Fashion Essentials

Just filed my taxes and have a modest refund coming in so I've decided to start building up my wardrobe for interviews and full time work. Where do I start? I currently own a solid blue suit from Macy's and some Rockport's, along with a handful of banana republic dress shirts, so essentially, I'm starting from scratch.

What are some good shoes, shirts, suits to start with? How many of everything do I need? Do I need a watch? Recommend some brands/styles that I can get into for a decent price.

 

From GS Elevator: "1: Watches don't matter (to 1st year with new Rolex). I rock a Nike watch. 2: If you want watches to matter, go work at Citi or Wells Fargo."

For serious though, bespoke on a budget: http://www.hiras.com/ , http://www.maxwellsclothiers.com/

I've never used Hiras, but have a lot of friends that have suits from Maxwell's, shirts are nice to.

 
rgar07:
What are some good shoes, how many pairs, what colors etc?
Not sure if you have the $ yet, but everyone should own a pair of snaffle bit loafers in either black or brown. Should run you roughly $500. You are either a Ferragamo guy or a Gucci guy, but never both.
 

throw out the rockports...go to allen edmunds for shoes or if you want a really nice pair try to find a ferragamo outlet store. Shirts- try charles tyrwitt. Suits...not sure on this one i seem to get my suits from all different places...I have heard and seen good things from Mysuit NY (there is one in midtown and one by Wall Street...freinds like them and their suits look good. Alot of customization and cost around $500 for MTM.

 

Shoes - Allen Edmonds are the standard. Johnston & Murphy or Cole Haan if you don't want to shell out for the AEs. Get two pairs of laceups, take good care of them (rotate them, shoe trees, etc.) and they'll last forever.

 

Well I suggest starting out with the following...

Suit: One navy and one charcoal worsted. Ralph Lauren / Brooks Bros or any brand really should suit you fine for now, just make sure its tailored.

Watch: Seiko Diver, Vintage Rolex...you have a lot of choices, its really a matter of taste.

Shirt: Thomas Pink, Brooks Bros...stick with the solid colors and slim fit.

Shoes: Alden / AE Park Aves, in black and cordovan.

Overcoat: Something nice like Burberry. You should be ok with a peacoat and maybe a toggle coat for those extra cold and windy days.

Just join Styleforum or superfuture and read through all the old threads about suiting and menswear essentials. You can thank me later.

 

Don't throw out your rockports... save them for snowy days at work. That street salt destroys shoes.

Personally have two cole haans and one brooks brothers pair. Love all three.

Frank Sinatra - "Alcohol may be man's worst enemy, but the bible says love your enemy."
 
Best Response

Alright, I'm going to try and make a definitive post here because these questions are coming quicker than me when I lost my virginity. Keep in mind this is for those who are just starting out.

Suits: Pick from any of these: J. Crew, Uniqlo, Indochino, SuitSupply, BB. Don't worry about your first few suits; you can ball hard with nicer brands when those checks start flowing in. Just make sure your suit fits you well. I'm assuming that most of you know your body proportions (e.g. shoulders, drop, etc.) and what flatters you the most.

Shirts: Spread or point collars. Colors can range from blues to whites (pink if you want to go there). The worst thing I've seen is a new hire wearing dark grey/black shirts. If you're working in this industry, move towards conservative.

Pants: This should be easy. No severe taper. Slim fit all around (read: not skin-tight). Little to no break. Please don't let your pants stack; this just looks really sloppy. Wear a belt.

Shoes: Allen Edmonds, Cole Haan, J&M, Alden are all good. I scored some nice Magnanni black leather captoes at Century 21 for

 

[quote=EtherBinge]Alright, I'm going to try and make a definitive post here because these questions are coming quicker than me when I lost my virginity. Keep in mind this is for those who are just starting out.

Suits: Pick from any of these: J. Crew, Uniqlo, Indochino, SuitSupply, BB. Don't worry about your first few suits; you can ball hard with nicer brands when those checks start flowing in. Just make sure your suit fits you well. I'm assuming that most of you know your body proportions (e.g. shoulders, drop, etc.) and what flatters you the most.

Shirts: Spread or point collars. Colors can range from blues to whites (pink if you want to go there). The worst thing I've seen is a new hire wearing dark grey/black shirts. If you're working in this industry, move towards conservative.

Pants: This should be easy. No severe taper. Slim fit all around (read: not skin-tight). Little to no break. Please don't let your pants stack; this just looks really sloppy. Wear a belt.

Shoes: Allen Edmonds, Cole Haan, J&M, Alden are all good. I scored some nice Magnanni black leather captoes at Century 21 for

 

AE - Buy them on sale or on Ebay.

Suits - I like a range of them, but just make sure they are 100% wool. Find a good tailor and it will make all the difference, Navy and Grey. Expand from there.

Shirts - Same as above. I like BB, but whatever you want. Get a spread collar, make sure it fits. Shouldn't billow.

Ties - whatever. I like whimsical prints so I will get Hermes or Gamo. Vineyard Vines is fine also. No one cares.

Belts - Whatever. Brown and Black. Match the shoes.

