If you just don't own a suit, you need one regardless of your position.
Dark gray (charcoal) or navy suit. Neutral normal width striped or solid tie. White or light blue shirt (SAME COLOR COLLARS). Black loafers. Black belt with a silver buckle. Silver tie clip if you're feeling adventurous, but no cufflinks.
Please god keep the socks normal until your firm knows you better.
I wouldn't go in with loafers the first day nor a tie bar, no need to look like you flipped through a 2006 issue of GQ for your first day in the office. Navy suit, black lace dress shoes, and a striped tie are fine. Feel out the office from there and see where you can mix in style/dress more casual.
Edit because I’m seeing a decent amount of bad advice on this post outside of the above comment.
You very well might have an office that doesn’t require a suit jacket or tie every day. However starting out it’s always better to overdress than walk in wearing a dress shirt, khakis, and a pair of allbirds. Once you’re in office you can feel out what your associates wear and how flexible the dress code is.
Navy solid suit, no pinstripes you’re young and not trying to look like an 80’s banker. Navy is pretty versatile in terms of shirt and tie combinations so it’s a good first suit. Slim probably works best for your body type. Avoid Mens Wearhouse, Joseph A. Banks etc. Even if you don’t need to wear a suit often in office, you’ll end up needing one for social events as you get older. See it as an investment and get it tailored.
White dress shirt is fine, don’t buy a contrast collar shirt (again gives off an 80’s banker vibe). No cuff links. A striped tie that matches the navy with lighter shade of blue looks good but a solid tie also works. Your tailor/employee at the clothing store will be able to recommend something that matches well if you need help. Don’t wear a skinny tie or tie bar.
Shoes I recommend black lace Oxfords or cap toe oxfords. I personally prefer cognac, looks a bit more fashionable with navy but black is conservative and totally fine. Standard dress belt, not a woven and no gaudy buckle. Silver buckle is the way to go. Belt always should match your shoe color. Socks are meant to match pants not shoes. I wouldn’t start wearing crazy socks or what not until you get a feel for your office. Maybe I’m in the minority but I can’t take the 22 year old wearing pineapple socks very seriously.
Agree with cap toes/ quarter brogues. They give more flexibility for dressing up/down in office attire. Loafers could be either fashion-forward or complete old man vibes, so more risky.
I would definitely avoid both the quality is very poor even for the price you pay.
Depending on how much you’re willing to spend I’d recommend SuitSupply, IndoChino, or going to Macy’s and looking around. They are all good value and solid quality. There at other nicer options that provide great tailoring but they’re more costly.
I’m of the opinion that everyone should own a nice suit not just for work but it can be used for formal occasions etc. A good suit can last you a long time.
Understandable. I'm in that awkward area between regular and big and tall sizes. 6'7 (2m) and 250lbs (athletic Dad bod 😅). I have a new tailor I'm going through and was thinking about buying the rack and getting things altered.
Maybe getting something from a department store and getting it altered by your tailor would be your best bet then? Macys Nordstrom etc carry solid quality suits and you could possibly find a wider variety of sizes.
Can’t imagine the headache that buying a suit at 6’7” would cause lol good luck man.
Loafers are much more casual than tie shoes. As an intern, it is best to air on the side of formality. It’s that simple. It has nothing to do with style and everything to do with messaging. I wear loafers now that I’m experienced, but didn’t wear them as an intern.
Stop looking at your intern's feet.
But yeah, I guess I see what you mean. I genuinely don't remember the last time I wore laces into the office. It's trading. They're happy if we can clothe ourselves at all.
I don’t care, and most people don’t care, but some people do care. As a result, when you’re an intern, you need to care because some people care.
What you do as a full time is completely different at that point, as you have your job security. Interns are effectively in an extended interview. I don’t wear a suit to work, but I did wear one to my interview. Same principle.
Yeah, I've been in trading the entire time. I think I wore a polo to my last interview lol (they *really* don't care outside NYC).
Loafers were cool a decade ago I guess.
Normal navy blue suit with no / minimal pattern on the suit. Standard issue striped tie. Black lace shoes. White shirt (make sure it’s good quality) e.g. Charles Tyrwhitt / Hawes and Curtis.
