How formal to dress?

With the increase workplace casualisation in terms of dress codes, what are your tips to making sure you are the correct formality, especially as a junior employee. It seems one would not want to be the most casual in the office but do not want to seem out of place and dress like a senior banker.

5 Comments
 
Most Helpful

This is one of those "play it by ear" situations as there is no answer that will work across the board. The most often given advice is to dress like your peers and if it's your first day, err on the side of more formal. You get a freebie on day one since you don't really know the office and it's somewhat better (my opinion) to up-dress for a first impression.

The approach that I've taken is to establish a bit of a uniform. In my everyday office setting the dress code is business casual, meaning a button up shirt and slacks for men. It's sort of a case by case basis if we'll up it to a suit for clients - depending on relationship with client, their formality, etc. I have 5 or 6 white shirts, 3 light blue, a pink one, a couple checked ones for when I'm feeling frisky, and an array of gray/brown/blue slacks. The advantage is that I can grab any shirt + pant and they match - I don't particularly care about fashion so this makes it easy for me. It may come off as boring, but in my experience, you'd rather come off as a boring dresser to clients rather than remind them of their dipshit nephew (especially when you're younger in the biz). I also leave a navy blazer in the office for an spur of the moment trips/meetings.

 

Very good advice above: in the office, dress like you’re a member of the team. A minor variant: dress like the guys who have the job you will be doing after your next promotion (assuming it’s not radically different from your current team.)

Different answer when you’re meeting with clients. In general, professional services firms show up matching the client’s dress code, or maybe a notch more formal. In other situations, the company norm is to show up looking like highly-compensated financial experts. Rather than guessing, just ask the people you work with.

If you haven’t started yet, pick up the phone and call your HR contact from the recruiting process. They will be glad to fill you in.

 

Est veritatis molestiae laborum dolorem rerum itaque. Aspernatur non debitis harum doloremque similique excepturi quas. Totam perspiciatis in asperiores voluptas.

Career Advancement Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 08 97.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.2%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.3%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.8%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.2%

Professional Growth Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.2%

Total Avg Compensation

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (47) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (24) $180
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (82) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”