Analyst Attire - What NOT to wear

Analysts should not wear cuff links

no black shirts
no dark colored shirts
no colored shirts with white collars

if i may ask, whats wrong with these.

i wear cufflinks, nothing too flashy though.

i wore cufflinks to all my interviews and one vp that interviewed me actually had a colored shirt with white collars..so i'm not exactly sure where ke18sb is coming from on this matter..

Key word: VP.

thats why i asked where he was coming from, per analyst role or just general dressing in banks. i asked that because i'm also looking to learn

Cuff links are typical in London, as are your coloured shirts with white collars, otherwise known as winchester shirts. I second the suspenders, avoid them at all costs.

he was a vp. we're talking about analyst attire here.

Contrasting collars tend to make the shirt stand out more. As an analyst you more want to blend in. The logic behind this is, the VPs/MDs are your superiors and want to feel that way. They will frown upon analysts that dress flashier/nicer since they are lowly analysts.

What is your take on silk knots? Should analysts simply try to avoid french cuffs?

This thread is one of the most pathetic I've ever seen. Silk knots, cuff links, Winchester shirts, yadda-yadda. I mean, what? Do you really think it makes even an infinitesimal difference? Think your MD gives a flying fuck whether you're wearing a contrasting collar? I've seen plenty of kids wearing basically whatever the hell they want (given that it's neat and generally normal) and get offers, raises, huge bonuses, etc.

Here's an idea: get a life.

I still cannot believe someone would wear cuff links to an interview. Analysts are at the very bottom of the ladder and thus have no real rights or privileges. MDs/VPs can wear whatever they want, and nobody will tell them otherwise. Silk tie knots? Why bother, you might roll up your sleeves anyway.

This can't really just be a British vs. American thing, can it? I find that most shirts I tend to buy (because they're decent quality and look alright) have cufflinks. And I've worn everything from antique gold cufflinks (grandfather's, for luck) to BLACK cufflinks, with my BLACK suit and grey and BLACK tie. Still haven't had any problems. And that was for interview, so I'm assuming working life will be just the same.

The "rules" are absolutely different in the UK, so anyone in the UK should pretty much ignore all this.

In interviews, I'd avoid the cuff-links in the US, at least for analyst interviews. Wear a nice barrel-cuff white or light blue shirt and a dark suit.

Once you're hired, I can't imagine anyone's going to lower your bonus because you wear french-cuff shirts, lol. I'm not sure I'd wear the "Liars Poker" suspenders with the big fucking dollar signs on them, but you can probably get away with just about anything else.

Ah yes, I should make an edit to my post. Generally in the states, I am under the impression that cufflinks are frowned upon for analyst level positions. In the UK and elsewhere, people have a tendency to dress better anyway, and much of my previous post does not apply. I apoligize to you mea04tdt, as I did not explain that I assumed the question was directed towards analysts in the US.

Dress so you don't stand out. It's that easy. Then once you start making some real money, that is when you start upgrading.

Nobody cares if you wear cuff links.

or if you look like a retard.

agreed. Analysts should wear Kenneth Cole black leather shoes - Hedge Fund line. doing so guarantees placement into Maverick 2 years on down the line.

Aren't you still in college?

lol.. "people have a tendency to dress better anyway." funny but true.

How do you feel about Hermes ties on analysts? Too flashy?

Yes, Hermes is too flashy for an analyst. Who the hell are you at 23 years old to think you can go wearing Hermes.

Much less how did you afford to buy the tie in the first place?

Something tells me with analyst income and living expense your going to go broke pretty damn fast if you shop at high end places like Hermes where you can't buy anything for less than $350.

hermes ties at 150 and I just bought one so I can wear it for my summer analyst experience.

why should anyone give a shit what you are wearing as long you look acceptable? insecurity issues at their finest...

Okay "roller4life" obviously that is a bit of a misnomer, and you have obviously never set foot in an hermes boutique. I have received several hermes ties as gifts over the last couple of years, and I will not think twice about wearing them. Although as an analyst I wouldn't make hermes my staple but every now and then should be acceptable.

