To not wear a suit in financial services?

[newlycorporategirl]

I'm starting a new role in financial services at a bank based in canary wharf (entry level having transitioned from a different career).

I have lots of smart dresses etc but i'm wondering if the norm is to wear a blazer/suit style outfit for the office every day or a blouse/shirt and cardigan okay?

I don't want to have to spend a fortune on new clothes but my partner thinks I may need to get some suits/blazers depending on the vibe (however they don't work in a similar industry)

YABU - suck it up and buy some blazers
YANBU - a blouse and cardigan is fine

Can you buy one blazer for now and then see how other people are dressed?

I highly doubt you'll need to. Have they told you the dress code?

My DH is at a finance London HQ and it's still very much suits and ties.

Could you borrow a blazer from a friend for the first day and see what the vibe is? Buy some if you think you need them after that.

The dress code they've given is:

business-smart (no jeans or trainers)

which seems quite vague but also would suggest that I don't need to be OTT formal? Thats how im reading it.

From what I see in the city and CW it's smart casual

I wear anything from dresses, to a blazer, to jeans, to more formal wear.

Your blouse and cardigan is fine until you settle in and figure out dress code. It will depend if you are client facing or not.

A blazer might be a good.investment to have to to hand to throw on, but don't rush out to get one.

Okay - well we are smart casual so everyone wears jeans and trainers 😀 I think smart dresses/ blouse and trousers with cardigan will absolutely fit the bill, you don't need a blazer every day. I wouldn't spend a lot of money if you have that sort of thing already, if it was me I'd go extra smart the first week and then moderate from then on!

I work in investment banking in the City. Please don’t go wearing a suit/blazer etc! Nobody has worn these for about 10 years. Smart dress/trousers/skirt/top is absolutely fine.

I'm sure a cardigan would be okay but you might feel a bit frumpy and will look more the part in blazers. Dress for the next level up.

Zara does good value office clothes.

Smart dresses are all good.

Smart dresses or smart dresses with a blazer are perfectly acceptable.

Imo cardigans typically aren't.

I wouldn’t buy anything until you see what the vibe is.

I very rarely see a woman in a suit nowadays. Not a corporate one anyway. I don’t wear them either - I look ridiculous in them.

Today I wore loafers, a pleated maxi length skirt and a blouse.

Just aim to look expensive!

I tend to see junior staff in banks/financial services wearing suits more frequently than middle/senior management.

dress and a blazer

NO CARDIGAN

I'd go e.g. loafers/nice flats, wide legged or cigarette trousers, and a shirt or blouse. Modern, smart, without being matchy.

smart cashmere or thin merino wool cardigans over smart blouse are fine too

When I worked in finance (I was quite senior) I wore dresses with leggings, if I wanted to smarten up for certain clients I would chuck a blazer on.

It depends on your role. If you’re client facing/ senior people facing- you need blazers and some suits. Back office- you can get away with smart dress and cardigan

Agree cardigan is frumpy - you can pick up a nice blazer in Zara or Mango for similar price. Otherwise I’d say there are no “rules” for what to wear, other than it’s still very clean cut side of trendy

This is a useful nuance thank you. I'm going to be working in cyber security on an apprenticeship programme so more 'back office' to begin with!

Oh, if you're cyber security, definitely no need for a suit. I work with cyber analysts are they are definitely dress down!

Thanks for the tip! I was public sector before where a dress and smart cardigans are very much the norm for the day to day.

Buy a couple blazers on vinted to start

I'm a financial adviser (in a small town though not London), I generally wear mid length smart skirts, blouses, trousers and shirts. I don't typically wear a blazer but would choose a tailored jacket over a cardigan if I wanted something on the top.

In our office, the financial adviser men wear suits, the financial adviser women wear similar to myself and the admin staff wear typical office wear (men in trousers and shirts, no tie and women in smart-casual dresses with cardigans).

I think it depends on your role. I'd get some smart dresses and then get a general feel of the vibe once you start!

Not all cardigans are frumpy. There are some very nice once. Recently I picked one up from Zara that looks a lot like a Veronica Beard jacket.

something similar to this: https://www.zara.com/ca/en/buttoned-knit-cardigan-p03471111.html?v1=374460197&v2=2420325

www.zara.com/ca/en/knit-cardigan-with-golden-buttons-p01822106.html?v1=377625282&v2=2420325

I went to an event with a load of bankers recently and I was so glad to see young women in oversized Zara suits, white Nikes, cool wide leg trousers and DMs. My older female friends who work in finance are all still wearing stuffy Hobbs dresses - they don't look like themselves at all.

Wear what you want op. I couldn't stand cos-playing as someone I'm not.