- Summer is approaching, and that means ditching bulky outerwear for new work styles.
- Business Insider spoke to style experts about what's hot and what's not for the upcoming season.
- Here's what finance workers should be wearing to work this summer.
The weather is heating up, and it's time for finance bros to update their wardrobes along with it.
With Wall Street having mainly returned to the office, the investment bankers and workers who power firms like JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, and Citigroup have had to ditch their sweatpants for tailored suits again. But some of them are struggling to readjust to non-stretchy garments, it would seem.
More and more white-collar workers are relying on stylists to elevate their work wardrobes. The gig can earn fashion experts tens of thousands from merely one client.
And it seems like the finance and Silicon Valley guys hiring these style arbiters have the right idea. Lately, tech titans like Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos — possibly by way of his fashionable fiancée Lauren Sanchez — have been featured in publications for what they're wearing instead of what project they're working on.
So, Business Insider asked some style experts — and a finance bro — which brands and styles those on Wall Street should check out for their summer workwear.
Men's fashion consultant Reginald Ferguson told BI that he wants his clients to remain "modern, yet classic" in their daily attire. Here's what he and others had to say.
Tops
Peter Millar and Charles Tyrwhitt were two brands suggested to BI by an early-career investment banker who asked to remain anonymous to protect his career.
Style consultant Ferguson also nodded to British retailer Charles Tyrwhitt, calling it a good "starter kit" for workwear. Those in their first year as associates tend to take advantage of its "multibuy" deal that discounts shirt prices — about $100 for most styles — when you buy in bulk.
Meanwhile, Peter Millar is more on-trend with its use of athletic fabric in work attire. The shirts categorized as a "workweek" style go for about $250 on the official website.
It's a "luxury golf brand that was smart to expand its line for its client to wear other garments while not on the course," Ferguson told BI.
Bottoms
Those who dress the wealthy have touted Italian brand Zegna for its range of classic to casual looks. Pants from the company typically go for under $2,000.
Kiton, another high-end brand with origins in Italy, is "the grail for the partner of the firm," Ferguson told BI. The high price point might indicate why it's the choice for more seasoned —and higher-paid — employees.
Pants from Kiton can cost anywhere from around $1,000 to over $4,000 for cashmere trousers.
"The fabrics they choose are luscious, and yes, everyone can tell when you are wearing a Kiton suit," Nicole Pollard Bayme, CEO of LA-based styling firm Lalaluxe, said.
Footwear and accessories
Zegna's TripleStitch sneakers cost about $1,000 and have gained quite a following among the wealthy.
"In a breathtakingly short time, the Zegna TripleStitch has become the defacto shoe of private jet travel," Bayme told BI.
And while our style gurus didn't comment on specific brands for accessories, perhaps workers can take inspiration from tech leaders about which watches are in.
Billionaire Bill Gates has been seen wearing a $70 Casio watch, for example, while Oracle CTO Larry Ellison is said to have an extensive Richard Mille collection that can range from six figures to even more for one timepiece.
Meanwhile, when in doubt, sunglasses are always a functional way to make your outfit look cooler.