It's much easier to wear a leotard than it is to dance. I figured this out quickly, after fraying my tutu on the barre, and spilling milk on my leg warmers. After my third successive recital in the back row, I conceded my coup de grace.

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To dance involved a balance, discipline and skill that 12-year-old me did not possess. However, what I did possess was a pair of Bloch ballet flats and a roll of baby pink ribbon. I wanted to dress the part of a ballerina, not play it.

Having recently started working in an office, I have once again picked up dressing the part. Midi skirts, kitten heels and a pair of red glasses I bought for $5 in Cambodia have become a sort of uniform. However, this work uniform has been slowly trickling from workwear into my casualwear. A quick glance at social media affirms that I'm not the only one. This begs the question - why is labour all of a sudden such an aesthetic?

For their take on what other young people in Canberra are wearing, I spoke to some owners and retail assistants of local vintage stores in Braddon.

Tom Rush, co-owner of Garmes, tells me that what young people are wearing is "very reflective as to what industry [they're] a part of". In Canberra, which is very APS-centred, corporate attire is taking a bit of a hold. Amaru Ley, another Garmes co-owner, says that as more and more Gen Zs begin to enter the workforce, people want to bring the clothes they wear most to work.

This observation is shared by Mia Petterson from Blonde Concept, who says shoppers are pushing for fun and interesting takes on corporate wear. She's seeing lots of layering, perfect silhouettes, and checks and plaid.

The increased popularity of corporate pieces and tailored silhouettes noted by Ms Petterson and Mr Rush has a few explanations. The first is that, obviously, trends come in cycles. As Sekai Mututu from Goodbyes points out, history always repeats itself. The growth of........

© Canberra Times