Watches - Wait for bonus season. No one cares, but you can get a nice, preowned watch for $1-2K. Think Omega, Rolex Datejust SS, etc. Seiko makes some nice watches also. Get the Japanese models. Wegner does also.

Get everything tailored is really the key. Stuff that fits looks good. Buy stuff on ebay if you want.

Buy a steamer also. Will save you money and save wear and tear on your suits. If your suits and shoes aren't lasting a decade or more you are doing something wrong.

 
<span class=keyword_link><a href=/company/trilantic-north-america>TNA</a></span>:
Watches - Wait for bonus season. No one cares, but you can get a nice, preowned watch for $1-2K. Think Omega, Rolex Datejust SS, etc. Seiko makes some nice watches also. Get the Japanese models. Wegner does also.
Dang, show me where you're finding Datejust SS Rolexes for that price...
 
overpaid_overworked:
Shoes last a decade? Maybe I walk too much, but I can't get through two years before the soles wear through.

Get them resoled. I never said the sole would last forever. But good shoes can be repaired instead of replaced.

 

Charles Tyrwhitt, Brooks Brothers and Calvin Klein are good choices, or at least they are for me. They are usually on "sale" if you buy two or more and they last quite a bit. Good quality.

 

1 suit, charcoal 1 dark jeans 2 chinos

2 shirt :1 white 1 light blue 2 cardigans/sweaters: grey.black,maroon,...

! leather shoe, brown 1 sneaker white

1 metal watch

 

I buy lots of stuff from Next Direct. It's a British retailer which ships online. You get the benefit from it being British so your shit will actually be fashionable.

-------------------------------------------------------- "I do not think there is any other quality so essential to success of any kind as the quality of perseverance. It overcom
 

Shirts: -Charles Tyrwhitt shirts on sale (slim fit)- order in British pounds and you can get less than $40 per shirt. -Some shirts from Macys (i.e. Michael Kors) look fine for about $30-$35 on sale -Also try some department stores like Nordstrom, Century 21, Filenes, etc. (Stick with white and light blues with subtle patterns. No cuff-links.)

Pants: -not really sure, still trying to find good pants at a good price myself

Shoes: -1 pair of black cap toes should be fine for the summer. Try the Johnston & Murphy Melton (Check DSW if they still sell it online- they had the cheapest price last I checked). If you want a shoe that will last you longer, can't go wrong with the classic Allen Edmonds Park Avenue. If you want cheaper, try Florsheim.

Ties/Socks/Belts/Accessories: -Macys, Century 21, Filenes, etc.

$1500 should be plenty if you already have the suits. Just make sure what you buy fits you properly and is not too flashy. Remember your work as a SA is more important than your wardrobe.

 
Banker88:
Shirts: -Charles Tyrwhitt shirts on sale (slim fit)- order in British pounds and you can get less than $40 per shirt. -Some shirts from Macys (i.e. Michael Kors) look fine for about $30-$35 on sale -Also try some department stores like Nordstrom, Century 21, Filenes, etc. (Stick with white and light blues with subtle patterns. No cuff-links.)

Pants: -not really sure, still trying to find good pants at a good price myself

Shoes: -1 pair of black cap toes should be fine for the summer. Try the Johnston & Murphy Melton (Check DSW if they still sell it online- they had the cheapest price last I checked). If you want a shoe that will last you longer, can't go wrong with the classic Allen Edmonds Park Avenue. If you want cheaper, try Florsheim.

Ties/Socks/Belts/Accessories: -Macys, Century 21, Filenes, etc.

$1500 should be plenty if you already have the suits. Just make sure what you buy fits you properly and is not too flashy. Remember your work as a SA is more important than your wardrobe.

As I'm glancing through Charles Tyrrwhit website, it seems that all the shirts come standard as cuff-linked shirts. Are there any normal ones?

 
Banker88:
Shirts: -Charles Tyrwhitt shirts on sale (slim fit)- order in British pounds and you can get less than $40 per shirt.

Just put 10 shirts in my shopping cart on the CT site (in British pounds) and when I went to check out it automatically changes my currency to dollars. Not at the current exchange rate but at the $60 a pop price they want for each shirt. Any idea how to check out in pounds?

 

For reasonably priced but good fitting and nice looking shoes, I get J&M Deerskin. I like them a lot, no complaints.

Jack: They’re all former investment bankers who were laid off from that economic crisis that Nancy Pelosi caused. They have zero real world skills, but God they work hard. -30 Rock
 
DaCarez:
aight im gonna bump this thread for the pants - anyone got suggestions on good places to get pants?

I'm on the slimmer side with not too much of an ass so most all pants I tried at Nordstrom, Macy's, Ross, Marshall's, Banana Republic, shit, even Express looked stupid on me. ie - they invariably make me look like i'm either wearing a fanny pack or smuggling balloons in my pants. But then I discovered Zara. Now in the clubs I'm all like, "y'all can't hold mah donkey rope". (

)

No seriously, high quality, great fit if you're slim.

