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Trading floor attire

newyorker

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If you worked on an investment bank's trading floor -- but not as a trader -- what would you wear?

Suit and tie is not appropriate because of the culture and the heat.

Would you wear:
1) spread cotton shirts + wool pants, without rolling up your sleeves?
2) spread cotton shirts + wool pants, rolling up your sleeves?
3) preppy clothes: polo + khakis + loafers?
4) some other combination?

What would you not wear?

For those who have worked on the trading floor, any behavioral(.)/career advice would be appreciated.

I'm about to sacrifice my 8 ft x 8 ft cubicle for 3 ft of desk space.
 

scnupe7

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If you worked on an investment bank's trading floor -- but not as a trader -- what would you wear?

Suit and tie is not appropriate because of the culture and the heat.

Would you wear:
1) spread cotton shirts + wool pants, without rolling up your sleeves?
2) spread cotton shirts + wool pants, rolling up your sleeves?
3) preppy clothes: polo + khakis + loafers?
4) some other combination?

What would you not wear?

For those who have worked on the trading floor, any behavioral(.)/career advice would be appreciated.

I'm about to sacrifice my 8 ft x 8 ft cubicle for 3 ft of desk space.
I work on a trading floor and I wear cotton shirts and wool pants, as most people do.  I very rarely roll up my sleeves, but that is a matter of preference.  I don't own a pair of khakis.  However, even if I did, I wouldn't wear them to work becuase I don't consider khakis and a polo business casual.  

The amount of desk space you are allotted definitely tests your organizational skills.  You learn to rely on soft copies of documents, etc rather than hard copies.    

Just work hard and have fun while doing it.
 

tgfny

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Mar 3, 2005
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If you worked on an investment bank's trading floor -- but not as a trader -- what would you wear?

Suit and tie is not appropriate because of the culture and the heat.

Would you wear:
1) spread cotton shirts + wool pants, without rolling up your sleeves?
2) spread cotton shirts + wool pants, rolling up your sleeves?
3) preppy clothes: polo + khakis + loafers?
4) some other combination?

What would you not wear?

For those who have worked on the trading floor, any behavioral(.)/career advice would be appreciated.

I'm about to sacrifice my 8 ft x 8 ft cubicle for 3 ft of desk space.
button down and wool trousers. Be prepared to have the person next to you know every detailof your life.I rolled up my sleeves during the summer and when a new company filed, but that's just me.
 

montecristo#4

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I can tell you that in the mid-nineties while I worked on the floor at Merrill Lynch (Vesey St 7th floor, fixed income), I wore a suit and tie every day. The jacket came off as soon as I sat down. Occassionally I would roll up my sleeves.
 

newyorker

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Anyone else?
biggrin.gif
 

Horace

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Anyone else? Â
biggrin.gif
Yes, I'd wear a blue pair of poplin trousers with yellow mallards. I'd probably wear a pink button Brooks oxford, black cordo tassles, and and a vintange collegiate Communist Club pin.
 

dah328

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The traders on the floor of the large investment bank where I worked up until a couple months ago wore wool trousers and nice dress shirts. Â They were definitely one of the best-dressed groups in a firm whose employees generally have no idea what smart business casual means. Â In the small fund where I work now, the traders consider themselves dressed up if they're wearing a clean, unwrinkled t-shirt with their baggy jeans. Â
sad.gif
dan
 

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