Current Bankers: % of guys who wear cufflinks
I'm stuck here saturday night doing these comps and my cufflink broke. This led me into horror story scenarios, such as a link breaking at 9am, etc.. What percent of guys at your bank wear cufflinks? Break it into IBD and S&T.
I used to wear them every once in awhile. I had a pair from Tiffiny's as a gift. I tend to prefer buttons, trouble is buttons on the sleaves tend to get broken by the launderers.
Cufflinks aren't that popular on the west coast.
I have 6-7 pair expensive ones (4 gold/diamond ones from tiffanys) but rarely wear them. I stick usually with 2 pairs, one that cost 30 bucks and the other 120 or so. No worrying bout losing them when drunk, and not bragging about wealth (particularly important when meeting clients etc.)
Well mine were only silver, I imagine they were relatively inexpensive.
To Dan, you may want to keep a pair of fabric cufflinks in your desk, just in case.
i will, from now on ill have a set of monkeys fists in my desk. what is the percentage of your respective firms though. at mine, for anlaysts its about 40-60, the latter plain vanilla buttons.
10-20% of bankers, but I rarely see our bankers so my sample is skewed. S&T are casual at my firm.
i use cufflinks everyday, about 8 pairs in today. cost between 50 to 300
you sound like a douche.
I used to worry that wearing cuff links everyday would be too ostentatious and flashy...especially at a junior level. But that was back when I was a scared shitless kid, afraid to step outside the conservative box...typical of a newly minted college graduate stepping into an analyst role.
Now I don't give a shit what anybody thinks. I wear cufflinks everyday because they are elegant...and loath the idea of button cuffs. In fact, I have about 15 custom shirts and all are french cuff. I do wear silk knots occasionally though...I think they are very elegant with certain shirts.
Same for shoes. God help me...wore ultra conservative allen edmond park ave cap toes for years, LOL. Those fucking things have absolutely zero character. They were a size too big too. Fucking things were like anchors, lol. Now I wear Ferragamo Captoes...still very simple in my opinion...but have a bit of italian flair.
good stuff. i was never in that box you speak of.
Christ, your boys are worse than the bitchiest fashionista standing online @ tenjune on a Monday night. Yes presentably, is fairly important in the business, but do you really think your client gives a flying fuck if your shoes are Churchill
the funny thing is that as an analyst its not like you meet clients 24/7
That may be true, but its important to present yourself internally as someone who would present well to clients so that you're taken more often. If you feel better in cufflinks and come across as more confident and put together then go for it. And in M&A as we know, its not always as easy as going in, getting the deal done and then "getting the hell out". We're after the long-term client relationships and need to present as professional, polished, capable individuals: if cufflinks help with that then why the hell not indeed?
livingthedream is the shit
Are captoe shoes the standard for I-banking? I personally don't like their look at all...just my opinion.
Where whatever style you want, just know one can easily tell nice shoes from cheap ones.
Clients don't give a shit what you are wearing.
Clients evaluate bankers based on one element only..it's a very simple concept. They ask themselves, "Can I count on this fucking cockroach to get my deal done. Does going with this guy verses that guy minimize my execution risks."
That's it. It's all about instilling confidence. Do you think the timid banker wearing a bland suit, bland shirt, bland tie, and bland shoes instills confidence?
It's about character. Character instills confidence. And what my fellow chimps need to learn is that you'll never exude any character if you don't step out on a limb/step outside of the conservative box.
If you think you'll be successful on brain power alone...think again. This business isn't that difficult. It's about personality.
I'll take the right personality over an egg head any day of the week.
agreed. schmoozing is the name of the game the higher up you go...and that takes panache. Panache comes naturally with a good pair of cufflinks.
well said
indeed. funny how much more attention i get with one button of my blouse undone
Well said Monopolisf, but I will add the fact that the clothes do not make the man! If you need a 4k Brioni suit to boost your confidence, then so be it, buy and enjoy. Personally speaking, if you are good @ what you do, you should be able to accomplish what you ventured you to do standing in that 4k suit or your knickers alone. How many of your yuppies can say they would feel confident enough within themselves to do that? Few if any I
I think they are tacky on lower level people such as analysts. I would never wear them for that reason. Additionally I hate it when young guys wear those colored shirts with white collars, man thats tacky. I feel those two items are reserved for more senior level guys.
agreed. no 23 year-old punk has any business rocking cufflinks.
yeah, i hate the contrast collar shirts. Heres the key: fine dress, displayed with tact. Sure, buy yourself that 100$ tie. But dont tie a huge windsor like mr. big dick. tie a nice four in hand -subtle confidence. Go to T&A and get that shirt for $300. Make sure its not too ostentatious.