 

guys the pants to get are either Mabitex or Incotex, both can be had at daffy's for 200.

these pants will get you laid

edit: they offer all types, cashmere, linen, wool, cotton...get the wool or wool/cash blend for work clearly

 

Will none of the UK-based guys pipe up to let our Yankee friends know Charles Tyrrwhit is shit? No? Ok I'll do it. Charles Tyrrwhit is shit :)

Seriously lads it is mass produced mail order garbage. The reason it is 'always on sale' is because the markups are fake to begin with, I don't think you could even buy them full price if you wanted to.

I second most of the other suggestions, especially with splashing out on some decent shoes. With shirts though I would never mail order unless it is from a tailor who has fitted you in the past. The fit of a shirt is far more important than the label inside the collar - I have ridiculously overpriced Prada and Versace shirts my mother has given me for xmas/bday which look waaaay cheaper on me than the tailored shirts I bought in HK for $10 a pop. You should be able to find decent shirts at a good price from any department store, just make sure you try them on first.

 

Nordstom has some good quality store band shirts. CT shirts are nice, but pretty colorful. Might want to avoid that if you start.

I think the quality of CT shirts is subjective. I would not call them shit though. They are going to be normal, off the rack type of shirts. The prices are pretty reasonable and considering you will be beating the hell out of them as long as they are decent who cares.

http://www.zappos.com/mens-oxfords?zfcTest=navAndThumbs2:0

There you go for shoes. I have expensive shoes and I have normal Kenneth Cole shoes. Unless you run into a style freak no one will care. Anyone who gives a shit about the brand of your shoe at this level of the game is a moron.

PS. I have rubber and leather soles and if you are going to be walking to work or walking a lot get rubber. Leather can get moldy if wet (think NYC snow), extremely slippery (!!) and uncomfortable for long walks.

 
AnthonyD1982:
Nordstom has some good quality store band shirts. CT shirts are nice, but pretty colorful. Might want to avoid that if you start.

I think the quality of CT shirts is subjective. I would not call them shit though. They are going to be normal, off the rack type of shirts. The prices are pretty reasonable and considering you will be beating the hell out of them as long as they are decent who cares.

I'm 5'7" with a 16" neck so most off the rack shirts look like I'm wearing Dad's dress shirt to a First Communion when I was little. CT makes not only slim fit but also a new Tailored fit which is even narrower. I tried it on today in the NYC store and it fit like a glove, I love the cut. First time I could ever say that about an off the rack shirt. Got 4 white, 4 light blue, 2 pink for a business casual group.
 

What is all this talk about pants? If I am in a business casual environment I usually just wear suit pants and bring the jacket. I mean if you have 5-7 suits then you have 5-7 pairs of pants. I suppose you can go out and buy some BR chinos or whatever.

Frankly, just by whatever is on sale and have it tailored. At this level you just want to look professional and make your work count.

 

Sorry to bump up the old post, but I'm starting as a 1st year analyst at a BB next June and was wondering how much of my signing bonus(12k) I should spend on my wardrobe.

I don't want to overshoot because I'm planning to buy more as I get to know more about what others are wearing, but I don't want to look like a poor college student who has no taste for clothing. This is for S&T division by the way.

 

I don't normally post about this type of stuff but there've been a number of threads about this recently, so I'll share my thoughts.

I'd say you can get by with about $5,000. I know some people here will do the math and think however many shirts at $150-200 each, two or three suits at $1,000-1,500, and so on and so forth and tell you that it'll add up to $5,000 in no time. But my best advice to you is to hit up some of the department store sales -- all of them, including Bergdorf, Neiman, Barneys, all the way down to Century 21 or whatever have sales going on every couple months. A lot of them also have factory or outlet sales where you can buy all the high-priced stuff at a significant discount. People will tell you that you can't find good off-the-rack stuff like Brioni and Zegna at these sales, but you absolutely can. However, if you feel better with more commercial makers like Thomas Pink or Charles Tyrwhitt, I think that'd be fine too. You're far better off wearing something you feel comfortable and confident in, than dropping money on big ticket items that are beyond your price range.

But more importantly, you definitely don't want to go balls to the wall on new clothing because it doesn't sound like you have a solid idea of what your "style" is - and that's totally fine. So until then, spend smartly and you can definitely get a good wardrobe together with a few thousand -- and I'm talking about everything that you mentioned above. Of course, there's a certain baseline level of quality that you ought to get in order to "look your role," and you'll be able to find ample suggestions on this forum...but you don't need to stretch your cash just because someone said that's the only way to do things on Wall Street. If you start dropping $2,000+ per suit just because someone on this forum told you to, chances are you'll make a purchase that you'll later regret. If you wouldn't purchase a car or an apartment without doing adequate research and knowing exactly what fits your tastes, you shouldn't do it with a suit either.

​* http://www.linkedin.com/in/numicareerconsulting
 
numi:
I'd say you can get by with about $5,000. I know some people here will do the math and think however many shirts at $150-200 each, two or three suits at $1,000-1,500, and so on and so forth and tell you that it'll add up to $5,000 in no time. But my best advice to you is to hit up some of the department store sales -- all of them, including Bergdorf, Neiman, Barneys, all the way down to Century 21 or whatever have sales going on every couple months. A lot of them also have factory or outlet sales where you can buy all the high-priced stuff at a significant discount. People will tell you that you can't find good off-the-rack stuff like Brioni and Zegna at these sales, but you absolutely can. However, if you feel better with more commercial makers like Thomas Pink or Charles Tyrwhitt, I think that'd be fine too. You're far better off wearing something you feel comfortable in, than dropping money on big ticket items that are beyond your price range.

