What's business casual at work for young men in London these days?

[SmoothOperandus]

DS (19YO, in 2nd year of Uni) has a face to face interview for a summer internship at a financial (insurance I believe) company in London. He's been told the dress code is business casual. He wants this really badly.

He is, as you can imagine, a very casual dresser and has no idea what business casual looks like. He's not at a Uni in London so can't really go and observe.

After many years WFH, his father and I don't really know either! Could I have some pointers please? He's just got a new pair of boots which I hope will be suitable to wear, so if you could suggest an outfit to go with that, I'd really appreciate it.

I am attaching a photo of what his boots look like. They're not exactly these ones, but they're pretty much identical except for the blue band, which my son's boots don't have, they're all black.

Thank you for any help/recommendations you can offer!🙏

Hopeful bump

He needs formal shoes for the interview. If it's more casual dress when he get the job, the boots would be fine. Better to overdress than underdress.

DS1 (24) recently interviewed for a marketing job - he wore a suit and tie and formal shoes. Two weeks in and he goes to the office in joggers and sliders

Business casual would probably be chinos/shirt but no tie required.

If he has a suit I'd probably suggest it for the interview but if not smart trousers and a shirt.

Looking at my London colleagues it’s mostly casual trousers, a shirt and a nice jumper
even nice jeans, dark coloured, not washed out nor ripped and a casual blazer
some guys wear casual trousers/nice jeans a shirt and a gilet
those boots would be fine as long as they are covered by the trousers
but I agree for the interview it maybe better to be overdressed (a suit)

Chinos and a shirt, ideally a jacket too but no tie. The boots would be fine. DH works in insurance, and tbh he reports that in the London markets business casual is still pretty formal.

i would think a casual suit would be best for impressions perhaps or at least a jacket and tie. My ds works in town and wears a tie and jacket all the time he doesn't do casual for work.

if it’s in finance, he should be wearing a suit for the interview.

business casual, chinos, shirt, nice jumper, no tie- that will be for when he gets it and is actually going to the office.

I’ve been hiring recently (London, charity sector) and it was noticeable that none of the men wore a tie for the interviews. One wore a suit but no tie, the others wore just trousers/jumpers/weird Rupert bear scarves etc. I think for interview smart chinos and shirt and the boots will be fine.

Suit, tie and shoes for interview. Smart casual is usually a Polo top and designer trainers with jeans. Lots of offices dress like this. My son (26) does in The City x

Open necked shirt, probably not a fine clothed formal shirt, maybe thicker Oxford: not creased. Maybe a fine knit jumper, either crew or V necked. Chinos or similar. Probably not those boots for the interview: eventually he will need smart shoes, and presumably his feet have stopped growing, so now's the time.

I would consider getting a suit for the interview though. This isn't the last time he'll need it.

Definitely smart suit and shoes for the interview, casual when in . Good Luck to him.

I interview interns for financial services roles.

The company need to be confident interns know how to dress for formal meetings with clients etc. Business casual is for after the role has begun.

He should be smart at the interview, even if they're not

Insurance can be old school and stuffy so err on the side of smarter for an interview

Trousers and shirt or suit ideally

No tie necessary but could be nice

Biz cas is trousers, shirt or chinos shirt al blazer

Sometimes jeans but not in an interview or probs not insurance

Also haircut and some expensive aftershave x

Suit for interview

Suited and booted for interview. Day wear for the job is smart trousers, shirt and jumper no tie. He can get a feel for what they wear on the day of his interview.

suit and formal shoes for the interview.

My DB is an insurance underwriter in The City and whenever I meet him after work his entire team seem to wear a uniform of blue chinos, an expensive well-ironed white shirt and brown shoes.

I'd say suit and shoes for interview and business casual for the actual office.

Ah okay. Thanks everyone. A suit it is then, with a shirt, and a tie, and shoes!! Just wondering what might be a nice suit that doesn't break the bank. Any ideas?

Tbh if it's an interview I'd go suited and booted.

If he gets the job, business casual for men seems to be jeans, a shirt and smart footwear. Last few offices I've been to this seems to be the uniform for men.

Thank you. Could you maybe offer me some advice to pass on please?

My latest post was for @bevelino "I interview interns for financial services roles.

The company need to be confident interns know how to dress for formal meetings with clients etc. Business casual is for after the role has begun."

Would it be okay to DM you?

M&S do decent and not too expensive suits, but it depends how much you have to spend. If money is tight, try charity shops.

As for business casual - this really depends on the individual business. My DH works in finance and business casual M-Th is a work shirt with no tie, a pair of suit trousers, leather shoes and a coat of his choice. On Fridays he wears the same, but with a pair of smart, dark jeans. Your DS needs to have a good look round and see what everyone is wearing when he goes for interview, but as a general rule it's better to be overdressed than under-dressed, so if in doubt err on the side of smartness.

NEXT have nice suits with the option of a waistcoat. About £130?