Ke18sb,
Tacky?
Are you kidding me. So you are saying that cufflinks and certain shirt patterns are "tacky" on one age demographic...but completely acceptable for another?
That is total bullshit.
"I feel those items are reserved for more senior guys."
I swear that's why most analysts and associates can't introduce themselves to a client without soiling their underwear.
they can and do. double cuffs are pretty standard here in M&A. They are a no-no in S&T though, as they dont project the trader image.
At what level can someone pull off those two-toned Gordon Gecko shirts?
Monopolisf nothing to do with banking, but rather fashion in general. Young guys whether going to a party ,working at a ibank, law firm, ect, have no business wearing those colored shirts with white collars. They scream i'm trying really really hard to look powerful, and the reason they are reserved for senior guys is that they can pull them off...well...because they're senior guys. If however one is that insecure that they feel the need to draw attention to themselves by all means wear them.
Dan....why were you wearing cufflinks on a Saturday in the office??
The only time I ever see cufflinks in the office on a Saturday is on an MD checking in at the office after a client trip, or on an analyst who didn't go home on Friday night.
the majority of my shirts are FC
home sitting in front of my LCD TV right now completely naked. Well...not completely. I am sporting my trusty french blue custom shirt complete with contrasting white cuffs and collar. And of course, some phat Thomas Pink cufflinks.
Haven't taken this shirt off since September 17th.
Just watchin the Thomas Crown Affair...and livin the dream. 8)
thomas pink sucks
Again...just joking. I can't stand Thomas Pink cufflinks. There is a difference between elegant and ostentatious...TP is the latter.
I will say I don't mind some of Thomas Pink's casual shirts. They have a nice tapered cut...great shirts for weekend nights. But the dress shirts are overpriced dogsh*t.
brioni has the most overpriced shirts ive ever seen. 600$ for an OTR shirt is outrageous.
OTR is completely fucking over the top. I actually have a great thing going with respect to custom shirts. There is a shop here in Dallas that does really nice work...not quite Saville row tailoring...but damn close. And they have a lot of nice british fabrics. Great value at $170-$200 a pop. I have a nice little collection going of 15 now, I believe.
Suits are a problem though. I can get a good deal on Canali and Zegna MTM...but I'm not sure whether I want to go with the elegant look (Zegna) or the shark look (Canali). I'm actually leaning towards Canali...a bit cheaper, same quality construction, and I sort of like the aggresive shoulder look.
Monopolisf and Dan Bush:
Let us know when you guys are done giving each other reacharounds so we can continue.
I wear cufflinks occasionally but find them less comfortable. The cufflinks scrape against the desk while I type and at night I get hot and like to roll up my sleeves. No point in cufflinks at that point, plus the FC shirt is not made to be rolled up.
what kind of a question is this?
a question that was asked you fucking shithead. dont waste space on my fucking page by asking me what kind of question it is. read the fucking headline you fucking idiot.
discuss work garb than answer fucking questions such as this particular topic posted this morning:
"What is an investment banker?"
Watches, cufflinks, etc. (Originally Posted: 12/15/2006)
Is it bad to wear an expensive watch or cufflinks? Will this actually be looked down upon (and effect important things such as group placement, bonus, etc.)? I have a Rolex that I usually wear now, but I'm wondering if I am going to get shit for wearing it. It's not solid gold or anything over the top, but it's still a Rolex. Do I really have to go out and buy a different watch just for work?
If I do, can anyone suggest some good brands. Would an Omega, Brietling, or Cartier be okay?
Also regarding suits, ties, etc. does the same hold? I have nice clothes that my parents have purchased for me (most are bespoke) and they've agreed to buy whatever clothes I need for work next year. I wasn't planning to get Armani suits or anything, but bespoke suits and shirts (and perhaps Zegna too since I like the brand a lot). Bespoke shirts fit me much better than anything off the rack since I am tall so a lot of shirts are too short in arm length.
Any input would be great.
please tell me your joking
People actually think it's cool when analysts drop coin.
