Female banker attire? Why everyone is not fashionable at all?

Sooooo..
I will start my job in NY..and I met few female bankers during my internship and stuff...I think most female bankers are actually very pretty... But face only.
They have no sense of fashion...wow..

I grew up with bunch of fashion ppl in my life (my mom is a fashion designer and my sister also is a buyer at one of the biggest online luxury retailer...) so I think I am pretty well dressed....

Everyone is wearing brooks brothers, jcrew, banana republic... those are definitely amazing brands but not fashionable at all.

I am not saying that everyone should be super fashionable...and wear the most expensive stuff...

Is there anyone wearing Proenza Schouler, Sandro, Rag&Bone and etc?

like..this http://us.sandro-paris.com/collection/women-summe…
or... http://www.net-a-porter.com/product/170359

I don't own formal clothes that much and I don't want to wear boring and not fashionable just because others do.
But I am also worried that others might think I am being too "fashionable"

What would you guys think if your female coworker is bit fashionable than the rest?

 
kraviz:
What would you guys think if your female coworker is bit fashionable than the rest?

It's ok when not over done. What you linked is overdone and looks unprofessional and I would have a hard time taking a women serious at first glance. It's better to look "unfashionable" and be taken serious then trying to be an individual though your wardrobe. You can call me sexist, which i'll admit to a bit of it, but let me ask you this. How serious would you take a guy wearing an orange plaid suit in brown alligator shoes? If you want to distinguish yourself do it through your work and personality, not what you wear.

Personal wealth is not how much you have in the bank or the worth of your portfolio. But, rather how you've used the wealth to make your life and those around you better.
 
Saul_Villa:
kraviz:
What would you guys think if your female coworker is bit fashionable than the rest?

It's ok when not over done. What you linked is overdone and looks unprofessional and I would have a hard time taking a women serious at first glance. It's better to look "unfashionable" and be taken serious then trying to be an individual though your wardrobe. You can call me sexist, which i'll admit to a bit of it, but let me ask you this. How serious would you take a guy wearing an orange plaid suit in brown alligator shoes? If you want to distinguish yourself do it through your work and personality, not what you wear.

I had no idea that those clothes are "unserious." I will do my best at work, and I am pretty sure that I will actually do better than most of others....I do not want to distinguish myself through clothes. I have no such intention at all. But you do really think wearing brooks brothers is the only way to be taken serious? What if I am smarter than others?? And just have better sense of style?

 
kraviz:
What if I am smarter than others?? And just have better sense of style?

It's fine to dress well if it makes you happy, but having a better sense of style will not get you ahead. If anything, it might hold you back.

First of all, "fashionable" is subjective. Second, fashion is a luxury of the rich, largely, and being overly fashionable can generate resentment from many people in finance are people from lower/middle-class backgrounds who are slaving under the promise they might make it to the 1%.

From what I've heard from women in the workplace, it's the OTHER women whose opinions you have to worry about. If they perceive stylish -> trying to get attention, perhaps you're gonna have a bad time. This is related to the fruitcake joke.

Men might raise an eyebrow but generally don't care, particularly if you're in a sales-y role.

Just my anecdotal $0.02.

 
Best Response

What is wrong with you? We have enough to worry about besides dressing fashionably. Throw on a nice pair of shoes and call it a day. Personally, I say forget banking and go work in the fashion industry if you like it so much esp since you have a connection. p.s all the women I've ever see in finance, esp at the higher levels wear minimal makeup and no-nonsense work clothes in dark colors.

 
mokey1234:
What is wrong with you? We have enough to worry about besides dressing fashionably. Throw on a nice pair of shoes and call it a day. Personally, I say forget banking and go work in the fashion industry if you like it so much esp since you have a connection. p.s all the women I've ever see in finance, esp at the higher levels wear minimal makeup and no-nonsense work clothes in dark colors.
ha.. I like finance.......I'm a quant and I realllly love what I do...I dont think anything else I can like more than what I will do...I like beautiful clothes but that doesn't mean I have to work in fashion... :)
 
kraviz:
ha.. I like finance.......I'm a quant and I realllly love what I do...I dont think anything else I can like more than what I will do...I like beautiful clothes but that doesn't mean I have to work in fashion... :)

You sound way too vapid to be a "quant".