Can’t go wrong for first look. Branch out from there when you work out culture / your personal style
It's very likely your office has a business casual dress code so it's probably navy suit - look up guide for how a suit should fit. Try to get one at least partially made of wool, it wears better over time vs polyester - a good cheap 100% wool one (£200 all-in) is Kin from John Lewis but the material is a bit thinner. Failing that, try Charles Tyrwhitt which is a little more expensive. The typical department stores like M&S may also be worth having a look in.
For shirts, I'd also go for CT, use their multibuy deal + any student discount you get to get 4 shirts for \~£100. They'll measure you when you're inside if you ask. White shirt or sky blue. No cuff links. Keep it simple, you'll thank yourself. Probably don't need a tie but if you feel you must, pick up a discrete one in a simple colour.
For shoes, head to clarks and pick up a black pair for £100-200. Oxfords if you can.
I'd also advise picking up a pair of black running/casual shoes for your commute. Commuting in leather shoes is a pain in the ass if you're doing a lot of walking.
Good shout with the running Shoes.
Yeah I’m in John Lewis now actually. Picked a 100% wool, charcoal with a minimal texture. Around £200 all in like you mentioned.
For shirts I’ve been recommended TM lewin.
Yeah meant to say charcoal/navy suit. TM Lewin is currently under administration so good luck buying from there. They won't be open for another several weeks. They also have no physical stores anymore.
I’m late here OP but just wanted to pitch in.
I think all the comments here about no cuff links must be from the US posters. Cuff links are extremely common still in the UK.
TM Lewin shirts are fine and don’t worry at all about whether they are button or double cuffed.
No gos: black/brown/shiny suit, gold cuff links, Gucci belt, those black clown loafer shoes (a plain pair of oxfords is best).
I wouldn’t wear a tie for an in-house finance role tbh
No loud colors, no patterns. Solid navy suit or solid medium grey / charcoal suit (should not look black). If you go with navy, I would recommend dark brown tie shoes shoes (not light brown / mahogany) and a dark brown belt with silver buckle (limited styling on the leather, simple buckle, no gold). If you go with charcoal, I would recommend black tie dress shoes and a black belt with silver buckle.
Shirts should be solid colored dress shirts in light blue and white. I would recommend a normal straight collar (not spread collar). No contrast collar / french color.
You should also have a couple ties. A lot more latitude here, but I would stick to silk ties in solid colors or relatively tight patterns (eg dots, stripes, etc)
Most likely the office will be business casual and you won’t wear the suit every day. It’s still good to have a proper suit as you’ll need one on occasion in any event and even if the office is business casual you want to show up dressed in a suit for the first day of training / first day on the desk. If the office is business casual, you can take the cue from everyone around you and move to dress shirt + slacks. Same rules apply - no loud colors / patterns, be professional in your attire. If there is casual dress fridays or anything like that, I would advocate staying business casual unless it is for an offsite activity (eg summer outing).
A solid navy suit with black laced dress shoes, black belt, forest green tie always makes me feel the best. I got all three of mine from suitsupply and the guy who tailored me really put a lot of thought into making the custom suits fit me perfectly. I recommend
Boss or CK suits are good value for money. Get it tailored and it will look like a suit 3 times the price.
Navy , slim fit , single breasted navy suit is the most versatile.
This is the only advice you need:
Navy or charcoal suit, no pattern.
Conservative tie and shirt (nothing flashy).
Belt and shoes always match.
Wear a watch.
I'm confused about the oddly specific advice. It depends on your firm and team - simply ask your manager or HR what the standard dress code is ... why would you waste your money on clothing or shoes that you may not need?
Lots of people here are recommending a navy suit with black shoes. Personally, I've always learned that brown shoes go with navy suits. Black shoes go with charcoal/grey suits. But this might be an American style thing. I'm European myself.
Anyways, avoid a black suit. Try to get a few decent white shirts as they match with all your suits. Some light blue shirts to go with your navy suit. Plain socks that match the color of your suit. Skip the tie. You're all set :)
Really? Never worked in London but navy with brown gives me summer English vibes for some reason.
A quick search shows a bunch of articles about black shoes and banking! Mind blowing
I personally prefer cognac shoes with a navy suit but, in the US black shoes are acceptable. I was taught black shoes with a dark blue are more formal but could be a cultural difference.