So what? I have a nice watch that I got as a graduation present from high school. And I'm not poor. And I'm 6'3 and thin so like nothing off the rack fits me. This is a serious post so I would appreciate any serious responses.
My parents are only willing to financially support me while I'm in college, so I need to buy a new watch soon if I in fact actually need a new one.
And by the way ke18sb it is YOU'RE not YOUR. Are you seriously in banking with that kind of grammar???
Donkey comment.
To answer your question, no one will care about your watch or your pants. However, if you begin to look like someone from Goodfellas and drive a Model-A you might get some comments.
it is 130 and i've been working for 18 hours, i can give a fuck about that error, brain is fried
I have a 10k watch and wear designer shoes, belts, shirts and pants. I drive a cayman S, no one says shit because what it comes down to is can you rock the fuck out and bank, or if the only modeling you do is in your zegna shirt u go out like a punk.
How do you like the Cayman S? I'm thinking of unloading my z06 for the Porsche.
Don't be the grammar police. In your original post it should be "affect" not "effect" anyway.
Second of all, Cartier is a better brand than Rolex.
Thirdly, I think you're fine. On the other end of the spectrum, I know people who used to wear digital watches. I don't recommend this. Stay with the Rolex I doubt anyone will care/notice.
Jimbo
On the analyst level in particular, the best rule is "don't be flashy". Aside from that, degustibus non est disputandum.
Pick up a GQ mag. They can speak more in depth about the subject of office attire and men's accessories...
Just one rule of thumb. You're coming to work, not a private showing of Prada's spring line so don't overkill. I.e, extremely pointy shoes or an extravagant set of cufflinks, or my favorite, the infamous double breasted suits. (Leave that for the remake of Goodfellas)
People may look at you in disgust. I know I would.
Also, on second thought, I should stress that it's important to wear what you like, to forge your own style rather than attempting to align yourself with the "right" names and looks.
Finally, remember that if you have the resources to do these things, you're lucky. There are also people in banking whose mothers couldn't stop blowing the rent money, who have no family to pay for anything, who supported themselves through college, who choose every month between buying a new piece of work clothing and eating on the weekends. These people do well in banking as well. Zegna is not a prerequisite for success. Nobody laughs at cheap clothes so long as they're not absurdly cheap-looking.
Do they care if it's a pantsuit or with a skirt?
Also, my folks covered school, but I'll have to cover my own rent in NYC and everything else. I'm just wondering what would be a good brand for suits that's not cheap but not absurdly expensive.
So tough to refrain from making a some sort of male sexist comment, anyways you can go either way. Girls in my office do both, mostly pants though. As long as the skirt is at knee-level or below you wouldn't have me or any other guy staring too closely.
To the first poster, there are a few people in my office who have rolexes, cartiers, and bretilings, so defintiely stick with your rolex and spend the watch money on rent. As long as you're not a douchebag about your rolex or zegna slacks, no one will think or care how much your shoes are.
I prefer seven button suits. Especially looks good with a wide brimmed hat and a cane. That's when you really get respect from your coworkers.
double breasted (the more buttons the better) does give you more breathing room when you're strapped
Is that expensive clothing, watches, shoes, etc RARELY makes anyone a target. It's one's PERSONALITY that makes one a target. I know lots of analysts and associates (including myself) that dress to the 9s. But nobody gives a fuck. However, if you are an arrogant snotty kid and you sport expensive things...people will use that as a reason to form a negative opinion about you.
Seriously...just keep your friggin rolex. Don't ever put yourself in a position where your belongings define you.
The primary objective for dressing well should be simply to compliment the personality of a mature, intelligent, balanced, hard working, and confident personality.
Thanks for the (mostly) good responses. I am by no means obnoxious and I don't intend to look like a fashion show. I know I am lucky in that my parents have bought me nice things, I just wanted to know whether there is resentment to that assuming I have a nice personality (I do..I swear).
I am going to be pretty poor once I start my analyst stint anyway, which is why I wanted to know if I needed to buy new things now so that my parents will still pay for them, as they cut me off after college.
I don't like double breasted suits anyway...way too old loooking. Most of the suits I have are standard 3 buttom dark gray or dark blue. And I hate pink shirts too. I actually hate anything where the brand is easily identifiable (like those printed hermes ties or ferragamo loafers with the big buckle..yuck...I saw a lot of that stuff in my office actually).