But more importantly, you definitely don't want to go balls to the wall on new clothing because it doesn't sound like you have a solid idea of what your "style" is - and that's totally fine. So until then, spend smartly and you can definitely get a good wardrobe together with a few thousand -- and I'm talking about everything that you mentioned above. Of course, there's a certain baseline level of quality that you ought to get in order to "look your role," and you'll be able to find ample suggestions on this forum...but you don't need to stretch your cash just because someone said that's the only way to do things on Wall Street. If you start dropping $2,000+ per suit just because someone on this forum told you to, chances are you'll make a purchase that you'll later regret. If you wouldn't purchase a car or an apartment without doing adequate research and knowing exactly what fits your tastes, you shouldn't do it with a suit either.

Great advice, ignore the college idiots who say otherwise.

numi:
I don't normally post about this type of stuff but there've been a number of threads about this recently, so I'll share my thoughts.

I'd say you can get by with about $5,000. I know some people here will do the math and think however many shirts at $150-200 each, two or three suits at $1,000-1,500, and so on and so forth and tell you that it'll add up to $5,000 in no time. But my best advice to you is to hit up some of the department store sales -- all of them, including Bergdorf, Neiman, Barneys, all the way down to Century 21 or whatever have sales going on every couple months. A lot of them also have factory or outlet sales where you can buy all the high-priced stuff at a significant discount. People will tell you that you can't find good off-the-rack stuff like Brioni and Zegna at these sales, but you absolutely can. However, if you feel better with more commercial makers like Thomas Pink or Charles Tyrwhitt, I think that'd be fine too. You're far better off wearing something you feel comfortable and confident in, than dropping money on big ticket items that are beyond your price range.

But more importantly, you definitely don't want to go balls to the wall on new clothing because it doesn't sound like you have a solid idea of what your "style" is - and that's totally fine. So until then, spend smartly and you can definitely get a good wardrobe together with a few thousand -- and I'm talking about everything that you mentioned above. Of course, there's a certain baseline level of quality that you ought to get in order to "look your role," and you'll be able to find ample suggestions on this forum...but you don't need to stretch your cash just because someone said that's the only way to do things on Wall Street. If you start dropping $2,000+ per suit just because someone on this forum told you to, chances are you'll make a purchase that you'll later regret. If you wouldn't purchase a car or an apartment without doing adequate research and knowing exactly what fits your tastes, you shouldn't do it with a suit either.

If you want to take thrifting one step further, I'd say you can go online and purchase great shirts from Britain (Pink, Lewin, Harvie and Hudson, Hilditch and Key, etc.) for

 

I think brooks is always a good choice for a reasonable, well made suit. They have a sale going on till april where you get 400 off each suit you get after the first one so you could like 5 for about 3000 which is a steal. Not sure about the specifics of the sale so don't hold me to my word. Good shirts there too if you are not into designer shit. Purple label stuff is always good too but some of there suit

 

There are lots of threads on this, and numi offers solid advice. A few more specific bits of advice:

1) Strike watches and cuff links from your list—you don't need either, at least not at first. Add ties to your list.

2) If you have no idea what "your style" is, err on the conservative side. White shirts and grey suits are boring, but they never look bad. The probability of standing out in a bad way with a unique look is far higher than the probability of standing out in a good way. With no style in mind, conformity is your goal.

3) Focus on clothes that fit you well. Try everything on. At the first store you go to someone will likely measure your shirt size and tell you that you are a 16.5 x 34 (or whatever) and sell you any shirt that is that size. This is nonsense. Every brand is cut differently and just because a shirt fits your neck and the sleeves are the proper length doesn't mean it fits your shoulders, chest or stomach. Same goes for pants, suits, shoes, etc.

 

Despite being constantly derided by people on this board, you really can't go wrong with Brooks Brothers and Jos A Bank. Hit up one of the ridiculous sales these places have multiple times a year and then go to a good tailor. You can get a jacket taken in and the crotch raised on these off the rack suits to look quite good.

The non-iron shirts are amazing - easy to take care of and look good. Some people claim they are too boxy looking, then go for the slim fit.

Get just one pair of good shoes - black, cap toe lace ups. Leather soles, keep them polished. Check out Johnston & Murphy, they don't get a lot of air time here but I have a pair of lace ups and loafers by them.

Now you are looking at 2 suits for $700-1,000; 6 shirts at $300-375; 1 pair of shoes at $150-250; and $150 worth of tailoring. Tack on dress pants and ties, and you are looking at substantially less money than people above are talking about for classic, conservative business attire that is quality. Theres no need to be a show off prick - no matter how nice your bespoke suit looks, when you fuck up your comps late night or send out the wrong version of the pitch, you'll be on everyone's shitlist.

 

Consider shopping in outlet malls. You will get fairly good deals on suits, shirts and ties from last season at some of the bigger name outlets (Ex. Hickey Freeman, Saks Off 5th, Nordstrom Last Call... or was it Neimans, Zegna) and get great deals at major retail chain outlets (ex. Brooks Brothers). This way you can save some additional money depending on the level of suit you are looking at.

