that springs to mind. It includes a suit and button-down shirt. This season, workwear has added a BDSM twist. It’s take-your-leather-harness-to-work season, as evidenced by the fall 2021 and spring 2022 collections that made a case for pairing tailored sets with the body accessory.
Two years after working remotely, the look of workwear has changed. “Business comfort” is a combination of tailored joggers and sneakers, paired with suits. This trend will continue as we return to work. If you are still confused about what to wear in real life, don’t worry. This isn’t your grandfather’s suit. Brands are now offering new styles with oversized silhouettes and two-toned blazers.
Other designers propose a more NSFW approach for workwear.
For its 100th anniversary collection, Gucci showed a lineup that included equestrian nods, with leather whips, polo riding hats, knee-high boots, and body harnesses. Alessandro Michele, creative director, paired the velvet monochrome suits with corseted dresses and flowing frocks, which could be worn from a conference meeting to a dinner party. Dion Lee showed black belted harnesses over crop tops, white asymmetrical pieces that swoop over flowing tops, and mesh cut out mini dresses with corseting for fall 2021. Meanwhile, Dior’s Cruise 2022 showed a myriad of ladylike dresses and collegiate button-downs and turtlenecks paired with, you guessed, leather harnesses.
Although it might seem unlikely that leather accessories will be worn to work, it is possible. Harnesses are already gaining popularity. Leather harnesses were first made in the 1980s and 1990s. They have been synonymous with kink-adjacent fashion since their inception. They made their runway debut in the early 2010s, when designers like Herve Leger and Prabal Gurung adopted the look. Remember: This was the era of Fifty Shades of Grey. These books-turned-movies brought BDSM culture into the mainstream and made Seattle’s corporate culture a hot topic.
A few years ago, the leather harness made another mainstream comeback: Celebrities like Timothee Chalamet, Michael B. Jordan, and Orlando Bloom .donned iterations of harness-like accessories – which the Call Me By Your Name actor tried to pass as a bib (yeah, right!). On the red carpet, they were paired with tailored button-down shirts. Zara, a mass brand, welcomed the accessory to their ranks.
Fall trends announced the return to the leather harness. However, spring runways in 2022 proved it isn’t going anywhere. It’s now making its way into workwear. Look no further than LaPointe’s most recent collection. Sally LaPointe, brand designer, transformed a downtown storefront to become a club with neon lights and ear-busting techno for the brand’s spring 2022 presentation. There were monochrome suits with feather details and harnesses to match.
After spending over a year locked down, it’s obvious that we don’t want to follow the rules. The end of boring pantsuits, corporate briefcases and the “Great Resignation” has arrived just in time. We’re no longer wasting our time, having spent most of the year at home.
