Entering the life on Wall Street

Hey Guys,

I am trying to learn a lot about suits, food, wine, beer, clothing, and sports. I grew up in a middle class family that didn't teach any of the finer points, but now that I am an intern on Wall Street I feel the need to understand this new walk of life in order to be respected, and not look like an intern they just dragged in off the street.
Currently, I am looking for ANY information that people can give me or link me too, and point me to some books. I have heard there is a good tailor in Fairfield CT that I could go to as it is a couple minutes from my house, but does anyone know of a good one in NYC? That I might be able to check out that is comparable.
As I am still in college I don't have much money but I would really like to get a good suit in order to look the part at the very least.

Please any suggestions or help or comments is VERY appreciated.

In the mean while I will troll the boards and try to absorb as much as possible.

Originally Posted by bluefalcon

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Hey Guys,

I am trying to learn a lot about suits, food, wine, beer, clothing, and sports. I grew up in a middle class family that didn't teach any of the finer points, but now that I am an intern on Wall Street I feel the need to understand this new walk of life in order to be respected, and not look like an intern they just dragged in off the street.

I think your approach is almost completely flawed.

That said, if you stick around, you'll learn a lot about good clothes.

Originally Posted by bluefalcon

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I have heard there is a good tailor in Fairfield CT that I could go to as it is a couple minutes from my house, but does anyone know of a good one in NYC? .

How far is the hotdog, of Rawley's from, your house ?

True. I don't know how much you've already used the search function, but that can help focus specific questions that might arise when you browse various threads. For example, type in "tailor" in the title only search. You'll learn from reading the hits, then you can narrow to "NYC tailor" or something to that effect. As many can atest here, knowledge and reading will take a while.

Good luck.

good tailor in Fairfield CT

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Which one are you talking about?

Steve B,I was talking about Fairfield Clothiers. I would really like to hear Cantabrigian about how it is completely flawed I love contrarian thinking as it brings about a more thorough discussion. I do like to look nice as well though, if that is what you mean. I just hate being the intern that wears chinos and a dress shirt (a very uncomfortable shirt at that) to work everyday, while everyone else has a suit on. vaclava krishna, No idea I just know it takes me like 30 minutes to get to Somers, and an hour to get to New Haven, so I figured maybe an 1 and 15 minutes or so, I live in the Berkshires in MA, so it is kindof a drive, but not really.

Working the search button right now. Any advice though is welcome on anything.

What kind of internship is it and what kind of firm? For example, if you are entering an investment banking internship all you will do is work (80+ hours/week) and clothing etc will be the least of your worries.

Right now, I am in sales at a brokering place. So it is important, I plan to move into trading. I understand what is expected and what people wear, but I like to look nice. If I was an I-Banker and worked 80+ hours I would still want to look nice, but I would definitely keep in mind comfort understanding that I might not go home to change because I have a deadline tomorrow.

Most of the guys where I work just wear chincos and a polo some wear suits when going to meet with clients and confrences. I feel I need to get knowledge in the area, and get some decent clothes. Like right now I have a goodwill suit that the jacket is made for a 50 year guy with about 30lbs, and a JC Penny suit that just doesn't fit right.

Your thinking is flawed because:

1) respect is earned at the job by what type of job you do, not what you wear. If anything, an intern coming in with a real expensive wardrobe and expensive tastes all around will probably become a target real fast.

2) Like all things in life, there is no greater education than experience. If you go out and buy the best made suits (If you ask Manton, he'll tell you it's Kiton), eat at the best restaurants, smoke the best cubans and drink 40-50 year old Bordeaux, you'll still be an inexperienced intern and you're appreciation for any of the aforementioned items will be quite lacking.

Everyone starts at the "beginning". I know that is an abstract or bullshit thing to say but you need to read up on clothing manufacturers, take a look at your workplace and see what is appropriate or not, and develop a personal style based on what YOU like, given your expanded knowledge after reading through this forum. No one can give you style or respect unless you have it first. Both things take time to accomplish.

Now if you just want to be a Bud Fox, go to Hermes/Ferragamo and stock up on ties, get a lot of white shirts with french cuffs, get a bunch of 2 button navy suits and some black shoes. After work, go to all the **** watering holes around Wall St., listen and talk about trades/deals/office politics as if you have nothing else going on in your life, get drunk and start all over again the next day. Don't forget to look down on those that are not of the same ilk.

edmorel, I certainly, see your point. By no means am I in any position to do any of that and I completely agree that a style is something that you need to establish. I chose my wording incorrectly with respect. I should have used another word that is escaping me at the moment. I don't however want to look like a bum at work and plan to read up on clothes etc here.

One thing I agree with but dislike is experience. I hate how in order to be good at wine tasting you need taste lots of ****** wines or to understand clothes need to buy ****** clothes to understand what is good. I feel it is costly and wasteful, but I suppose that is life.

I do feel though by investing in my clothing and lifestyle, it will enhance my overall image which I know I can back up with my work ethic and knowledge or at least ability to ask questions or find out answers and learn. I may be a inexperienced intern but with all of that maybe it will push me ahead of the Ivy Leagues and small liberal art school kids vying for the same position I am at Goldman.