And so that perhaps I can be useful to someone else - regarding female suits - I think a skirt suit (with skirt length slightly above or resting at the knees) is the conservative style. At least according to my mom and sisters and what I've heard elsewhere. In my opinion, a skirt suit just looks nicer (and you won't get any leering assuming it's appropriate length and you have normal looking shoes on). I do see a ton of pant suits though, so I guess it's really your preference. One huge caveat though, if you are even slightly oveweight or even quite frankly average (so, if you're not slim), a pants suit looks far better than a skirt suit. There is nothing worse than looking at fat stubby legs (even if just from the knee down).
Don't wear pink shirts. Tragic.
Hahahaha... thanks. No I'm not overweight, but I am worried I'll gain weight once I start. I hate exercising (jogging, gym) but I like sports, so I'm hoping I'll have some time to go for drop-in at the ymca or something (doubtful though it seems...)
-- nice clothes are great and if you got em rock em, but don't be a prick about it.
Kinda related question though...
the pe place i'm at now is biz formal at all times what is the deal with most of the BB banks, biz formal like 9-8? or just meeting clients?
I don't wear suits anymore, period. Only exception is interviews. Shocked?
I've figured out creative ways to look "formal" if I'm seeing clients without having to wear a suit at all. I generally buy very well tailored casual pieces... e.g. a well tailored pant coupled with a rich looking silk blouse, tasteful accessories and a fabulous handbag absolutely trumps the stiff black/grey pant suit ALWAYS. Heck, I don't even look like a banker and new people I meet never suspect I am in the field I'm in. I'm usually pegged to be in sales or advertising, ja ja ja! Which means I haven't sunken to the shallowness of the business. Thank god!!!
Agreed about brands. Nothing worse than brands used in excess, e.g. Gucci loafers, gucci bag, gucci wallet etc.
pink is well accepted where I'm at.
Surely you jest.
Unless they're wearing pink shirts with corduroy Ralph Lauren pants with bumble bees embroidered on them... they're flaming.
For once I agree with this woman, it's a flagrant violation of a man law and will be mercilessly ridiculed by me.
:-)
actually, come to think of it, the head MD was wearing a pink shirt and a pink hermes tie when i visited...and he's happily married with 2 kids-and was a former all american football player-like me...lol.
There's a lot of closet athlete types and a lot of closet MDs.
lol...if u say so.
jesus, pink is not okay, from what kind of hill billy place do you come from?
re: pink shirts. have any of you been to london?
you can pull off a pink shirt with a charcoal grey suite and conservative dark tie.
They make that mistake in London.
The UK is full of queers anyway. You want to see how Real Men roll ? Come to America.
Damn right I am, Git-R-Dun, Yeehaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!
lol. mistakes and queers.
aadpepsi & seanc, you guys don't have a clue. you need to go to europe. seriously. it will change your perpective on things, especially style.
you won't find many guys walking around in khakis and a blue shirt looking "dapper". hillarious!
why don't you consider buying a humble-looking Longines?
agree US as some nice things like sports & finance, but fashion and an open mind is not your strong point, come to Europe for culture and fashion
Cayman S is pretty cool, I used to drive an accord so it was a big step up for me. I like how it's small so parking is pretty easy to get and you can rip 90% of the people on the road. You need a car on the west so i thought what the hell, I considered getting a CLK 55/63 but it was automatic.
Did you buy or lease?
I concede that European men have much more fashion sense and better dressed than their US counterparts. However, I still consider a pink shirt a fashion faux pas for men :-)
I wore a pink shirt for my first ever dinner celebrating a deal that we closed. the MD from another firm who was at the table was also wearing a pink shirt. mine was striped, which i wore with a charcoal suit and dark tie. his was solid with a navey blue pinstiped suit and dark blue tie with small pink spots. he was american though.
i remember this because a colleague commented that i was bold to be wearing a pink shirt on such an occation on our ride over to the restaurant.
i'm talking about something like this:
http://www.tmlewin.co.uk/content/products/PPPW_t.jpg
A first year wore a pink shirt to work one day and after being ragged on by everyone from the office assistants to the senior MDs we never saw the shirt again.
the key to pulling it off is to be conservative. you don't want to come off as trying too hard.
what about purple? I have a nice somewhat purple and lavender shirt. Is that appropriate to wear?
