Tools of the Trade...Today's NY Post

[Beckwith]

From today's NY Post. Thoughts?

THE INVESTMENT BANKER

Andrew, 24

Salary estimate: $190,000, including projected bonus

Job: We help companies raise capital and grow their business.

CLOTHES

Suit: Hickey Freeman suit, $2,749. "I have about 10 suits and usually buy them at Hickey Freeman and Paul Stuart. I have two really heavy pin-stripe suits that I'd classify as 'power suits.' Bankers never wear double-breasted suits, it's a fashion faux pas. I get all of my suits tailored in Rochester, N.Y. There is a Romanian couple that have been doing my father's suits for years. They are trusted in the family, and 10 times better than any of the tailors I've used in the city."

White shirt: "There's a saying in the banking world that you can never have too many blue suits or white shirts. I get mine from Hickey Freeman [$149-$249] as my standby, but I also shop at Charles Tyrwhitt [$99-$200], Thomas Pink [$149-$249] and Turnbull and Asser [over $250]. I get my white shirts heavy-starched."

Collar: "I always buy cutaway collars and French cuffs from the British stores (Tyrwhitt, Pink, Turnbull & Asser), and Barrel (button) cuffs from Hickey Freeman."

Watch: Breitling Navitimer, $5,299. "Bankers have a complex with having a watch. Far and beyond the most popular watch is a Rolex Submariner - black or white face, half bezel is blue. The Navitimer comes in a few different sizes and shapes."

Shoes: Ferragamo loafers, $395 at Saks Fifth Avenue. "The standard banker shoe is a fashion loafer or a tie cap toe."

Tie: Hickey Freeman tie, $125. "The two tie brands that embody the investment banker are Hermes and Salvatore Ferragamo. I don't wear a lot of Ferragamo because they tie small knots and are usually pastel - I like thicker knots and cutaway collars. Every now and then I'll pick up some pastels from Brooks Brothers. I've bought one or two Ferragamo ties from the outlet. But I buy most of my ties from Hickey Freeman. They retail anywhere from $98-$130."

TOOLS

PDA: A BlackBerry 8700c, it's gray with black trim. "I bought mine at the Cingular store in Midtown. At first, people are apprehensive and they think it's a virtual leash. Now I can't imagine life without it."

Red pen: "I keep a pen behind my ear at all times. I never used red pens before, now I always do - it stands out."

GROOMING

Shoe-shining: "I like to shine my own shoes. You can get a shine kit at any shoe retailer with brush, polish and cloth. But in an emergency, there are shoe-shiners walking around on our floor offering to shine our shoes [$5]."

TASTES

Cigars: "My favorite cigar is a CAO Brazilia, with Partagas Black Label coming in close behind. I buy most of my cigars at JR Cigar on 46th and Fifth. Sometimes I will buy from Barclay Rex on Lexington Avenue, and sometimes I order them by the box on Thompson Cigar online. I've been smoking cigars for four years now, it's even on my rÃ

sumÃ

. Liking cigars is a good talking point."

Red Bull: "Every two weeks I buy a 12-pack of sugar-free Red Bull. I have one before I get in the shower, and then I drink one on the way to work. I don't really drink coffee because it's a slow process. Redbull is portable and it gets you ready to embrace the day."

Blanton's: "The only alcohol I drink is Blanton's whiskey, Woodford Reserve (a small-batch bourbon) and Glenlivet 15-year (a single-malt scotch). There's a good liquor place on 86th Street between Broadway and Amsterdam that I go to every now and then."

Bar: "The bad side of the long hours. After six months, I noticed people started calling me less and less. Some of my friends and I go to Milk & Honey. It's really small and there are rules. Men can't approach women, you have to make reservations and they chip the ice into your drink. At the other end of the spectrum is Yogi's. They have $7 pitchers of Bud Ice. 'nuff said."

 

[edmorel]

Depressing on so many levels.

