Introduction

[Andrew0409]

Hello everyone,

I am 27 years old Taiwanese American currently living in Italy right now. I will be attending a Masters's in Finance program in the fall in London, I would like to dress more professionally as part of the decision to go to school in London was networking opportunities in the financial sector. I currently dress more casual, jeans and a shirt or sporty as my industry is fitness but I want to change careers into finance.

I am tall, almost 6'3 (189cm) without shoes, I have wide shoulders and I have an athletic build and keep very fit weighing around 205lbs (93kg) so I have trouble finding anything that fits me off the rack. Not to mention long arms that make any off the rack shirt end up so loose to get my sleeve length. So it looks like I will have to get most things bespoke or MTM. Luckily, I'll be in Taiwan soon (Can't with the corona virus in Italy right now) and a bespoke dress shirt cost about 45$ to get done out of decent to good fabric. Oddly enough, fabric can be cheaper in Taiwan vs Europe/Italy where it's made, probably due to taxes. And the cost of labor is low. But unfortunately, most jackets and suits are very old fashion in Taiwan so I will probably go with MTM once I'm in London.

As for shoes, as much as it's classy for a leather sole, I am worried that London's weather is too rainy for walking around the city with a leather sole. I saw @Carmina does some with a hybrid of leather and rubber called Tomir that looks like a good option for daily commute around the city. Any advice on if rubber soles look ok or needed for my situation?

I was thinking of building a simple budget professional-looking wardrobe with the following.
1 business suit, navy.
3 Sports jacket, 1 Navy and what other colors would fit all around?
2 white shirts, 2 blues, and 1 different color to give it a mix.
1 black cap toe oxford
1 brown brogue oxford for slightly more casual
1 more shoe but I'm not sure which.
5 pants with 3 dark colors and 2 light colors.

Any advice? Or tips about dressing in London?

 

[Panama]

Why the suit? People in London are slobs, they go to the opera and ballet in t-shirts and shorts. I would just head to Bicester when you arrive and grab anything that is a bargain. Look around the sales. I just got 3 Smyth and Gibson made in UK (Ulster) shirts for less £120.00.

 

[Andrew0409]

Why the suit? People in London are slobs, they go to the opera and ballet in t-shirts and shorts. I would just head to Bicester when you arrive and grab anything that is a bargain. Look around the sales. I just got 3 Smyth and Gibson made in UK (Ulster) shirts for less £120.00.

im preparing to interview and things of that nature. Part of why I’m spending a lot to live there for school. I don’t want to dress like a slob.

 

[Panama]

im preparing to interview and things of that nature. Part of why I’m spending a lot to live there for school. I don’t want to dress like a slob.

Well there is a designer outlet centre at Bicester, Italian and UK branded suits used to be available. I haven't worn a suit for years, and was hired last year as an IT Director. I turned up in dress shirt and dark chinos after clarifying the interview dress code. Daks and Aquascutum suits used to be available for an English look.

 

[Andrew0409]

Well there is a designer outlet centre at Bicester, Italian and UK branded suits used to be available. I haven't worn a suit for years, and was hired last year as an IT Director. I turned up in dress shirt and dark chinos after clarifying the interview dress code. Daks and Aquascutum suits used to be available for an English look.

My understanding is people in finance like bankers (Especially in London) care a bit more about looking professional and dress well. Part of your job is to project the prestige of your firm, especially when your clients are millionaires and billion-dollar corporations. Depending on your position and department, it can be a client-facing job. I don't think IT does much of that day to day, I would assume.

 

[ValidusLA]

Lol. I am a little confused why someone on Styleforum would ask you why you would want a suit when you came asking for CM advice.

Sounds to me like you are on the right track.

For other jackets besides a navy. Could do an oatmeal or a tan or sand. Could do a brown of some type. Some sorts of plaid? Gunclub if you hone that way? Dark green?

For shirts, white and blue are great go tos. I might go get a bengal stripe as your last.

For the shoe slot - I would probably fill that last slot with a loafer or a chukka depending on your taste.

 

[Crispyj]

You can try The Anthology for suits and sport jackets. They have a store in Taiwan, not sure how close to you, and a decent amount of trunkshows in London. I'm waiting for them to visit NYC this summer.

 

[Andrew0409]

Lol. I am a little confused why someone on Styleforum would ask you why you would want a suit when you came asking for CM advice.

Sounds to me like you are on the right track.

For other jackets besides a navy. Could do an oatmeal or a tan or sand. Could do a brown of some type. Some sorts of plaid? Gunclub if you hone that way? Dark green?

For shirts, white and blue are great go tos. I might go get a bengal stripe as your last.

For the shoe slot - I would probably fill that last slot with a loafer or a chukka depending on your taste.

I'm not sure why a business suit seemed off for a post grad student looking to go into finance in London.

I think oatmeal or tan for a jacket seem safe and easy to match around, I'm not sure about green. I don't wear a lot of green and i'm not the best at color matching.

And I was looking at chukkas, I think they will work well going into the fall and winter in London. It's a bit colder than what i'm used to.

 

[Andrew0409]

You can try The Anthology for suits and sport jackets. They have a store in Taiwan, not sure how close to you, and a decent amount of trunkshows in London. I'm waiting for them to visit NYC this summer.

Thanks, I will check out anthology, i never knew they had a place in Taiwan. It's close to where I am in Taipei. Their website is down though, do you know around what their price range would be?

 

[Crispyj]

Thanks, I will check out anthology, i never knew they had a place in Taiwan. It's close to where I am in Taipei. Their website is down though, do you know around what their price range would be?

Probably a little less in Taiwan, but for trunkshows in London £1440 for suits and £1050 for sport jackets, plus vat. Also they don't upcharge much for fabrics, which is very rare.

They haven't launched the website yet. Should be up in a day or two

 

[Andrew0409]

Probably a little less in Taiwan, but for trunkshows in London £1440 for suits and £1050 for sport jackets, plus vat. Also they don't upcharge much for fabrics, which is very rare.

They haven't launched the website yet. Should be up in a day or two

cool. I’ll give them a try. I worry they won’t have anything that fits unless bespoke in Taiwan. I run into this problem often. Not many tall wide shouldered men in Taiwan.

 

[Crispyj]

cool. I’ll give them a try. I worry they won’t have anything that fits unless bespoke in Taiwan. I run into this problem often. Not many tall wide shouldered men in Taiwan.

They are pretty good at what they do, just shoot them a message on Instagram.

 

[ValidusLA]

Ya I would imagine af your height Taiwan is a rough place to shop. I'm 6' with a size 12 shoe and literally nothing in the country fits me.

My wife is taiwanese american and we go visit her extended family every year. Shes 5'8 and even though slender too tall for most of the clothing there.

Great place for accessories and watches though!

 

[Andrew0409]

Ya I would imagine af your height Taiwan is a rough place to shop. I'm 6' with a size 12 shoe and literally nothing in the country fits me.

My wife is taiwanese american and we go visit her extended family every year. Shes 5'8 and even though slender too tall for most of the clothing there.

Great place for accessories and watches though!

It's actually also rough in Italy, Italians aren't very tall either. There are taller people in the northern part of Italy, but people in the south are really short.

 

[ValidusLA]

It's actually also rough in Italy, Italians aren't very tall either. There are taller people in the northern part of Italy, but people in the south are really short.

Yes. Well according to the Italians in Tuscany or above, everything south of Rome is basically a gutter with the occasional pair of good pants.