Weekly Visual Spotlight: Nicole Kidman Revitalizes the Classic 9-to-5 Wardrobe Within Hollywood's Elite Circle
Nicolas Cage isn't the only celebrated figure to appreciate the straightforward barcode. This week, a trend has unfolded – from Rihanna strolling around LA in a stretchy Bottega Veneta striped outfit, to Elle Fanning showing up at a London photoshoot for "A Stranger Among Us" in a trendy Saint Laurent pinstripe shirt (complemented with beige wide-legged trousers and a navy bowtie).
The distinctive motif – most boldly expressed in Cage's attire – can be traced back to at least the Medieval period. One of the earliest references to pin-striping in literature comes from Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales," penned in the 14th century, where the English chronicler described a lawyer wearing a plain coat "tied with a silken belt of pin-stripe cloth." By the Victorian era, suits embellished with single-thread lines had become a mainstay among the British financial elite, but the style of stripes was more about practicality than panache. Each financial institution reportedly had its unique color palette or fabric, while the thickness and distance between the stripes themselves denoted an individual's status within the organization.
There's an amusing contradiction in the fact that those in the celebrity circles – who appear to float above the monotony and despair of cubicle living and corporate dress codes – are adopting this unyielding emblem of corporate professionalism. Yet, they are not alone. Despite the remote work culture eroding the necessity for conventional office attire, there is a desire for a more lively version of the 9-5 style.
This year, young adults have romanticized pin-stripes, gray suits, and opaque stockings with the "cubicle vixen" microtrend – a phrase that has 48,000 videos linked to it on TikTok, with some gathering millions of views. At the Saint Laurent show in September, the same line Fanning wore for her Monday night appearance, creative director Anthony Vaccarello highlighted the power suit – designing them with dramatic '80s shoulders, pinstriped shirts, and brilliantly colored ties. Fashion houses LaQuan Smith, Nina Ricci, and Antonio Marras similarly adopted the trend, offering pinstripe tailoring reimagined in either mini dresses or exaggerated silhouettes.
Fortunately for her, Cage won't have to seek employment in an authentic office anytime soon. However, dressed in her striped suit, she embodies the essence of the "Dangerous Minds"-boss.
The trend of incorporating pin-stripes into fashion, as seen in Rihanna's outfit and Elle Fanning's attire, can be traced back to the Medieval period and its practical use among the British financial elite. This year, the "cubicle vixen" microtrend on TikTok, with its focus on pin-stripes, gray suits, and opaque stockings, has gained popularity, with some videos attracting millions of views.