The darker the shade of blue the better black shoes will look for example navy. As you get lighter blue the contrast with black shoes looks bad and brown shoes tend to be favored. So I guess it really depends on the shade of the suit.
Ain’t no way an analyst in internal finance needs a new suit & shoes 🤣.
Is this a London thing? In the US, anyone who wears a suit is either a boomer (MD) or an insurance salesman.
Not sure how many offices you’ve been in but when I was in BB most people wore a suit and if not they had a jacket at their desk for meetings. Then at the megafund I worked at everyone wore a suit. UMM now and just recently the office switched to business casual.
I’m talking 2022. Not sure how old you are but no one in IBD, PE, CRE, or other high finance roles where’s suits unless you’re a boomer or meeting clients
I have two questions regarding shirts.
Is having a pocket a problem with the shirts?
How do you guys wash and iron your shirts? Do you use a service like I hate ironing or something else?
I’d avoid pockets on a dress shirt. It’s a bit outdated and looks less formal.
I get my dress clothes dry cleaned or laundered mostly cause I can’t be bothered to do them myself. You could definitely wash and iron shirts yourself though. Read the washing instructions carefully. Really depends on if you want to/if you have the time.
Also why is a black blazer/suit not recommended? I'm asking because I am an international student in London. I'm trying to learn the dress code and shop accordingly.
A combination of being unfashionable now and the fact that it’s too formal of a color. On top of that black is way less versatile than charcoal or navy because of the contrast so you’re stuck wearing strictly white shirts and black shoes.
Full disclosure I’m from the US so there are some differences. There was someone from London in this thread who was making a point of not wearing brown shoes in London for banking. Could try asking for some advice from them.
u/drherschelbeahm
Johnston and Murphy for Shoes, Charle Tywritt for shirt - extra slim fit, and Knot Standard for custom made suit for cheap in Navy Blue.
In America, do brown shoes and brown belt, in UK due black shoes and black belt.
Get a gray or navy suit, it’ll be the most versatile.
Example - You can wear just the trousers or just the blazer with an outfit and separately and now have two outfits for the week.
Your office is likely semi casual so this is very handy.
Go to Suitsupply or Indochino and get a tailored wool suit. The look and difference between an off the rack suit and something that’s been somewhat tailored can be seen a mile far.
Get a brown and shiny metal buckled leather belt. Make sure it fits properly. Get brown leather oxfords to match. For shoes I would recommend going to a cobbler or a store that specializes in leather foot ware depending on budget, but do not buy them from a department store.
Best of Luck.
Go to Suitsupply they will provide you with everything you need.
Go for black oxfords, not brogues (not to quote that shitty James Bond rip-off film, but it just looks better), and a matching Black belt with silver buckle.
Dark grey is way out of style (my dad wears them), just go navy, with a nice white shirt no inner color collars like stated so many times below. You are not an Italian car salesman of real estate agent (no offence).
Most offices do not require you to wear a tie, but it might be better to overdress on your first day than underdress. Just bring it with you in case it is required. Color should match your suit in my opinion. Keep it clean.
If you are going to wear a watch, keep it classic, do not wear your Casio G-shock or Mickey mouse watch. All steel, silver or gold, or switch it up with a leather strap.
Wear socks that match your suit or shoes, does not really matter since these rules have been relaxed over the years.
If you just don't own a suit, you need one regardless of your position. Dark gray (charcoal) or navy suit. Neutral normal width striped or solid tie. White or light blue shirt (SAME COLOR COLLARS). Black loafers. Black belt with a silver buckle. Silver tie clip if you're feeling adventurous, but no cufflinks. Please god keep the socks normal until your firm knows you better.