 

Outlet malls...a foreign word to me...what they sell plugs or something?

So what do you do? -I work for an investment banking firm. Oh okay; you are like my brother, he works for Edward Jones. -No, a college degree is required in my profession

Reality hits you hard, bro...
 

Non-iron vs. other styles of shirt basically boils down to this: are you going to spend time doing laundry or spend money sending shirts to the dry cleaner?

Personally, I send all my shirts to the cleaners so I don't usually buy non-iron. For reference, cleaning costs about a buck per shirt so you you are talking about an expense of roughly $5/week.

If I were doing laundry, I would definitely go non-iron. I used to have a couple from Brooks Brothers, and they really do look good straight out of the dryer. However, the non-iron coating (or whatever it is) wears out after a year or so and then they need to be pressed like any other shirt.

 

I once built a whole wardrobe

It was from IKEA

The surface area of the front of the wardrobe was only slightly smaller than that of the floor in my bedroom

Needless to say, I had mad problems putting that thing together

 

You can't compare S&T and IB. You don't need to wear a $3000 suit, but you need to look presentable if you ever want to be put in front of a client.

 
sei99:
You can't compare S&T and IB. You don't need to wear a $3000 suit, but you need to look presentable if you ever want to be put in front of a client.

Having experienced both environments, there is definitely truth to this. In reality, you don't need luxury clothing so long as the clothes you do wear are: - well ironed/pressed - clean - worn properly (the correct buttons done up, trousers at the appropriate level, etc) - matched

How presentable you are makes a richer impression than the sheer niceness of your wardrobe, imho.

My friend sat across from Steve Schwarzman wearing sale clothes from Express.

 

Bury... it's not just about how well the clothing is maintained (Pressed, clean, worn properly, matched), it's also about the quality of the clothing. I hate to say something that's been spouted before, but the material does matter in a more expensive suit and it shows when you look at it.

Lotus, Genghis, can't agree more.

And as to the S&T Wardrobe Comments, I've never seen any men in S&T wear more than pants and a button down shirt. I can't speak for what women wear, because I'm honestly clueless as to how the whole style works, but I've typically seen pants and an appropriate top for women. The only time I see suits on the trading desk is if they are the Director or MD in charge or the traders have a meeting to attend that requires that kind of attire. The only person I've ever seen underdressed on the trading desk one of the guys that handles all of the booking and clearing for his group. In the summer, he comes in wearing Khakis and a Hawaiian shirt every friday. Now that is the way to go for work. He's the only person I've ever seen pull that look off and not get chewed out for it.

 

Indochino or SS will be fine. You will probably be the best-dressed person in that, IT consulting is not exactly filled with sartorial types.

My preferences:

Shirts: Lands' End (good quality, bout the only thing I'll buy from there, stick to tailored fit and then get tailor to take in the arms and torso heavily) or Charles Tyrwhitt Extra Slim Fit. Banana Republic Tailored Slim Fit is also worth a look. I am a normal/athletic build guy around 5-11 and still find I still need to take in these 'slim' fit shirts to not get a muffin top effect with my shirt ballooning at the waste. TM Lewin is also nice (higher quality than CT) but just didn't fit my frame (shoulders on their shirts were too broad for me)

Pants: Brooks Brothers, Banana Republic (stick to wool only, no cotton/khaki although most people in IT will be wearing cotton). No pleats, make sure it's also somewhat slim fitting though doesn't have to be marked as such. This is a particular risk at BB.

Shoes: Allen Edmonds

 
thejester01:
So in July I start my job as a consultant (business technology analyst at Deloitte if it matters). I need to build a sufficient wardrobe to wear on the job.

If you were in my shoes, what would you purchase, what styles, how many, and from where? (shoes, shirts, ties, suitcase, etc)

I don't have money to blow, but have enough to invest in decent quality attire. As of now I plan to order at least 2 suits from either suitsupply(dot)com or indochino(dot)com.

Hey there, you know business technology analyst does not essentially need a lot of wearing up. I must say that you should add a couple of khakis some nice semi casual shoes and shirts to your wardrobe along with the suits and some regular dress pants. As for the suitcase go for something rough and funky. You are not one of the directors (pardon my bluntness) so a leather bag would also do... Best of luck for the new job...
In Time I wander
 

gilt.com

You're born, you take shit. You get out in the world, you take more shit. You climb a little higher, you take less shit. Till one day you're up in the rarefied atmosphere and you've forgotten what shit even looks like. Welcome to the layer cake, son.
 

Best bang for your buck is as follows:

Suits - J Crew Factory has 100% wool suits on sale right now for around $200. This is easily the best value you can get for a suit (I bought one then got it tailored for $40). Looks much more expensive than it is.

Shirts - Bankers love Brooks Brothers. If you're too cheap for that I have some great dress shirts from JC Penney (what? yes, really), banana republic, and my new favorite online store frank and oak.

Shoes - Buy Allen Edmonds. You can get "factory seconds" (aka there is an unnoticeable scratch on them) for around $200 a pair. They are the industry standard and they will last you a lifetime with proper care. Easily best value shoes.