Proceed cautiously.
No just stick to the usual colors man and don't try to get cute, unless you do want your salad tossed.
Ari Gold: I bought it. 40k down, financing the rest.
aadpepsi: You definitely need to grow up. Pretty cool to get online on a message board, make assumptions about people, etc. So i'll do the same for you. Loser who has no friends, couldn't get into banking, lives vicariously through other analysts and shops at the gap, can't afford a nice pink or purple shirt so buys french cuff lookalike shirts that use a button.
Ay vey...
Well, aadpepsi claims to be a girl, so I'm not sure about the whole imitation french cuff thing. I'd like to make an assumption too, though. Based on her vigorous defense of SEO, I am going to say that she is black or hispanic. Based on her use of "ja ja ja ja" as synonmous for laughing, I'm going to bet that she's hispanic.
And regarding purple shirts, I have a light lavender shirt that I really like. I think if you wear something really odd (like a bright orange shirt) you are going to get shit for it, but otherwise it's fine. I personally don't like pink that much, but if I saw a fellow analyst wearing it I wouldn't flinch.
I always wondered wtf that ja ja ja shit was about.
Yes dress well, i'd rather see my colleagues rocking Breguets with purple Zegna shirts over, Tag's with white Gap/Banana Republic shirts. Class speaks alot for the bank. I guess alot of these wannabe bankers or Banc of America/Thomas Weisel guys think different.
Cartier is absolutely, without a doubt, not even close to the equivalent of a Rolex. If you know anything about good watches, you know that a Cartier is a piece of Jewelry, and Rolex is a fine, automatic watch with in house movements.
There are several brands that are better constructed than Rolex watches, but Tag/Cartier/Omega are not among them. Rolex seems to draw a lot of negative comments on this web site, but that probably has to do with the spoiled kids that wear a Submariner, and nothing to do with the actual make of the watch. A Rolex Submariner or DateJust is an absolutely fabulous watch, and anyone is lucky to own one.
not to get into a long and drawn out battle over watches, but are you seriously lumping up omega with tag/cartier? ok, i'm not talking about the bond 007 models, but the more traditional models, speedmaster, et al.
I agree to an extent. Rolexes are classy and can be nice. However, I feel that 80% of people buy rolexes to try and flaunt that they have a rolex. I personally tend to like less common watch brands like the, AP, Patek, Breguet, IWC (althought it's getting pretty common). I am considering buying a third watch as a big night type thing, while i'll wear my other one as daily wear.
I may be an ignorant hillbilly, but who the hell even wears watches anymore, I just use my cellphone. Watches are more of an old school thing now.
ha-ha. Buy a new $800 phone each year from overseas and it does a lot more than a watch and definitely makes a bigger splash.
Sure Pateks are nice, but a nice Patek will run you upwards of 20k...Rolex is cheaper lol.
And I would have to disagree that Omega's are a piece of jewelry. I think Omegas and Breitlings are very cool, classic watches. Cartier and David Yurman are more along the line of jewelry.
Just to throw in an another watch, I think Hublots are really sweet watches (although sadly, I don't own one).
One using your cellphone as a watch is very cool. Especially when you're in a board meeting doing a fairness and you keep whipping out your phone looking like you got something important going on.
Cuff-links (Originally Posted: 01/18/2010)
What's the consensus on wearing cuffs to work at analyst/assoc level? Do most of you wear cuffs? Constantly? Sporadically?
Favourite brand/design?
Analysts who wear cuff links deserve to be mercilessly mocked.
Get your nipples pierced and use them there...
I have gotten some Tiffany links and they are nice. Went to the Bank of England and got a pair. Nice memories. Cuff links on an analyst are a big no no. From a practical stand point, french cuff shirts are a pain to type with. Just get barrel cuffs. I like the ones with a mitered cuffs.
Cuff links, no
Silk Knots, yes
No cuff links at the junior level. You will be laughed at.
I know an analyst at a MM IB who wears cuff links and it does not appear they are received well,... over the top
I used to work at GS in operations in Australia. Most of the dooshes in my department used to wear them
LOL Really? Was it an Australian/British thing maybe?
Didn't we have this thread like 2 days ago.
In the UK/Europe double (french) cuffs and cuff links are standard practice. Silk knots are for the poor. Single (barrel) cuffs are for accountants.
x
ohhh Brittania!
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