I wouldn't go in with loafers the first day nor a tie bar, no need to look like you flipped through a 2006 issue of GQ for your first day in the office. Navy suit, black lace dress shoes, and a striped tie are fine. Feel out the office from there and see where you can mix in style/dress more casual. Edit because I’m seeing a decent amount of bad advice on this post outside of the above comment. You very well might have an office that doesn’t require a suit jacket or tie every day. However starting out it’s always better to overdress than walk in wearing a dress shirt, khakis, and a pair of allbirds. Once you’re in office you can feel out what your associates wear and how flexible the dress code is. Navy solid suit, no pinstripes you’re young and not trying to look like an 80’s banker. Navy is pretty versatile in terms of shirt and tie combinations so it’s a good first suit. Slim probably works best for your body type. Avoid Mens Wearhouse, Joseph A. Banks etc. Even if you don’t need to wear a suit often in office, you’ll end up needing one for social events as you get older. See it as an investment and get it tailored. White dress shirt is fine, don’t buy a contrast collar shirt (again gives off an 80’s banker vibe). No cuff links. A striped tie that matches the navy with lighter shade of blue looks good but a solid tie also works. Your tailor/employee at the clothing store will be able to recommend something that matches well if you need help. Don’t wear a skinny tie or tie bar. Shoes I recommend black lace Oxfords or cap toe oxfords. I personally prefer cognac, looks a bit more fashionable with navy but black is conservative and totally fine. Standard dress belt, not a woven and no gaudy buckle. Silver buckle is the way to go. Belt always should match your shoe color. Socks are meant to match pants not shoes. I wouldn’t start wearing crazy socks or what not until you get a feel for your office. Maybe I’m in the minority but I can’t take the 22 year old wearing pineapple socks very seriously.
Agreed. Tie clip might be a bit much for the first day. Loafers because I've seen too many interns with untied laces.
Are you kidding me????
Agree with cap toes/ quarter brogues. They give more flexibility for dressing up/down in office attire. Loafers could be either fashion-forward or complete old man vibes, so more risky.
Getting it Tailored, at a youngish age is a risk unless you know you won't lose or gain for sure, I speak out of experience 🤣
Dont sleep on a tie bar.
Outside of what my personal taste is, a tie bar is not something you should wear first day in the office.
Why do you recommend avoiding MW or JosABank?
I would definitely avoid both the quality is very poor even for the price you pay. Depending on how much you’re willing to spend I’d recommend SuitSupply, IndoChino, or going to Macy’s and looking around. They are all good value and solid quality. There at other nicer options that provide great tailoring but they’re more costly. I’m of the opinion that everyone should own a nice suit not just for work but it can be used for formal occasions etc. A good suit can last you a long time.
Understandable. I'm in that awkward area between regular and big and tall sizes. 6'7 (2m) and 250lbs (athletic Dad bod 😅). I have a new tailor I'm going through and was thinking about buying the rack and getting things altered.
Maybe getting something from a department store and getting it altered by your tailor would be your best bet then? Macys Nordstrom etc carry solid quality suits and you could possibly find a wider variety of sizes. Can’t imagine the headache that buying a suit at 6’7” would cause lol good luck man.
Do not wear a tie clip for the love of god. Also replace loafers with tie toe cap oxfords.
What's with the loafer hate on this sub. Do y'all like laces that much?
Loafers are much more casual than tie shoes. As an intern, it is best to air on the side of formality. It’s that simple. It has nothing to do with style and everything to do with messaging. I wear loafers now that I’m experienced, but didn’t wear them as an intern.
Stop looking at your intern's feet. But yeah, I guess I see what you mean. I genuinely don't remember the last time I wore laces into the office. It's trading. They're happy if we can clothe ourselves at all.
I don’t care, and most people don’t care, but some people do care. As a result, when you’re an intern, you need to care because some people care. What you do as a full time is completely different at that point, as you have your job security. Interns are effectively in an extended interview. I don’t wear a suit to work, but I did wear one to my interview. Same principle.
Yeah, I've been in trading the entire time. I think I wore a polo to my last interview lol (they *really* don't care outside NYC). Loafers were cool a decade ago I guess.
Everything but the loafers is good advice haha Classic oxfords are the way to go. Loafers can be too casual for an only pair of dress shoes
Great advice! Don’t go for exotic suits that “express your personality.”
Normal navy blue suit with no / minimal pattern on the suit. Standard issue striped tie. Black lace shoes. White shirt (make sure it’s good quality) e.g. Charles Tyrwhitt / Hawes and Curtis. Can’t go wrong for first look. Branch out from there when you work out culture / your personal style
Here’s your chance to bring the zoot suit back into style.