Don't wear pink, shirt or tie, unless you're a homo of course, then it's perfectly acceptable.

FYI I have been in a Hermes boutique, in fact several times. I don't like how their ties have all the mini "Hs" just like Versace slaps the Medusa on everything it makes.

If its $150 for a tie go right ahead. Hell I wear Charvet ties constantly which are between $150 and$180 for a tie.

I thought you meant going head to toe in Hermes. I would highly advise against that one, but if its to acessorize with Hermes your fine.

Going head to toe in Hermes will cost you a lot more than $150, trust me....

Why do people keep on asking these dumb questions. As long as you don't come in looking like you think you are the next gordon gekko nobody will give a damn. Just use some common sense and adapt to the general feel of the office while retaining whatever style it is you like.

I try and avoid my earing that connects by chain to my nose ring, but sometimes the $ sign tattoo on my cheek looks so lonely with out the chain hanging in front of it. I have to wear it. Most of the time I'm praised for my taste.

Lmao at the previous comment, some of these youngn's take fashion too seriously.

wow that's pretty "in the money."

Uhh yeah Hermes ties are $150. That's fine to wear as an analyst. One thing though - I'd avoid those awful prints (with the animals, fish, and other lame stuff). That's just my opinion though, as I always thought they looked really juvenile and the worst part is you can absolutely tell it's Hermes - just seems crass to me (the equivalent of wearing a tie with tan Burberry nova check on it..yuck).

Nice ties like Hermes usually don't cost more than $150. I actually think it's a good thing to get a few high quality ties as an analyst. Since you can't afford par quality suits, it's nice to accessorize with something very high quality. Don't bother saving $80 bucks per tie and getting some garbage from Brooks Brothers.

As for cuff links, I think they're fine too. I wore white gold ones to all of my interviews. French cuff shirts and cuff links are just nicer than barrel cuffs, and for an interview you should be dressed up. My brother used to interview for his bank, and although he was by no means really into fashion, he did say that that was one thing he always noticed when shaking a person's hand (he thought you should be dressed up for the interview and looking your best if you really want the job). Besides, you can get decent sterling silver cuff links from Tiffany for like $150 - this is by no means some elite thing. I definitely didn't wear cuff links every day to work this summer because I like some variety, but probably around 3 times a week (and yes, I got an offer to return).

don't wear anything italian. stick to american and british traditional clothing.

you guys are a different breed. me? fuck hermes. give me a $40 tie and $110 bar tab.

Dude, that's what most analysts are like. Very few rock Hermes or other $100 ties. We just take that extra dough and go extra hard at night.

Its funny reading all these clothing threads. Is it really that hard to look decent for work? Maybe you guys should move in with your moms and she can dress you in the mornings. jeez.

no one cares what you wear. I have senior MD's in Chicago and SF wear sweater and slacks in office. No one cares. You can wear Banana Republic and it'll be fine. It's only in NYC where everyone cares what they wear.

Please don't pay $150 for ties. Go to Nieman Marcus Last Call or Century 21 or Filene's Basement in NYC and pay $60 for Kiton and Brioni ties.

at which banks is the attire more "showy" and therefore more acceptable to wear some of the aforementioned clothing.

* Spandex shorts
* Nascar hats
* cuttoffs are a no-no
* workboots (unless you use a marker to color them black because a girl already saw you were 2" taller while wearing your timberlands)
* the flesh of your MD's wife made into a human suit
* a frown
* baseball caps
* Throwback jerseys
* Jeans (unless they are evisu)

Great open ended question! I think I can think of a few others, but I need to go.

Though im not an analyst yet, i would assume grill$ aren't a good idea either.

You're right!

You've got management material written all over you. We'll be lucky to have you on board.

I not only wear a grill when I work, but I ICE grill my MD when he tries to tell me shit. That fool backs the fuck down because he knows I will fuck him up, BAD.

::Ice Grills the computer screen::

There are so many posts about this. The bottom line is you don't want to dress like you run the place. It's ok to dress nice, but not "flashy". I used to wear different patterned shirts and nice ties, and my MD would tell me I look like a GQ model. At the same time, You also don't want people thinking "who does this intern think he is?"