Ties - The Tie Bar. Great quality for cheap.

 

If you are rebuilding your whole wardrobe, and if you are in NYC, it would be worth it to take a day trip out to Tanger Outlets. I believe that there are buses from the city. You could get a lot of very good deals on high quality clothes there (Banana Rep, Brook Bros, Cole Haan, Ralph Lauren, Barney's, etc)

Go East, Young Man
 

If you have cash (i.e. insurance payout), might not be a bad idea to look into MTM from one of the hong kong tailors (lots of them come to NYC around this time of year). Probably could negotiate a break on pricing for 3-4 suits and 10-12 shirts, could probably average out to $700/suit and $80/shirt. If you do that, make sure you have them make one at a time until you are happy with the fit. Also may be worth doubling up on pants with the suit jackets as they wear out faster.

For shoes, brooks brothers peal & co during the friends and family sale with a corporate discount is as cheap as I've found quality shoes from a reputable manufacturer (although I think shell is specifically excluded these days). Or allen edmonds is running their sale if you like the 5th avenues they are down to $230. Allen edmonds also has nice belts and wallets and the discount on accessories tend to be better than on their shoes.

Outlets can be good for coats, ties and basics (undershirts, boxers, socks).

 

^^^ Burlington coat factory for undershirts, boxers, socks

Disclaimer for the Kids: Any forward-looking statements are solely for informational purposes and cannot be taken as investment advice. Consult your moms before deciding where to invest.
 
MrReagan8:

Check out Bonobos as well for pants (both slacks and chinos)

Their in-store associates will cut you a solid deal, especially if you get a ton of stuff. Assuming you need new weekend shirts/jeans in addition to work stuff. Guideshop in NYC is in Chelsea.

 

Suits: Suitsupply

http://us.suitsupply.com/en_US/home

Best $500 youll ever spend on a suit

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB100014240527487033854045762586711…

"Testers said a $614 suit from Suitsupply, an Amsterdam-based company that will open its first U.S. store in New York next month, matched a $3,600 Armani in quality and outperformed designs from J. Crew, Hart Schaffner Marx, Target and H&M. Take a look at some of the Suitsupply suit's features"

 

For your shirts, go for some quality at a reasonable price - Brooks Brothers, Hugo Boss or Polo. For God sakes, make sure they fit properly and you aren't one of those guys that takes it out of the bag and wears it immediately. Get it pressed (can't believe how many people I see that don't do this).

 

Well honestly I would still suggest a black suit but not a deep black one, you should probably get an ash black or a green-black one, make sure that the fabric is kinda rough instead of smooth and shiny because if it is smooth and shiny it would reflect you as a cheap person but a rough fabric would give it a classy touch. Green Black black with a deep green tone in it. Hope you like the same.

In Time I wander
 

Here are my two cents worth. Some of it is common knowledge. However, much of it is opinion, so to all reading - there's no need to rage if you disagree.

I would disregard anyone telling you a black suit is frowned upon. Black and navy suits are staples of a business wardrobe. With a modest variety in socks, ties, shirts, and business jewelry (watch, belt, cufflinks, etc) you can easily span the range of ultra-conservative professional to equally professional, yet more sporty/flashy/modern. Not all suits give you the full range quite like a simple blue/black suit does.

Melvvvar mentioned a jacket and 5x matching pants. He makes a good point. You can do a lot with sport coats. They can match a wide variety of pants, you can wear or forego a tie, and they make you look sharper than business casual without going full-blown professional. You might say oh, I'll just wear my suit jacket with a different pair of pants... you can do this, but you'll wear out the jacket faster than the pants. Plus, sport coats typically have snazzier patterns or colors (i.e. "sportier") - which may be something you want to take advantage of.

As far as suit or sportcoats go, a wiser man than me once explained that the fit of a suit is much more important than the brand or quality. i.e. I would rather have a $150 well-fitted suit than a Hickey Freeman suit that is a little too small/large/long/short/etc. That being said, here are a couple of pointers for suits

  • Go for 100% wool, where budget allows. I recently bought a cheap $125 black sportcoat for a funeral that was 85% wool %15 polyester - it was decent, but coming from a 100% wool wardrobe, I could tell the difference. Some people hear 100% wool and think that's only for winter... but top quality men's dress pants and jackets are always wool (I think... but could be wrong - I'm not at the top yet :))
  • A sign of better quality, and something that in general is more comfortable, is if the suit has a full lining on the inside. A full lining is that smooth almost shiny material (silk, maybe?) that goes from the top neck area to the bottom, as well as the full inside of the sleeves.
    • Go to Dillards/Macys/Nordstroms (or your local taylor) and have them tell you what your proper chest size is. Don't buy 40 regulars if you're a 38 long, for example.

Just for reference, my opinion is that Hart Schaffner Marx suits / coats / pants would give you an idea of a gold standard for top quality. At full retail, pants are $100-150, Sport Coats $150-500, Suits, $400-900. You can definitely make do with less... I only mean that they would serve as a good basis for comparison to something else.