 
kraviz:
mokey1234:
What is wrong with you? We have enough to worry about besides dressing fashionably. Throw on a nice pair of shoes and call it a day. Personally, I say forget banking and go work in the fashion industry if you like it so much esp since you have a connection. p.s all the women I've ever see in finance, esp at the higher levels wear minimal makeup and no-nonsense work clothes in dark colors.
ha.. I like finance.......I'm a quant and I realllly love what I do...I dont think anything else I can like more than what I will do...I like beautiful clothes but that doesn't mean I have to work in fashion... :)

Okay I guess you're cool. I'm all for more women in finance who are not one-dimensional tokens in the field. p.s I also love clothes, but I mean who doesn't. You should see the men's fashion thread. Downright metro.

 
Hooked on LEAPS:
http://www.google.com/imgres?q=slutty+shirt&um=1&HL=en&safe=off&biw=1280&bih=923&tbm=isch&tbnid=Qq8ymQ4Ryzm0HM:&imgrefurl=http://fooyoh.com/menknowpause_lifestyle_living/2182559&docid=biA0tqRCd…

I like this shirt. It says "I wanna move up the corporate ladder, yet I know what it means to be a woman in the 21st century."

Ahahaha, yes, yes it does

"You stop being an asshole when it sucks to be you." -IlliniProgrammer "Your grammar made me wish I'd been aborted." -happypantsmcgee
 

The skirt was fine, for a casual Friday, but the Sandro one was a bit over the top with all the orange, lace up pants, graphics. If you want to feel sexy maybe just wear something a bit more form fitting. Just remember if you want to be taken serious keep it below the knees, hide the cleavage, keep the heals low, and keep it business colors like blue, grey, black, and earth tones. You want to be treated like an equal, not a piece of ass, so dress like one. You're a smart women and I'm sure you'll fine the right balance but at the start I'd keep it conservative. Best of luck in your new job and in your career.

Personal wealth is not how much you have in the bank or the worth of your portfolio. But, rather how you've used the wealth to make your life and those around you better.
 
historiclegend:
I'm very fashionable and those links are not on par with being in style. Maybe your sense of fashion is off.

What is your stylish attire then? Let's be honest, I know Celine and Balenciaga are better than those but I was being reasonable with my paycheck.. and I can't wear Acne Studio's clothes to work obviously...

 

Maybe where I grew up has a different sense of style. I'm west coast, but have been to NY several times. I just don't like the way most female NEer dress. That said, paycheck size has relatively little to do with wether I think a girls outfit is stylish. I have no idea what is an expensive outfit versus a less expensive one (for women). I found nothing in the first link stylish, but like the second link on second glance.

You're looking for work attire? Post some other options and I'll give my input (for what little it's worth).

 

Brooks Brothers? Banana Republic? I do not know where you work, but here we wear Ralph Lauren, Tahari, Gucci, etc. The suits are sharp and fashionable and most importantly: APPROPRIATE for the industry.

Subtleties are what makes a female banker edgy. Could be the earrings you are wearing, the tote you're carrying or the scarf that just screams badass.

I think it is fair to say that most young women confuse fashionable with trendy. The trend is to wear a bright orange no button blazer. Fashion is to know where to wear that blazer.

I may not be on the Jedi Council, but I sure am great with the Force. See my WSO blog posts
 

Girls should never wear skirts at work unless they want to be a secretary. Have the attitude of Angelina Jolie in a badass role and you will be respected more regardless of your attire.

There is life and death. I'm going to bust my ass to make an impact 'til the latter comes.
 
TexasTim:
Girls should never wear skirts at work unless they want to be a secretary. Have the attitude of Angelina Jolie in a badass role and you will be respected more regardless of your attire.

Most hilarious thing I have read on WSO so far. Except for maybe Hesiter's net worth. Kudos to you for making me give a damn.

I may not be on the Jedi Council, but I sure am great with the Force. See my WSO blog posts
 

One of my motivations to be an entrepreneur is to free you women of your boring and uninspired work style.

My corporation will encourage the women to wear black elastic skirts or leggings.