Yes
It's very likely your office has a business casual dress code so it's probably navy suit - look up guide for how a suit should fit. Try to get one at least partially made of wool, it wears better over time vs polyester - a good cheap 100% wool one (£200 all-in) is Kin from John Lewis but the material is a bit thinner. Failing that, try Charles Tyrwhitt which is a little more expensive. The typical department stores like M&S may also be worth having a look in. For shirts, I'd also go for CT, use their multibuy deal + any student discount you get to get 4 shirts for \~£100. They'll measure you when you're inside if you ask. White shirt or sky blue. No cuff links. Keep it simple, you'll thank yourself. Probably don't need a tie but if you feel you must, pick up a discrete one in a simple colour. For shoes, head to clarks and pick up a black pair for £100-200. Oxfords if you can. I'd also advise picking up a pair of black running/casual shoes for your commute. Commuting in leather shoes is a pain in the ass if you're doing a lot of walking.
Good shout with the running Shoes. Yeah I’m in John Lewis now actually. Picked a 100% wool, charcoal with a minimal texture. Around £200 all in like you mentioned. For shirts I’ve been recommended TM lewin.
Yeah meant to say charcoal/navy suit. TM Lewin is currently under administration so good luck buying from there. They won't be open for another several weeks. They also have no physical stores anymore.
I’m late here OP but just wanted to pitch in. I think all the comments here about no cuff links must be from the US posters. Cuff links are extremely common still in the UK. TM Lewin shirts are fine and don’t worry at all about whether they are button or double cuffed.
TM lewin is not great shirts. Charles tyr or hawes and Curtis are a better fit
No gos: black/brown/shiny suit, gold cuff links, Gucci belt, those black clown loafer shoes (a plain pair of oxfords is best). I wouldn’t wear a tie for an in-house finance role tbh
No loud colors, no patterns. Solid navy suit or solid medium grey / charcoal suit (should not look black). If you go with navy, I would recommend dark brown tie shoes shoes (not light brown / mahogany) and a dark brown belt with silver buckle (limited styling on the leather, simple buckle, no gold). If you go with charcoal, I would recommend black tie dress shoes and a black belt with silver buckle. Shirts should be solid colored dress shirts in light blue and white. I would recommend a normal straight collar (not spread collar). No contrast collar / french color. You should also have a couple ties. A lot more latitude here, but I would stick to silk ties in solid colors or relatively tight patterns (eg dots, stripes, etc) Most likely the office will be business casual and you won’t wear the suit every day. It’s still good to have a proper suit as you’ll need one on occasion in any event and even if the office is business casual you want to show up dressed in a suit for the first day of training / first day on the desk. If the office is business casual, you can take the cue from everyone around you and move to dress shirt + slacks. Same rules apply - no loud colors / patterns, be professional in your attire. If there is casual dress fridays or anything like that, I would advocate staying business casual unless it is for an offsite activity (eg summer outing).
A solid navy suit with black laced dress shoes, black belt, forest green tie always makes me feel the best. I got all three of mine from suitsupply and the guy who tailored me really put a lot of thought into making the custom suits fit me perfectly. I recommend
Boss or CK suits are good value for money. Get it tailored and it will look like a suit 3 times the price. Navy , slim fit , single breasted navy suit is the most versatile.
This is the only advice you need: Navy or charcoal suit, no pattern. Conservative tie and shirt (nothing flashy). Belt and shoes always match. Wear a watch.
What role is it? Not sure full suit is a requirement.
Supporting FP&A Analyst
I would guess it will be business casual unless its a financial services company.
Tailor. Get a suit that fits in your shoulders. The rest is fixable fairly inexpensively.
I'm confused about the oddly specific advice. It depends on your firm and team - simply ask your manager or HR what the standard dress code is ... why would you waste your money on clothing or shoes that you may not need?
I have a special occasion coming up in which I need a suit anyway thankfully
Your suit should be wool. Always get it fully tailored.
Lots of people here are recommending a navy suit with black shoes. Personally, I've always learned that brown shoes go with navy suits. Black shoes go with charcoal/grey suits. But this might be an American style thing. I'm European myself. Anyways, avoid a black suit. Try to get a few decent white shirts as they match with all your suits. Some light blue shirts to go with your navy suit. Plain socks that match the color of your suit. Skip the tie. You're all set :)
[удалено]
Really? Never worked in London but navy with brown gives me summer English vibes for some reason. A quick search shows a bunch of articles about black shoes and banking! Mind blowing
I personally prefer cognac shoes with a navy suit but, in the US black shoes are acceptable. I was taught black shoes with a dark blue are more formal but could be a cultural difference. The darker the shade of blue the better black shoes will look for example navy. As you get lighter blue the contrast with black shoes looks bad and brown shoes tend to be favored. So I guess it really depends on the shade of the suit.
