Oh, the exquisite embarrassment of looking around a room and realising you have fallen into that most heinous of social mishaps – the fashion faux pas. Excruciating enough at a party when a discreet and early exit is available, but when facing a day in the office, mild horror turns to outright mortification.
But happily Reuters (via Dealbook) has a handy guide to avoiding such incidents in the oh-so-judgemental world of City banking. It is all about sending the right signals to colleagues, to clients and, of course, to superiors. The bespoke suit, kept just for particularly vital meetings, the right umbrella by your side to maintain your stylish facade in the face of the British weather, and above all, the avoidance of any vulgarity that might mark you out as an outsider – or worse, a trader.
So suits are dark grey or dark blue, single-breasted and worn without a belt – if you really must be individual, then keep self-expression to the lining. Yard-and-a-half pin stripes are a no-no, but if you don’t know that then you’re beyond help.
Brown shoes are clearly out, as are loafers. “They are slightly capital markets, eurobonds, I would say,” sniffed one investment banker, quoted by Reuters.
White shirts are seen as a safe bet – beloved by the new analyst – but thus mark you out as belonging to the junior ranks. Reuters advocates pink as the colour of choice.
Alphaville cannot disagree. Match to, then accessorise with, your favourite newspaper.