Side note: I happen to own a lot of HSM because there is a huge Dillards overstock outlook that has dirt cheap never-used HSM (and other labels) year-round. I got a $575 HSM sportcoat, never used, for $65 last week). If anyone wants something, drop me a message and I'll shop it for you next time I go in.

For shirts, here are some friendly suggestions: - as with suits, make sure you get the right measurements (neck, length, regular or "slim", etc) - only 100% cotton shirts. They breathe well and look best - your basic shirts should be white, light blue - if you have brown suits / pants, possibly light earth tones. - for traditional business, the lighter the shirt, the better. As you go darker, you get less professional (mistake that is made by many). Dark shirts are good for going out at night with friends or something... but they shouldn't be worn in the work place (if you're trying to look professional). - Collars that do not have buttons on the points are called pin point. They are more conservative and in my opinion, more versatile. Personally, I can't stand collars with buttons - but decide for your self.

I don't know ties well. All I can say is - go for quality material. I think silk is standard for good ties. It's my opinion, but I think shiny ties don't belong in the work place (similar to a dark shirt). Good piece of advice, especially until you have more than two suits, is take your suit jacket and or shirt with you when picking out the tie. You might as well try to make sure that any of your ties work with at least one of your suits jackets. As far as color... I think some sharp red and blue ties are part of your basic collection. Throw in browns if you have brown suits / outfits, and from there, have fun with color/patterns.

I work in a relatively conservative environment. As far as 'casual' goes, I personally wear the typical business casual I would wear in the office, but may switch into a polo andor nice jeans depending on event and weather. Out-of-office events really depend on your team and nature of the event.

One thing you didn't ask about is shoes. These are overlooked and unfortunately undervalued by many. I think shoes are very important. Except for the fact that you should always keep them polished, most of the following is just my opinion:

  • Burgandy shoes (mix of dark brownred) are very versatile. You can wear them with most shades of brown, black, blue, tan, grey, etc. Make sure you have a dark brown (or burgandy) belt to match. I have these and love them: http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/img-thing?.out=jpg&size=l&tid=15716

  • Square-toe shoes are very common, but I personally think they look dumb. I exclusively go for "cap toe" style shoes. Patent-leather cap toe shoes are your defacto standard for a traditional conservative look. They might be a bit much for a casual event, but take a look at these: http://suitored.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Cole-Haan-Air-Williams-C… They go for $180ish retail at Dillards, but you can find them at DSW for $100.

    • regardless of brand, one good indicator of a quality shoe is one that has the leather soles. Maybe I'm just being snobby because I was taught this stuff from an 'old school' business dude, but stay away from rubber. Your footsteps should click or echo on hard surfaces.

    • Two good brands that come to mind: Cole Haan and Johnston & Murphy.

 

Thanks for all the advice.

One question regarding getting a suit off the rack vs tailored. Obviously tailored suits would fit best (if the tailor is half decent).

How does tailoring a suit in the US work? Do I get them from a brand which makes off the rack suits like Suitsupply, and maybe other fancier brands that I don't know or from a more traditional tailor like Mr. Ned?

In Asia, most tailored suits are not branded I think. Does anyone care what brand is your tailored suit and where you got it (Asia, US branded vs non branded) if the suit fits well?

Can someone shed some light on this issue?

 

dont listen to prospective monkeys, they dont know shit aside from reading this website

relax, there will be time for everything you will have nights out, often in your working dress, so make sure you have a few nice shirts

 

I got a really nice wool winter jacket from suit supply, it's really classy and it fits like a glove, so no complaints. It was pretty expensive ($700), but it was worth every penny especially because it has lasted two years and just 2 dry cleanings.

 

From what I see, you really lack shoes. You're pants are OK since you have 4 suits, you will probably always wear a suit to work so you are covered there. 5-6 ties sounds more than enough as you just start out as you can mix them up with any outfit and noone will really recall that you are repeating ties.

Bostonian dress shoes are quite poor. Try some Allen-Edmonds, low end Ferragamo, Alden, etc. They run 300+ retail, but are frequently on sale. If you're strapped for cash, look for them on eBay for some really great discounts. You want a shoe that has a sleek last.

Regarding shirts, you might want to boost that # and get a few more. You want mostly solids, but also get some stripes and patterned (gingham, checks, etc). Nothing too flashy and stick with the regular colors: blue, white, (maybe pink, purple, and lavender).

Try and see what everyone else wears on the first day and go from there. Congrats and best of luck.

 

The original link has been superseded; however the link below contains the text to the Kilgour recommended gentleman’s wardrobe:

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=1955

obviously not something to aim for straight away, but rather something to work toward.
You seem to have reasonably covered all the bases, except for shoes. Given that you are starting what I presume is your first full-time job, I’d recommend you treat yourself to a pair of handmade ones. Your attitude is commendable. Dressing for the job you want, rather than the one you have is fine, as long as it’s done in a discreet, unpretentious manner. Best of luck with the new job.