I don't want to act like Bud Fox, but I do want to know it when I see it. I think I want to act my age or just above, but impress people with how I can match and dress. I am college student everyone knows I am starting out and am inexperienced, I just hoping I can surprise them with a few things.

Honestly, I will probably get a suit from BB but I need to learn about suit fitting etc. before I can make an investment, it is just common sense. Could you point me in the right direction of books and maybe a few posts that would begin my education?

Originally Posted by bluefalcon

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edmorel, I certainly, see your point. By no means am I in any position to do any of that and I completely agree that a style is something that you need to establish. I chose my wording incorrectly with respect. I should have used another word that is escaping me at the moment. I don't however want to look like a bum at work and plan to read up on clothes etc here.

One thing I agree with but dislike is experience. I hate how in order to be good at wine tasting you need taste lots of ****** wines or to understand clothes need to buy ****** clothes to understand what is good. I feel it is costly and wasteful, but I suppose that is life.

I do feel though by investing in my clothing and lifestyle, it will enhance my overall image which I know I can back up with my work ethic and knowledge or at least ability to ask questions or find out answers and learn. I may be a inexperienced intern but with all of that maybe it will push me ahead of the Ivy Leagues and small liberal art school kids vying for the same position I am at Goldman.

I don't want to act like Bud Fox, but I do want to know it when I see it. I think I want to act my age or just above, but impress people with how I can match and dress. I am college student everyone knows I am starting out and am inexperienced, I just hoping I can surprise them with a few things.

Honestly, I will probably get a suit from BB but I need to learn about suit fitting etc. before I can make an investment, it is just common sense.


My response was harsher than I meant. My point is to pick a starting point (brooks, like you mentioned, for a suit). Once you start to understand better how you like a garment to fit/construction etc, and what style you prefer, soft/structured shoulders, supressed/sack jacket etc, you'll go down that patch and make decisions based on education/experience. I believe the same thing about wines/cigars/foods as I think a "poseur" is easily found out in those arenas but I am a simple man when it somes to food and wines and the last person who should be doling out advice on either. I like fried foods and I have a wine "expert" at work who I tell what I am looking for in terms of taste and he tells me what to buy.

Good luck on your adventure as I think it is admirable to come into the workplace and this stage of your life and care about these things, as most people don't. Just always keep in mind that there are also more important things in your life that you need to care about.

I agree 100% with ed - the best way to learn is by experience. This does NOT have to be wasteful. For instance, regarding wines - you do not have to buy lots of bottles of bad wine, as you suggest. Instead, attend some wine-tasting sessions while reading up on the basics. Not only is it actually enjoyable to learn, but you might meet some interesting people too. Now, you'll probably also meet a lot of idiots doing this too. But that really IS life, I'm afraid!

The same applies to clothes - read the forums and then go and compare jackets and suits in a variety of shops - feel them, try them on, and actively compare and contrast. Keep your eyes open so you can make a mental note of what you like in others. And then gradually build a wardrobe, continuously refining it as your personal style evolves. I look back at some stuff I bought only a couple of years ago and am already thinking I could have spent the money better. Tastes change and evolve, as does your personal style and situation in life.

Also, one way to really impress is to shut up and listen, especially when starting out in a job. And when you do speak, really think about what you're saying. You'll pick up a lot of information, and appear more knowledgeable and in control than you may be feeling. Anyway, that's my 2 cents worth of advice; take it or leave it.

maybe it was a tad harsh. I'm sure coming in with an all Kiton wardrobe from jacket to shoes would raise eyebrows, but could he really go wrong by picking up a couple of pairs of A-Es, some good shirts and ties, and a couple of decent entry level suit (what passes for entry level here)?

As for the rest, I think he wouldn't go wrong by learning a little of everything so as not to feel awkward in social situations, without going overboard to the point of appearing obsessed or snobbish. Then again, I seriously doubt the overwhelming majority of conversations in the job will involve 50-year old Bordeaux, buying houses in Nantucket, playing polo, or yes, the proper definition of a Goodyear welt.

Originally Posted by Holdfast

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Also, one way to really impress is to shut up and listen, especially when starting out in a job. And when you do speak, really think about what you're saying. You'll pick up a lot of information, and appear more knowledgeable and in control than you may be feeling. Anyway, that's my 2 cents worth of advice; take it or leave it.

That is the truth.

Ed really hit the nail on the head.

At the end of the day, the VP and Associate you're working with aren't going to ding you because you have pedestrian taste in wine or sports.

They'll want to see that you understand the material, work hard (ask for stuff to do if they're not giving you enough and never refuse a project) and are a decent guy that they like working around.

Heck, most of the people you're working with aren't exactly living the life themselves. Yea that's the goal for some but there's a lot more work and a lot less fabulousness than you hear about in popular culture.

The recruiting process seems mainly designed to weed out people who are only in it for the money. Or at least those who inadvertantly show that they're only in it for the money. Trying to come off as Thurston Howell III is therefore counter productive. If you really like the job, show them that.