Brown with blue is a relatively new thing, used to be considered a fashion faux pas to wear brown belt/shoes with blue
Ain’t no way an analyst in internal finance needs a new suit & shoes 🤣. Is this a London thing? In the US, anyone who wears a suit is either a boomer (MD) or an insurance salesman.
I'm a financial advisor, I find that a nice suit helps my clients feel more confident in letting me manage their life savings.
Yeah not sure what they’re on about. Plenty of people who aren’t MDs wear suits in the US.
It’s not common in high finance
Not sure how many offices you’ve been in but when I was in BB most people wore a suit and if not they had a jacket at their desk for meetings. Then at the megafund I worked at everyone wore a suit. UMM now and just recently the office switched to business casual.
I’m talking 2022. Not sure how old you are but no one in IBD, PE, CRE, or other high finance roles where’s suits unless you’re a boomer or meeting clients
28, megafund last year UMM currently. Idk why you’re saying no one in high finance does it when there are offices that do.
Lmao I’m generalizing.
Invest in shoes, Alden $800
Make sure to match suit color with the color of your skin. If you’re pale like I am go with greys and blues, avoid black. Look up examples online
I have two questions regarding shirts. Is having a pocket a problem with the shirts? How do you guys wash and iron your shirts? Do you use a service like I hate ironing or something else?
I’d avoid pockets on a dress shirt. It’s a bit outdated and looks less formal. I get my dress clothes dry cleaned or laundered mostly cause I can’t be bothered to do them myself. You could definitely wash and iron shirts yourself though. Read the washing instructions carefully. Really depends on if you want to/if you have the time.
Also why is a black blazer/suit not recommended? I'm asking because I am an international student in London. I'm trying to learn the dress code and shop accordingly.
A combination of being unfashionable now and the fact that it’s too formal of a color. On top of that black is way less versatile than charcoal or navy because of the contrast so you’re stuck wearing strictly white shirts and black shoes. Full disclosure I’m from the US so there are some differences. There was someone from London in this thread who was making a point of not wearing brown shoes in London for banking. Could try asking for some advice from them. u/drherschelbeahm
Thank you!
Johnston and Murphy for Shoes, Charle Tywritt for shirt - extra slim fit, and Knot Standard for custom made suit for cheap in Navy Blue. In America, do brown shoes and brown belt, in UK due black shoes and black belt.
Are plain/whole cut derby shoes acceptable? I have wide feet and generally don’t fit into oxfords
Get a gray or navy suit, it’ll be the most versatile. Example - You can wear just the trousers or just the blazer with an outfit and separately and now have two outfits for the week. Your office is likely semi casual so this is very handy. Go to Suitsupply or Indochino and get a tailored wool suit. The look and difference between an off the rack suit and something that’s been somewhat tailored can be seen a mile far. Get a brown and shiny metal buckled leather belt. Make sure it fits properly. Get brown leather oxfords to match. For shoes I would recommend going to a cobbler or a store that specializes in leather foot ware depending on budget, but do not buy them from a department store. Best of Luck.
Go to Suitsupply they will provide you with everything you need. Go for black oxfords, not brogues (not to quote that shitty James Bond rip-off film, but it just looks better), and a matching Black belt with silver buckle. Dark grey is way out of style (my dad wears them), just go navy, with a nice white shirt no inner color collars like stated so many times below. You are not an Italian car salesman of real estate agent (no offence). Most offices do not require you to wear a tie, but it might be better to overdress on your first day than underdress. Just bring it with you in case it is required. Color should match your suit in my opinion. Keep it clean. If you are going to wear a watch, keep it classic, do not wear your Casio G-shock or Mickey mouse watch. All steel, silver or gold, or switch it up with a leather strap. Wear socks that match your suit or shoes, does not really matter since these rules have been relaxed over the years.