Hello!
I'm new to the forum and generally new to business fashion. Some background info first: graduated from college in Dec. 04, living in NYC, and will start an invesment banking position in about a week (why vegetate for another 3 months when I can start paying the loans back now!). For my previous internships and jobs, I wore slacks and shirts on most days (hedge funds aren't the most formal). For the new job, however, it seems that my previous wardrobes will no longer due. I asked someone at the bank about the attire requirement and this is her reply: "Our dress code is business attire. Bankers generally wear suits (w/ties). Of course they generally lose the jackets throughout the day unless they are going to a meeting."
Now, I have 2 suits (navy with very thing red and white lines, my fav, and also a medium dark charcoal) and 8 pairs of slacks (4 of various shades of gray and 4 black/very dark). Obviously, I cannot alternate between suits every other day... So, my question is: is it acceptable by the standards of "business attire" to wear blazers/sport coats along with my slacks to work? Will I be committing a massive fashion no-no by wearing, say, a navy blazer and black pants to a client meeting? I'm willing to shell out 500 bucks (not very expensive, I know, but I gotta earn before I can get those $300+ custom made, single stitch shirts...) for two blazers if they will go along with my slacks in "meetings."
If blazers do not pass the "business attire" test, what color/brand of suits would you knowledgeble gentlemen recommend given my two current suits? I have to err on the side of quantity over quality on this since getting a $3000 suit won't dramatically expand my suit collection.... Can someone provide some guidance on good quality but still not very expensive (ok... cheap) suits please? Thank you all very much!
I'm new to the forum and generally new to business fashion. Some background info first: graduated from college in Dec. 04, living in NYC, and will start an invesment banking position in about a week (why vegetate for another 3 months when I can start paying the loans back now!). For my previous internships and jobs, I wore slacks and shirts on most days (hedge funds aren't the most formal). For the new job, however, it seems that my previous wardrobes will no longer due. I asked someone at the bank about the attire requirement and this is her reply: "Our dress code is business attire. Bankers generally wear suits (w/ties). Of course they generally lose the jackets throughout the day unless they are going to a meeting."
Now, I have 2 suits (navy with very thing red and white lines, my fav, and also a medium dark charcoal) and 8 pairs of slacks (4 of various shades of gray and 4 black/very dark). Obviously, I cannot alternate between suits every other day... So, my question is: is it acceptable by the standards of "business attire" to wear blazers/sport coats along with my slacks to work? Will I be committing a massive fashion no-no by wearing, say, a navy blazer and black pants to a client meeting? I'm willing to shell out 500 bucks (not very expensive, I know, but I gotta earn before I can get those $300+ custom made, single stitch shirts...) for two blazers if they will go along with my slacks in "meetings."
If blazers do not pass the "business attire" test, what color/brand of suits would you knowledgeble gentlemen recommend given my two current suits? I have to err on the side of quantity over quality on this since getting a $3000 suit won't dramatically expand my suit collection.... Can someone provide some guidance on good quality but still not very expensive (ok... cheap) suits please? Thank you all very much!
