Clothes for Investment Banking
Hey guys,
I'm currently a sophomore in college right now looking into banking and this year I was able to obtain a summer internship at a small boutique investment bank. The dress is business casual (slacks with button ups, etc.) and I was wondering what kind of clothes I should invest in for the future. I'm scared to buy too many different colored button ups/ blazers/ slacks if I'm not going to use them in the future.
So, for future reference, how much will I be using each of these clothing items if I do in fact do banking after college: - blazer (probably something from brooks brothers) - khakis - different colored button ups that are not the standard white and blue (for example, do people wear purple hugo boss button ups and such under suits?)
Any comments are appreciated, thanks guys!
Get a bunch of white and blue shits. Get some shirts with checkered patters, whatever. Conservative color and design is key. Solids match with ties easier. Go to an outlet mall or something and get stuff on sale. You will have plenty of time to ball out once you get that first big job.
To add to that: no khakis. You'll never wear them at a BB
Agreed. If your dress code says "khakis" bear in mind that your definition and a mature banker's definition of khakis probably differ. The Banana Republic khakis that you wore in college will not cut it. Khakis should be more like slacks with cuffed bottoms and a good fit, just in a khaki color.
Also, since most banks are business casual, I wouldn't waste too much money on suits. Have 2-3 suits and 2-3 pairs of conservative slacks. Even if the firm you go to is business formal, you can get away with coming in to work without a jacket... few people walk around in one all day (just saying that so that you don't feel like it's a waste to get the slacks).
And, as any of the WSO fashion threads will tell you, fit matters far more than brand.
Thanks for the feedback. What about the standard navy blazers at Brooks Brothers with the gold buttons and such. Are blazers like that ever necessary?
Also, aside from the standard white and blue dress shirts, what about something like these in the less conventional colors such as purple. Do people wear these under suits or is it not formal enough?
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3079417?Category=&Search=True&SearchType=ke…+shirt&origin=searchresults
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3079410?Category=&Search=True&SearchType=ke…+shirt&origin=searchresults
Thanks for all the feedback so far.
Those shirts are definitely formal enough, but perhaps skip the lavender for the time being. Also no need to spend $95 each on Boss shirts as a sophomore. Charles Tyrwhitt shirts are a good choice. Though since you're browsing Boss shirts in the first place, I assume you come from money and that's how you got the banking gig as a sophomore anyway.
When you were interviewing, what were others in the office wearing? The suggestions here are helpful, but seriously just think about the office attire, then pick out a couple of classic colors/styles and go get a few shirts/slacks/suits and you'll be fine.
No need to completely break the bank.
Agreed with Matt and the CThyrwhitt suggestion. One other point -- don't wear a white shirt if you're not wearing a tie.
Am I the only person in the world that flat out hates khakis?
I'm not entirely sure why, but I can't stand them. I suppose it is partially because I can never get a good fit with them but I just think they are cheesy looking. And believe me, I don't spend a lot of money on clothes, so I am not talking trash, but khakis have always just stuck me as cheap. When I interned places I either wore slacks or a nice pair of designer/quality jeans, even on the more casual days. Most of the time you can find a pair of slacks that would go with a polo if that is what your shop allows, so I have always avoided the khakis (shorts not included).
Good luck this summer.
Regards
is your hate relegated to cotton khaki's of the Polo / Brooks Brother's kind, thus making the khaki/light colored colored slacks from Neiman Marcus acceptable?
I'm lost. But, I just have never been a big fan, regardless of brand, however, I will say that I have never looked at expensive khakis so maybe they would be different. I played soccer nearly all my life and developed some rather large thighs early on, they have never worked well. Same thing with traditional cut boxers...usually can't even get them up to my waist because they quads stop them short. I guess I am hatin' on them because of a poor fit on me.
Regards
i also hate khakis for some reason....not sure why but never liked the way they look.
Anyways, I was just going to add to invest in a nice pair of shoes. You don't have to go crazy with a $500 pair of shoes but I would invest in a decent $150-200 pair. For one, they last a long time if you keep them up and two, you should be keeping your shoes well polished and you are always more inclined to spend on getting them cleaned if they are nice shoes.
dont be the intern that wears blazers and khakis when everyone else has dress shirt/pants no jacket how hard is it to just show up in dress shirt/pants/shoes?
Hi This is majeedjan belongs to fashion industry we have variety of cloth those who really like them like we T-shirt shirt along with jeans and paint etc.
Investment Banking Fashion Guide (Originally Posted: 01/27/2011)
Here is my take on appropriate fashion for investment banking.
Please take a quick look at my guide and let me know what you think..
Of course this guide is 100% subjective
http://www.doocu.com/pdf/view/36101
Where have you been in the past months ? This feels like a cheap copy of UBS' !
I'd direct you to the dark blue circle adjacent to his name...
I can't view it. The read online isn't working...and I'm not gonna create account to download it.
My comp might just be messed up. Is there another way you can post it?
