Why do you guys always wear vests?

I have worked on several floors and been on many more..... No matter what the majority of you guys are rocking vests.... Usually with a company logo. Whats the deal? I am asking here in anonymity.

Mod Note: Check out this humorous post about Wall Street's love of vests.

how to wear a fleece vest Over Dress Shirt?

The fleece vest is has become a token item in the wardrobe of many Wall Street traders. You may think that the sweater vest is more suitable for casual wear. Perhaps in combination with your pastel polo from Brooks Brothers. However, we all know that anything less than six buttons is liable to get you fired. You also know that a regular sweater vest just makes you an Urkel. Right?

Color Choices for Fleece Sweater Vests

The full zip fleece sweater vest is a statement. All fashion is after all. Sweater vests with firm logos is equivalent to talking just loud enough so the normals can hear about your upcoming night of cash-fueled sin at Le Bain or 1 Oak. A good fleece is often neutral colored. It's usually paired with blue, white, or purple. Blue should be your first choice. Blue portrays confidence and wisdom. This will help ensure that you don't lose your mind during the next flash crash as you are surrounded by those cool tones. Next, keep in mind that The North Face is played out. Patagonia is the only viable option if you plan on showing your face in midtown.

What Does Wearing a Vest to Work Signal?

One word. Power. Jeff Bezos rocks the sleeveless vest and he's sitting at 105 billion in net worth. Did Bezos wear the vest when he was selling paperbacks with a receding hairline? NO. The vest demands respect. The full-zip vest is also extremely functional. It allows for a full range of motion when slamming your keyboard as your favorite cryptocurrency tanks. You can also use it to flex your bicep when you take a call. Always remember to flare your elbow all the way out. That way you can pretend elbowing the SEC guy behind you was an accident. Copenhagen long cut is recommended to improve all of these functions.

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I think he's referring to fleece vests, a la:

http://www.thenorthface.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?pr…

I have never noticed a particularly unusual propensity towards their wear in finance, but I suppose the sort of people who wear fleece vests (white, athletic males from the Northeast who are less outdoorsy than they'd like to appear to be), are also the sort who gravitate towards finance, so I guess you'll see them worn more at firms that permit that sort of thing. Also, offices tend to be a bit on the chilly side, but wearing a full fleece gets too hot and gets in the way of typing, so its a happy medium.

On a more serious note, be sure to change the toilet paper before you leave.

 
drexelalum11:

On a more serious note, be sure to change the toilet paper before you leave.

C'mon dont be an ass to the lower level guys, you never know when your gonna get terminated and working as a waiter. Life takes messed up turns, hope your fortunate enough to avoid them.

 
Best Response
kiwiserv:
drexelalum11:

On a more serious note, be sure to change the toilet paper before you leave.

C'mon dont be an ass to the lower level guys, you never know when your gonna get terminated and working as a waiter. Life takes messed up turns, hope your fortunate enough to avoid them.

At least I'll still be able to take a joke when I'm waiting tables.

 
derivstrading:
Did not see one of these so called 'vests' during my SA stint. Reminds me too much of the consultant in the LSO Feels good to be a banker video

Lol, same.

I win here, I win there...
 
derivstrading:
Did not see one of these so called 'vests' during my SA stint. Reminds me too much of the consultant in the LSO Feels good to be a banker video

Who wears vests in the summer??? thats why you didnt see it as a SA...

Eventus stultorum magister.
 

these are almost always gifts from inter dealer brokers, they have ICAP GFI logos, etc the floors are kept extra cool since the number of computers, human bodies

and on server floors (the banks are paying hundreds of thousands a day to cool)

 

Tons of people wear these vests on trading floors. I think its ridiculous and make fun of people where I work constantly about them. But the OP is right that they are very prevalent...get on the Metro North train in the morning going up to Greenwich and 50% of the train is wearing them.

There is no answer as to why people wear them...my only guess is that most people in this business are style-challenged.

 

They are usually free. People like free things.

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
 

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