 

Pencil skirts, cardigans (not too long), dress shirts, dress pants, little heels, nice (shiny!) flats, silky blouses, blazers, dresses with little jackets. Make sure everything is at least knee-length and all of your shirts/blouses are tucked in! I like to wear black and white/navy and white outfits and fun, colored shoes and carry cute bags. I'm also not a huge fan of chunky jewelry but I've seen many women that look great with big baubles. It's hard to look business professional and still be stylish but it's manageable! Good luck on your position!

 

In all fairness, it will most likely depend on which BB you're talking about (I'm going to assume NY), and the group. However, with a dress like that, I would stay away. My thoughts when buying my wardrobe were - did I look like HR or a banker? Look to Theory for well made pieces, with jackets if you need business professional, and BCBG Max Azria for tailored suits and blouses in a resonable range (all available at bloomingdales).

For example, http://www1.bloomingdales.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=105981&Cate… has a matching suit jacket (not shown), and so with the jacket it looks more like a skirt/shirt combo, and is tailored nicely.

Likewise, http://www1.bloomingdales.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=104297&Cate… has a matching suit jacket, that also has several matching pants/skirts of the same fabric, so you could mix and match with one jacket. (Check the tags for type of fabric, and thats how you know which ones match - this one is 'Tailor'). With the jacket its work appropriate, and if you went out for cocktails after, it's classic.

Good luck

 

I work in legal at a bank and the women are all in suits but immediately take their blazers off when they arrive. I wear a suit skirt or pants and nice tops. I just wait for a 50 or 60% off sale at Loft and buy a bunch of nice work tops since I like to rotate. Most women at my bank are pretty aggressive with patterns and colors.

 
tradingintern2014:
JenCass:

I work in legal at a bank and the women are all in suits but immediately take their blazers off when they arrive. I wear a suit skirt or pants and nice tops. I just wait for a 50 or 60% off sale at Loft and buy a bunch of nice work tops since I like to rotate. Most women at my bank are pretty aggressive with patterns and colors.

Thank you! That's very helpful. I'll check out Loft. I guess the safest best would be to dress in a suit and then shed the blazer layer accordingly depending on what everyone else seems to be doing.

Ann taylor loft black, charcoal, navy suits (jacket and pants). Or do banana republic. What other employees wear is totally irrelevant. You are an intern and until you hit maybe VP, you should dress conservatively and that's it. It's not a fashion competition, even if other women seem to think so. Stray from this at your own risk.... You can wear whatever you want and look "cute" when you club hop on weekends.
 

If you really want to be fashionable, do it in a subtle way e.g. use high quality fabric, subtle details.

At least from a glance, you should not be distinctive. You spent so much effort to get in, do not give reasons for those people at your back to take you down.

Unfortunately, when a company have an unlimited supply of overqualified, competitive interns, anything can be a reason to reject.

Maybe one day you will become one of the high-ranking management/client and by then you can wears whatever you want.

 

I like the Carhartt work jeans. 100% appropriate for any top wall street firm. Best if paired with a neon green construction/lawnmowing type t-shirt. Helps you pull in O&G deals like no other.

When life gives you kefir and flour, make some blins.
 

I love to wear nice clothes but I don’t want to stand out. im one of three women only on my group. I feel weird wearing suits now because most of the guys don’t wear their suit jackets in the office anymore. I don’t wear makeup. one of the MDs commented on my wavy hair so it is pulled back all the time. You are not there to look nice. You are there to look professional and earn people’s respect. As an analyst you don’t want to look like you’re wearing very expensive stuff too ( I don’t wear my Louis Vuitton purse to work). So rules are: be comfortable all the time Comfortable but professional (formal shoes even if you don’t wear heels) Do not make people identify you with how you look. You don’t wanna be recognized as chick with tight pants or very high heels. It is a boys club and it is so easy for that to happen Smell good. This is way more important, you stay at work the whole day and people will be standing next to you. Shower often. I wear perfume only once a day before I leave the house so it is not too catchy

 

Who out there keeps bumping "kravitz's" 8-year old ESL posts?

First she complained about getting dumped by her long-distance sugar daddy (cf. "Why Men No Like Female Bankers?"), and then she ragged on fellow female bankers for not dressing like performance-artists-turned-runway-models.

Serious questions of what to wear at work would be better addressed in a new thread, one not started by an ESL troll.

 

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Never discuss with idiots, first they drag you at their level, then they beat you with experience.
 

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