No pinstripes?

There is a presentation at my university where we have to brief decision makers of a company about a competitive intelligence requirement they gave us in August.

The attire guidelines specifically states "no pinstripe suits". Why single out pinstripe suits? I was planning on wearing a 3 piece pinstripe suit (navy) with cufflinks, a nice pocket square, and a lapel pin. Now I'll just wear a 3 piece solid navy with same accessories. What could the difference be?

A law school buddy of mine went through a similar situation in which no 3 piece suits were allowed. This better not be about "denoting social rank" and expecting people to wear ill-fitting suits made out of polyester to denote our status as students.

 

not too sure if troll but if not:

cufflinks/pinstripe suits typically denote higher status within a company and are a "rite of passage"

not too sure abut pocket-squares, i think they denote the pimps and gangsters

As a student it is expected to wear -2 piece suit -white shirt -tie (neutral and stay away from red) -solid navy or gray is fine -fit is good

-
 

I definitely agree with yelloweat's guidance and rationale againts the accessories. I'm not sure what country you are in, but in the U.S. a three piece suit is typically not worn in normal business situations. Are there exceptions? Sure. However, I've been in investment banking for about two years and I've never once seen someone wear a three piece to a client meeting or any other professional setting. I'm fairly certain if I had one on my MD wouldn't let me be in the room.

In the end you can make your own decisions, but for every one person that thinks, "Hmm.. that guy knows how to dress" you will be answered with two more who are thinking "this guy looks like a clown." For me and most people I know the upside is just not worth the downside.

 
notthehospitalER:

Sorry to hijack thread, but what are peoples' opinions on tie bars for regular (almost every day/every day) wear?

No to tie bars.

You trying to be a GQ model or a lowly analyst?

 

They fall in the same category as cuff links. I personally would advise against it at the junior level, but others may have a different opinion.

 

I hate the opinion that students should wear white shirts at networking, interviews, etc. I think that as long as you wear something conservative, feel comfortable, and look appropriate the interviewer could care less. I usually wear blue/light blue shirts, sometimes with patterns (not stripes though) and have never felt like an interviewer was judging me for my the color of my shirt.

"I must create a system or be enslaved by another man's." William Blake
 

I don't understand why everyone is so eager to be 'edgy' and break the rules. To me, conservative 2 piece, grey or navy suit is best. For interviews, black belt+shoes but for all other occasions, mix it with black or brown. If you want to differentiate, the texture of the suit, shoes, belt are the best and safest things to alter (though of course the most expensive).

Why try and fuck with something (and potentially offend someone) when you're asking someone for a job known for the pay scale?!

Offshore liffe
 

I understand your eagerness to look good, but you should try to be a bit more conservative, maybe aim at something between not being just another regular guy in the room and also not being the douche that seems to be on his way to a GQ cover photo shoot. I am a low level analyst (outside the US, though) and I do wear cufflinks quite a lot and, sometimes, a pocket square. The idea is to be well dressed but also to avoid looking like a peacock. Wearing cufflinks OR a nice white straight folded pocket square will probably get people's attention without making it look like you're trying too hard.

 

Follow the rules or get dinged. Either way it is irrelevant since you are just a student. In the working world I think you might want to stay away from being overly flashy until you get older and gain some experience.

Functionally, cuff links are a pain in the ass when you are grinding away on a keyboard all day. I prefer two buttons and a mitered cuff, but to each their own.

 

He meant shirts, not suits- assuming you meant suits because I don't think you mean students should wear grey or especially navy shirts.

@TraderDaily: I just bought 12 shirts for work (heading into an IB SA in the next few days) and I split them up, around half solid and half stripes. Only solid shirts in mostly blue and white would definitely be boring.

 

C'mon banking is about LOGIC. What you are postulating is a poisoning the well non-sequitur ad hominem fallacy. Hitler wore clothes. Does that mean that anyone who wears clothes is a Nazi? No? Then not everyone who wears tie bars is a hipster. Tie bars, when worn low on the tie, serve a functional purpose.

 
Best Response

Pocket protectors, suspenders, and handkerchiefs serve a purpose too (ink spills, pulling up pants, and blowing your nose), does that mean you should wear them as an analyst?

I'm doing you a favor, whether you see it or not.

 

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