Sweaters - business casual

I'm planning to wear a sweater with a dress shirt and slacks, no tie.

Would navy blue and grey be the best colors in general? V-neck or crew neck sweater? Cashmere or some other material?

What are your favorite brands and sweaters for business casual?

Thanks

21 Comments
 

Really? So nobody dresses like this in the office in investment banking (when you don't need to suit up for a client)?

Legitimate question, by the way...maybe I'm just out of touch with reality.

 
designReally? So nobody dresses like this in the office in investment banking (when you don't need to suit up for a client)?

Legitimate question, by the way...maybe I'm just out of touch with reality.

Depends on the firm (ie culture, size, and location). I interviewed for this M&A shop where the VP who was interviewing me wore almost that exact outfit. The analyst was also in trousers and just a button up shirt.

That said, normally I'd be surprised to see sweaters at an office.

 

I don't know where you got the job but generally it's OK to wear a suit jacket in casual if you really want to wear something over the shirt (just don't wear a tie!). I seen no reason for that however, its not gonna get cold.

Don't wear a sweater!

 

Where do you guys work? And what do you work with? I have worked in both London and NYC and have never seen heard about people wearing sweaters in IB.

 

Nothing wrong with a cardigan either, although I'd stay away from that one. Keep it conservative with sweaters, I wouldn't rock anything with a shawl (or hipster for that matter).

 

This is all going to completely depend on the office.

Quarter zips, fleeces and cardigans are pretty common in my office. Some people dress more casually than others.

Go to styleforum if you have specific questions. Most of us are completely unqualified to be giving fashion advice (me included).

"For I am a sinner in the hands of an angry God. Bloody Mary full of vodka, blessed are you among cocktails. Pray for me now and at the hour of my death, which I hope is soon. Amen."
 
duffmt6This is all going to completely depend on the office.

Quarter zips, fleeces and cardigans are pretty common in my office. Some people dress more casually than others.

Go to styleforum if you have specific questions. Most of us are completely unqualified to be giving fashion advice (me included).

Office culture is key, yes. But the point is not fashion advice. The issue is that what works in the world of fashion might not be appropriate in the office. So this is actually the perfect avenue to ask questions like this. Its not about if your outfit works on the runway or not. Its about what your colleagues think of it.

Example: i have a purple suit that i bought as a fashion experiment (i know...). It's gotten me TONS of compliments from people in the fashion industry (i happen to have quite a few in my circle of friends). But imagine if i wore that to an office...

Less extreme example: busy colorful pattern socks. In the fashion world people are going crazy about these. Any fashion site/forum you see is advocating for these right now. But not a lot of offices welcome them.

 
Best Response
EngBanker
duffmt6This is all going to completely depend on the office.

Quarter zips, fleeces and cardigans are pretty common in my office. Some people dress more casually than others.

Go to styleforum if you have specific questions. Most of us are completely unqualified to be giving fashion advice (me included).

Office culture is key, yes. But the point is not fashion advice. The issue is that what works in the world of fashion might not be appropriate in the office. So this is actually the perfect avenue to ask questions like this. Its not about if your outfit works on the runway or not. Its about what your colleagues think of it.

Example: i have a purple suit that i bought as a fashion experiment (i know...). It's gotten me TONS of compliments from people in the fashion industry (i happen to have quite a few in my circle of friends). But imagine if i wore that to an office...

Less extreme example: busy colorful pattern socks. In the fashion world people are going crazy about these. Any fashion site/forum you see is advocating for these right now. But not a lot of offices welcome them.

I think you should have a pretty good understanding of what is reasonable based on your office culture alone. If your fellow analysts aren't wearing purple suits, that's a pretty good indication you shouldn't be either.

"For I am a sinner in the hands of an angry God. Bloody Mary full of vodka, blessed are you among cocktails. Pray for me now and at the hour of my death, which I hope is soon. Amen."
 

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