Help Picking a Suit

The above advice was really geared for a starting analyst -- the logic being you are going to almost always be the most junior person in the room so you don't want to draw too much attention to yourself (you could aim to stand out with helpful commentary / questions but not by being the only one in the room with a bright blue suit while everyone else is navy). You're also going to have a more limited wardrobe so you wouldn't want to get something that wouldn't be versatile enough for everything you may need it for e.g., a serious board room (board members will probably be business casual but all the bankers / co-advisors usually in dark navy / full ties) vs. also casual meetings with PE folks (who generally dress more casually in meetings no ties). 

As an associate in NYC, I think most of this usually doesn't really apply -- you'll generally have had prior work experience / gone to bschool so you'll have understood appropriate business fashion longer (vs. an analyst direct out of college usually can sometimes make some missteps which are noticed by a partner / MD given less experience in corporate environment outside of internship) so folks generally won't easily question an associate's fashion choices. As it relates to the specific items you had listed, I can't think of any specific reason why an associate couldn't pull off a lighter blue suit (if it's like the one OP linked), Friday blazer, or buckled Ferragamo / Gucci loafers as I've seen numerous associates wearing stuff like this around the office, including myself when I was a new A2A. For meetings I personally prefer to stick to the solid navy suit (I am a VP now) and cap toes as that's what most of my partners / MDs typically wear and I don't want my clothing to be louder than whatever they may be wearing in front of client -- wouldn't wear / advise a light blue suit but blazer could work if it's a more casual luncheon or on a Friday really kind of depends. 

Specifically on buckled loafers as that might be closest to a gray area -- my personal preference is to wear the ones with no bits or black bits so they aren't as loud. If you have any doubts with wearing loafers this will help reduce any concerns you have with people noticing. Calling it a "sled" might be what causes a coworker to think of someone as a try-hard ;] (just kidding)

I'm sure some may disagree with my personal opinions but really no hard rules with banker fashion -- It's a matter of how confidently you wear it. Have seen a first year analyst rock silver bit ferragamos but he was very competent so don't think anyone cared. Ultimately, given the variance between offices, I would just advise dressing conservatively until you've seen what folks around you / at your level are wearing and start branching out from there. Nothing you suggested wouldn't work for an associate at my firm though.

Your guess is as good as mine bud.