 

Get a pair of Allen Edmonds Park Avenues, and some ceder wood trees. They will last you forever and never go out of style. They retail for $315. Never pay full retail for a tie. Go to Nordstroms now during their sale and pick up a few conservative Zegnas or even Faconnable (they're a pretty good bargain). The Zegna's are about 90 now and Faconnables are 60 (normally 150 and 100ish). Also if you need a slim fit dress shirt the J W Nordstrom collection of tailored fit shirts are a good deal (nice weave, nice buttons, good material), otherwise for a good slim fitting dress shirt you'll have to pay 400 for a Borelli or something. Don't buy french cuffed shirts, they're a bit pretentious for an analyst, even with silk knots--plus if you're not wearing a suit then it will look dumb.

 

Neiman's, Saks, Nordstrom, Bergdorf...

If you live in NYC, you can also go to brand-specific shops such as Allen Edmonds, or John Lobb for example. If you buy Ralph Lauren shoes, only buy Purple Label (they're actually Edward Green shoes), as some of the other RL shoes are of questionable quality. Do some research before you spend a lot of money on shoes, many expensive models seem to rely on people who say "oh, this is x amount of money, it must be good," as opposed to actually being a shoe worth however much is being charged for it.

That said, the brands I mentioned are all top-notch quality.

 

My concern with ebay is getting a shoe that doesn't fit my feet well. Has anyone here ever purchased shoes on ebay? If so, how do you make sure the shoes will fit you?

 

Century 21 in Manhattan or Long Island. You can get great shirts for $50-100. I like the YSL shirts at Century 21, they're like 60 bucks. I had some expensive driving loafers I love because they are soft and conformtable, only thing... they dont fare well to wear to work everyday; and they are only comfortable when you wear them once in a while walking to and from subway in rain, they are not too comfortable. Buy something more practical and built to last. I hear everyone saying Allen Edmonds. I saw a pair of these at Nordstrom which they cut in half so you chould see how they were made, that was the next pair of shoes I brought.

 

I was looking at the Allen Edmonds on Nordstrom's website yesterday and they looked like very high quality shoes. Definitely more pricey than I'm used to, and budget is a factor for me (I have an ops job, not IB), but I am definitely going to consider getting some. I would like to go to an actual store and see how they look/fit before deciding, obviously, but does anyone know of places where you can get good deals on this brand?

 

I agree with the other comments about investing in a good pair of shoes... Hopefully men's shoes are naturally more comfortable than women's heels, but after buying a pair of Cole Haans (with the Nike air), I am totally sold. A good pair of shoes can be re-soled/maintained by the shoe-shine guys who will come around your office. Use them to shine your shoes.

Also, just to keep in mind, even if you wear both suit paints & jacket to work, you'll take off your jacket for much of the day. Consider that your pants will wear out more quickly, especially if you don't dry clean them at the same time. For several of my suits, I have both a skirt and pants, or 2 skirts with the same jacket, because I often do wear those alone.

The best career wardrobe advice any one gave me was to dress like I love my job... and avoid linen. I'd add that a good fit is the most important thing- don't buy anything unless it fits/can be tailored to fit/looks good on you. You can rock less expensive clothes that are flattering & fit well, but even the most expensive wardrobe can look awkward if ill-fitting.

 

Go to Brooks Brothers between 6/20 and 7/5. 3 shirts for $159, normally $209-229 I think. Get the Slim or Extra Slim Fit if you can rock it. Their ties are also very prep, if you have a modern or euro fit suit, get the 2 7/8" ones, they pair quite nicely with today's narrower lapels.

I am permanently behind on PMs, it's not personal.
 

Just a few major tips. >Make sure your tie width matches your lapel width >If you are getting a charcoal and a navy suit get BROWN shoes. Black is really boring. >If your shirt is busy your tie shouldn't be and vice versa >Mix and match your jackets with your pants, you'll get a lot more mileage out of your wardrobe. >GO TO A TAILOR

 
sharks9022:
Just a few major tips. >Make sure your tie width matches your lapel width >If you are getting a charcoal and a navy suit get BROWN shoes. Black is really boring. >If your shirt is busy your tie shouldn't be and vice versa >Mix and match your jackets with your pants, you'll get a lot more mileage out of your wardrobe. >GO TO A TAILOR

Cheers. Hmm but dont you think mixing pants and jacketsmakes you look unprofessional considering others might think that you have put on the wrong jacket/pants

 
TwoFloors:
the problem with CT is that they only have 33 and 35 sleeves. Those of us in the 34 range kind of get the shaft...

I agree, that's really a problem. You CAN'T go too short and going too long doesn't look right, especially if it comes out the arm of your suit by more than an inch.

Brooks Bros. is great for basic shirts, pants, etc. Their suits tend to be on the boxier side so go with one of their slim-cut models--Milano cut is very nice.

Tom Pink and Ike Behar have terrific shirts if you are able to spend some more, they very rarely have sales at the same level BB does so don't expect great deals. BB always seems to have a sale going on something.

I also discovered that you can get a 15% discount same-day when you get approved for a BB card. Doesn't sound like much but if you're buying several pairs of slacks and several shirts at the same time (as I did) you can save $100 or more. Just make sure you don't forget to pay it off because the APR is like 20% or something ridiculous.

Don't wear a red tie unless you're an MD (and if you only own one suit I'm guessing that's not the case).

 

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I am permanently behind on PMs, it's not personal.
 

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