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Clothing advice to a new investment banker

clee1982

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Also, I personally always hesistate to buy shoes online because I know my feet is usually not an easy fit, but might or might not be the case for you. Once you got 2 pairs, you can find the 3rd pair in either black or dark brown, both work well with navy/chaorcal color suit. I would say don't rush for the 3rd pair right away because you're still developing taste for dress shoes anyway. You do eventually need a 3rd pair though, shoes last much longer with constant rotation.
 

gnatty8

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Originally Posted by Reckoner
I'm suprised you got a job.

With that sort of money, I think you should just go retail and look off the shelf what you like.

Just temporary.

As you get more into your job, and your budget increases, try the tailor. You'll get to a point where you throw out (or just leave hanging) your first ever purchases. So don't put too much emotional investment and time into it, especially with that budget.

But, if you want to increase that budget I'd suggest start off with a tailor straight away. If I could go back, I'd do that. You'll learn a lot more about style and fit, color and proportion etc.

One of my suits costs your entire wardrobe (i.e. all that stuff you're looking to buy altogether right now).

(note: sorry I didn't read)


lol, aren't you special..
 

gnatty8

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In terms of suits, not sure if you have a Brooks Brothers in Toronto, but if you are in your 20s, a good fit for you would be the Fitzgerald suit, which usually sells for around $900 to $1,000, but you should be able to pick on up for around $600 each when their sales roll around. If not, I would scour the B&S forum here, and you should easily be able to find a few Polo RL suits for around $400 each. I'd try to get a navy (striped or solid, although solid is more versatile), charcoal, and something in another color, tan, brown, or grey. Just avoid black if you can. I second the recommendation for AE but again, if you watch the B&S here, you can come across much better, and much nicer looking shoes IMO than the AE. You just need to be careful with sizes and ask for measurements.
 

TRINI

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PM sent.
 

Xiaogou

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Originally Posted by principal
okay after looking around i'm pretty convinced AE would be a good fit for me and my budget for the shoes department.

How expensive is to to get mtm shirts with good fabric?
Should I get a mtm suit also or just a nice off the rack one and get it tailored?


also what colors? Shoes i was thinking 1 brown 1 black, suits 1 gray, 1 navy, 1 charcoal, and white/blue/light pink shirts?


Do you have to stay in Toronto for the shirts? If you could take a trip to NYC, you could get some mtm shirts at CEGO.
 

cassanova

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KISS (Keep it simple stupid)

Stay to charcoal, navy and white. Black or dark brown conservative shoes (Alden for laceups, Ferragamo and Gucci for loafers are pretty standard). No bold pinstripes. Nothing loud or in bad taste.
 

principal

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Originally Posted by Xiaogou
Do you have to stay in Toronto for the shirts? If you could take a trip to NYC, you could get some mtm shirts at CEGO.

don't have the time to go to NY for a shopping trip.

For shoes which ones would suit a 21 year old better, ferragamos or AE
 

Xiaogou

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Originally Posted by principal
don't have the time to go to NY for a shopping trip.

For shoes which ones would suit a 21 year old better, ferragamos or AE


AE for dress shoes (lace-up). They are goodyear welted and will last if you take care of them. When you are starting out function > fashion. The Tramezza line for Ferragamo is good year welted and starts at about US$900.

http://the-last-shall-be-first.blogs...r-welting.html

For shirts, try to find a local tailor. I cannot remember where, but there is a decent one somewhere in Chinatown that makes shirts. At least you can pay him for his time to measure you then you can order on the internet.
 

eg1

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Originally Posted by gnatty8
In terms of suits, not sure if you have a Brooks Brothers in Toronto, but if you are in your 20s, a good fit for you would be the Fitzgerald suit, which usually sells for around $900 to $1,000, but you should be able to pick on up for around $600 each when their sales roll around. If not, I would scour the B&S forum here, and you should easily be able to find a few Polo RL suits for around $400 each. I'd try to get a navy (striped or solid, although solid is more versatile), charcoal, and something in another color, tan, brown, or grey. Just avoid black if you can. I second the recommendation for AE but again, if you watch the B&S here, you can come across much better, and much nicer looking shoes IMO than the AE. You just need to be careful with sizes and ask for measurements.

No Brooks in Toronto yet -- hear they may be coming sometime in 2010? First Canadian Brooks store will be in Calgary, I believe.
 

stilmacher

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Buy some Wall-mart suits and the money you have left to the homeless
 

PainZtaking

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Originally Posted by principal
okay after looking around i'm pretty convinced AE would be a good fit for me and my budget for the shoes department.

How expensive is to to get mtm shirts with good fabric?
Should I get a mtm suit also or just a nice off the rack one and get it tailored?


also what colors? Shoes i was thinking 1 brown 1 black, suits 1 gray, 1 navy, 1 charcoal, and white/blue/light pink shirts?


No brown. Go for navy or charcoal pinstripes
 

schumambo

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The AE I like are the Hale.

For shirts, the best deal out there is Harvie & Hudson. Interesting selection of fabrics and colors.
 

Bill Smith

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If you are out of Toronto and have access to wheels, drive out to Oakville and check out Garvey's, they have a special on particular model of Jack Victor suit at $550. I would go for the navy or charcoal for starters. I second the recommendation on Allen Edmond shoes, they might be out of your price bracket but well looked after, they are an investment that will last for 15 years.

BTW, Contgratulations on getting a job as an investment banker, I'm surprised they are hiring at all with M&A business pretty much DOA unless you just replaced someone much more expensive.
 

mensimageconsultant

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Buy a few of the dress shirts soon, from one or two brands. Wear them casually, to clubs, for example. See how you like them, including how they fit and how they withstand laundering. Then buy more. Enough has been written about the other basics.
 

AscotMcPocketsquare

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Originally Posted by principal
Hey guys,

I will be starting as an analyst in a few months in Toronto. When it comes to fashion I am pretty clueless. Initially I was thinking of picking up 3 suits, 3 shoes, 5 ties and 7-8 shirts.

Any suggestions on brands or where I should buy them? My price range is 500-700 per suit, 150-250 per shoe, 50-80 per tie, 70-90 per shirt. Just some rough estimates.


Make sure to get leather braces for your barrel or sandwich board.
 

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