Do interns really need suits?

I'm currently budgeting for an $800 Hugo Boss suit. But I'm wondering if I'll really need to wear a suit over the summer. I'll be at a BB, but not in an IB role. I was thinking about just buying a handful of dress shirts, some pants, and just rotating through those.

Do you think I'll need the suit? There may be some networking events I assume, so thats probably professional attire.

 

nonos is right. Why spend 800 on one suit when you can get 4 for that price...

"If you survive to my age and you rack up a CV like mine, you can look at HR and say, "Fuck you. I don't try out."- Eddie
 

My advice is to hit Filene's Basement before you go to Macy's, and NO you shouldn't be buying just 1 suit for $800, get 2-3 worth 200-300 bucks. Just by being able to get one drycleaned while you rotate the other 2 you'll be pretty far ahead of the game as far as looking decent. When you're making real money you can buy all the Boss you want.

And if you ever come to Latin America get a couple of bespoke suits tailored if you want to spend $800.

 
Best Response

Yes, but you can buy gently used 100% wool ones for $120 each on Ebay. We're talking nice brands like Abboud, Armani, Hugo Boss, and occasionally Hickey Freeman. This point is always fun to bring up when someone starts bragging a little too hard about their expensive European-made suit. "Hey! That suit's really expensive! I saw it going on Ebay for $180. I stick to $120 used suits, though."

In terms of buying new, $180 gets you a 100% wool suit. $300 gets you a 100% wool suit made in the US or Western Europe that lasts twice as long. $400-500 gets you a custom-tailored wool suit.

In all honesty, I would go for Men's Wearhouse's 2nd suit for $100 deal and buy US-made or Italian-made Joseph Abbouds or Tasso Elbas.

PS: I bought my current suit used on Ebay four years ago for $120. It's probably been worn 300 times in the past few years and I always get compliments on it. (If only they knew!) You don't have to pay top dollar for quality; you just have to buy used.

 
Pike:
Yes you need suits...but you really don't need something designer. You can get two decent suits from Jos A Bank for 800. Get a charcoal and a navy one.

Do NOT do this.

The answer to your question is 1) network 2) get involved 3) beef up your resume 4) repeat -happypantsmcgee WSO is not your personal search function.
 

You can get 3 suits from Joseph A Bank for $500 on the right day. JOSB is perfectly fine for an analyst, even an associate to wear. At some point, though, "Made in China" lapels start to get embarassing. When you hit VP, you have to start wearing suits that aren't made in third world countries to avoid looking cheap, but nobody has to know you bought it used on Ebay from SalArmyMiami777.

In all seriousness, four general suit buying rules for interns:

1.) Make sure it's 100% WOOL. Other than that, nobody cares about the brand. 2.) DARK is smart. (And don't get carried away with the pinstripes) 3.) Make sure it FITS 4.) Get it TAILORED (you can do this at the local dry cleaners)

PS: If you finish the summer and don't need the suit any more, you can give it to the Salvation Army of Miami for a tax write-off.

 

You are definitely at a point in your life where not having a suit will start to become an issue, but like everyone else said you don't need to drop $800.

"For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?"
 

For anyone who lives in/around New York, Suit Supply is far-and-away the best quality/price ratio around. They've got a brick-and-mortar store down in Soho.

Stick to dark fabrics (navy or charcoal) in one of their more conservative cuts (save the peak lapels and ticket pockets for the weekend).

 
Vontropnats:
Why wouldn't you want to wear a suit everyday anyway? Makes you look/feel like a b-o-s-s.
Well said. I would love to wear a suit everyday and look fresh!
Rules are for the obedience of fools and the guidance of wise men.
 

Depends where you are. Most places I'd guess it's every day. Some places are more casual. Really couldn't figure this one out on your own?

I hate victims who respect their executioners
 

I got an offer from a boutique and it has a very strict and formal dress code. A boutique doesn't have to be more casual. It can also be very formal.

It also depends on where you work. NewYork tends to be formal and the west coast more casual. Europe and Asia are most of the time formal.

 
Dresscode:
I got an offer from a boutique and it has a very strict and formal dress code. A boutique doesn't have to be more casual. It can also be very formal.

It also depends on where you work. NewYork tends to be formal and the west coast more casual. Europe and Asia are most of the time formal.

there is obviously a big difference between a brokerage and an m&a shop

 

From my SA internship, full suit and tie were only needed for "special" events (i.e. when the intern class met with the bank's heads/CEO/whatever). Frequency was like, maybe once a month or so.

Otherwise, business casual around the office, which is the rule with most BB banks except BarCap. Check with HR to be sure. The first day everyone is suited up, so you can just observe and adjust accordingly.

 

You can still wear a suit in business casual, just skip the tie. You can also choose to wear dress pants cause you will probably take of the jacket while you in office anyway. At most places you will wear a suit and tie more than once a month.

I'd probably wear a suit half of the time and then dress pants/dress shirt.

 

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