 

[Faded501s]

Originally Posted by Beckwith

From today's NY Post. Thoughts?

"...It's really small and there are rules. Men can't approach women..."

I think this guy can afford to go to a different bar

 

[SoCal2NYC]

Originally Posted by Faded501s

I think this guy can afford to go to a different bar

The number is not listed nor is the address. You have to get it from someone and it changes every month or two. You can't walk up and make a reservation YOU MUST CALL. Men cannot approach women; but, women can ask the bartender to make an introduction on her behalf.

 

[StockwellDay]

http://www.leveragedsellout.com/2006/07/milk-im-money/ Too bad the NYPost article wasn't also a parody.

 

[JBZ]

Originally Posted by edmorel

Depressing on so many levels.

I don't know. Objectively speaking, he doesn't dress badly from what he describes. He's not "in the know" with regard to some higher end clothing, but HF generally sells some very nice things (and I didn't know HF made a suit that retailed that high). He seems to be trying awfully hard to dress and act in the way he perceives an investment banker to dress and act, but he also seems to be somewhat self-aware, so that's something. Keep in mind that he's only 24 (with a very high salary for a 24 year old), and there's a lot of pressure to fit in, no matter the profession.

The whole thing about cigars being on his resume and only drinking Blantons, Woodford and Glenlivet 15 yo (naturally, the 12 yo just won't do) is a bit much and comes across as phoney.

I'm not sure why he only buys french cuffs from "British" stores and barrel cuffs from HF.

As an aside, can anyone confirm the pronunciation of the Rolex "Submariner"? I always thought it was Sub-MAR-in-er, but I heard someone recently pronounce it Sub-ma-RINE-er.

 

[LA Guy]

Typical banker tastes - pedestrian, chock full of talking-point knowledge, and mind-numbingly unimaginative. The guy could not have dropped more obvious and crass names in five minutes.

 

[chorse123]

I like that he uses a red pen to stand out. Yeah, buddy! Be an original!

HF make good suits, and for a young banker, I think they are a great choice. There's nothing wrong with Paul Stuart. Also, he's staying away from hermesagamo, so another +

 

[Thurston]

Those white dialed Submariners are really cool. I think you can only get them on Canal St. Ditto the half blue bezel Subs. He also needs to check his math. If he buys a twelve pack of Red Bull every two weeks and then drinks two before work, he's going to be a day or two short.

He does have a point though - the guy who figures out how to make coffee portable will make a fortune.

 

[Beckwith]

I guess he is one step ahead by not wearing the Kenneth Cole Hedge Fund's, but "bankers" do not go to Cingular stores to buy their own Blackberrys. Unless that is not him, why would a young "banker" allow his picture to be posted in the NY Post. Maybe we should add this guy to that informal poll that went around a month or so ago.

 

[bryce330]

$2800 for a Hickey Freeman suit?

 

[chorse123]

Originally Posted by bryce330

$2800 for a Hickey Freeman suit?

I think that's the Hand Tailored line. The other suits retail around $1200-$1500.

 

[edmorel]

Originally Posted by SoCal2NYC

The number is not listed nor is the address. You have to get it from someone and it changes every month or two. You can't walk up and make a reservation YOU MUST CALL. Men cannot approach women; but, women can ask the bartender to make an introduction on her behalf.


If I'm a young single guy in NY, with all the options available, and someone invites me to this place, I introduce them to the business end of a louisville slugger.

 

[edmorel]

Originally Posted by Beckwith

From today's NY Post. Thoughts?


Cigars: I've been smoking cigars for four years now, it's even on my rÃ

sumÃ

. Liking cigars is a good talking point."


I think we have a douchebag candidate.

 

[yeayea]

"While I was mid-boogie, the bar owner Sasha came over and pulled me aside. “Gentleman will not introduce themselves to ladies!” he scolded. “Gentleman will not introduce themselves to ladies!! It’s the rules!!” he repeated, excitedly."

Gee, sounds like a great time!