Why is there no business attire (suits) in IB's anymore? (Originally Posted: 01/14/2010)
Why is it that IB's no longer use formal business attire (suits)? The classic image of an Investment Banker is always in a business suit. I know that former Lehman Brothers used to use a more formal attire but CS, GS, and JPM use casual business attire (dress pants and dress shirt). Is this only in NYC? Which would you say is the most formal IB's? And what about London, Switzerland, Hong Kong, etc? Is casual attire now more common there as well? And what about Hedge Funds?
Whenever customers are involved business suits are requires. British banks tend to be more formal. I think the move towards more casual attire is IB's just being more understanding to the fact that most people simply take off their jackets while at work. Couple MMKT IB's in Philly all still require full suit to work.
There are a number of very formal IBs. BarCap sends out a several page dress code to incoming employees
Is that BarCap NYC or London?
Suit and Tie everyday at my bank (not a BB)
Which bank do you work at?
I don't know if it's because I'm still in college, but I get a feeling of purpose and am 10x as driven when I'm in formals. I guess that feeling dies away once you start working everyday in formals...
I used to have to wear a suit to work every day and you feel professional for sure, but it is also an epic pain in the ass. British banks are pretty formal from my experience.
BarCap, Greenhill, and Lazard are still formal
Greenhill isn't, they don't require ties
It is easy to tell that not many people have worked in IB on this forum...
Basically, you ALWAYS need to have a formal change of clothes with you at your cube. It is not unusual to have to do random shit and need a suit (I once had to take pitchbooks to my md at a restaurant, cause he forgot them, I had to wear a suit bc he invited me to stay for lunch at the meeting). A formal dresscode would be stupid when you have to stay at the office till past midnight. Even with business casual, I used to keep t-shirts and just change into t-shirt and track pants at night.
You Americans are so damn scruffy. There's nothing wrong with looking sharp for work, I love the traditional british banker way of dressing, shoes with laces, tie, cufflinks, these thingsl make a difference!
that's why the state of the British banking system is in such great shape... u guys convinced yourselves into thinking you were being bsd deal makers.... FAILED
Not in IB, yet, but I prefer to wear a suit (w/ or w/o tie) and a nice pair of oxfords.
I used to think it was nice to wear a suit to work. Today, though, it's a lot of work to put everything together in the morning. My goal is to eventually become that MD who always shows up to work wearing a t-shirt, running shorts, and sandals.
Haha...my friend at BW tells me they show up to work in t-shirts and khakis everyday - the payouts of finance and the chilled out atmosphere of a tech firm.
All you ever needed to know about what to wear in IB (Originally Posted: 05/09/2012)
My main market is closed, lucky you guys, here is a useful post!
No one gives a damn, as long as you look half decent and don't wear red trousers and a clown nose...
If you are a summer analyst / just started - don't fuck up the breakfast order that's all we ask of you. After you have worked in the job for a while you will know what others are wearing, and will be able to adapt.
Simples.
Here is a few things: An intern that rocks in his dad's suit - might be a bit too large, so what? Most likely it's a 21 year old straight out of college that looks like a kid anyways. Go with dad's suit, it's cheap; no one will notice you anyways as your value added is zero.
Wear a tie. Very easy, you are an intern. If it's DB you need a tie anyways. If it's M&A or DCM you need a tie as well. Not sure? Wear a tie. Wear a tie. Even if people around you don't wear one. Wear one. Shows you are making an effort and is real fu.cking easy to wear. You can drop it after a week if you see that not a single person wears it on the floor.
Loafer, prada shoes, churchills etc... I don't even know the difference myself! I've been on this forum for 5-6 years and the same conceited ass holes come in and argue about them. You are not working in media, and you don't have money yet. Just wear some shoes that lace up and are black, not slippers.
For the Indian/ Eastern European/ American kids out there - guys, don't wear a t-shirt under your shirt. Might be acceptable in the US... But that's a massive faux pas in Europe; the equivalent of wearing white socks. You just don't. You sweat too much? Then wear a v-neck t-shirt with strong colored shirts that will hide the fact that you have a shirt underneath. Voila!
Suits - Anything above $250 is too much for your first job. Best: your dad's suit and get it altered. Otherwise go to a store and buy one, and get it altered! Shouldn't cost more than $50 to get a suit altered to fit you. If it's more than $50 go to a dodgy area and you will get your work done for 1/4 of the price.
If you are an intern, and you are wearing expensive clothes - you will stick out, and unless your dad is CEO of Wallmart; it will be hard for you to get away with.
A watch? I am one of the rare bankers not wearing one. What I have seen is a lot of analyst had quite expensive time pieces, but it's usually a gift, and we all know that.
For girls? No bloody clue what you should wear. Sorry.
I've put it into traders train as I work on the floor; but all my friends work everywhere in the bank; and I know man, trust me, I know...
Thank you. The office is not a fashion show.
Your bit about the shoes, thank you. Who the hell cares what brand the shoes are
actually the two kids who insisted wearing on wearing a tie in my group this past summer didn't get offers - they generally needed to chill the fuck out anyway, so maybe it was correlation not causation.
First day also over dress, possibly even the first week. Once you see what everyone else around you wears you should adjust accordingly
Totally agree
^ I like that
Thanks. Good shit.
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