London financial PR/strategic comms: What is male dress code?

[Delphigirl]

My 22 yo DS has got a 12 week internship this summer at a high end strategic comms firm. Think Brunswick but smaller. From my days in the city I think of them as being the last vestiges of the smartly dressed - suited and tied, for men. Them and barristers. Is that still the case? Does DS need navy suits/pale blue shirts/discreet tie/black oxfords or have they gone more casual and if so what is the smart young man expected to turn up wearing? As much info as possible would be very welcome. I think this is an extended interview for a grad job (he is final year next year) so I want him to get it right. Thanks very much.

Does he have a contact there who he could email and enquire about the dress code? Lots of firms have become more casual since Covid, but as you say it's not something he would want to get wrong.

I work adjacent to financial PRs and they're more chinos and jumpers types now as far as I've seen, rather than full suits, but they're not rocking up in completely casual wear like most PR/comms firms in other sectors that I know.

So, business casual? Seperates rather than full suits, nice boots rather than shiny brogues, that kind of thing. He'll probably need suits for client meetings, though, I'd have thought.

Have a nosy at the firm's social media - I've just had a look at the socials for the biggest comms firm we work with (they're global and quite Serious) and found videos of them having a meeting in the office in the smarter end of smart casual rather than suited up.

That’s v helpful @housemaus thanks. Will have a look at social media but they seem to be quite a private firm, few photos on the website and those only portraits etc. the person who interviewed him is a partner I don’t think he can email him about clothes, but he could talk to the HR person dealing with his contract (paying him a really fair pro rata salary plus holiday so that is GREAT), that’s a good idea @MotherWol thank you.

So website/social media photos are all of client conferences and male staff are in dark blue or mid-dark grey suits, white shirt, with discreet tie, black shoes. Proper smart. But those are all very senior at formal events. Not a navy suit/blue chino/brown shoe combo in sight, unlike the commercial property boys.

But I’ve tracked down a friend of a friend who works at a rival firm who says for interns it is “Suit, no tie (but have tie to hand in suit pocket)”. So that appears to be as casual as it gets! Removal of tie! For junior staff anyway.
Tbh that is easier for him to manage, more like a uniform.

Chinos and shirt with a fine knit jumper or tank, nice boots or shoes seems
To be the uniform

Hmmmmm does it @cocksstrideintheevening ? Gosh darn it he is going to need to cover all bases isn’t he. Aurgh.

I had a meeting at a PR/media/comms firm and most of the men wore suit trousers, shirt and a fine knit jumper. There were a few wearing full suits but we're either senior or had client meetings.

A suit will give your ds opportunities to dress up and down, it's a good base to start with. A couple of shorts, jumpers, a few suits & or suit trousers and he's got a good capsule working wardrobe.

Report your post & ask Mn HQ to move this to style and beauty and you'll get more responses.

My son (30) works in one of these firms and wears smart trousers, shirt, sweater. Hardly ever a suit, maybe only for extra special client pitches/events.

I work in an international company that hires these firms, and work with them myself. Rarely see a suit these days, but definitely need to have one just in case.

Ok this is all super helpful, thank you very much. It seems there is a real consensus so that is brilliant. I’m very grateful!

Have reported this to move it to style and beauty. Any links to the kind of fine knit sweaters we are talking about would be gratefully received. I know these things are nuanced and I am out of my comfort zone in young men’s style!

Don't buy anything till he's asked the HR person.

I usually as HR before I start a new job in case there is a dress code. I work in schools and it really varies. Current one is v smart. Old one was not at all.

Congratulations to your son for having secured the internship!

As a client of public affairs firms I typically see men in suits no tie when going to stakeholder meetings; trousers + blazer or trousers + shirt and thin smart jumper for less formal client meetings. Junior staff dress as formally as (or more formally than) senior staff.

Ah thank you @abvgd ! I’m so delighted for him. This is v helpful thanks. He is going to ask HR but now he knows the likely parameters thanks to this thread so it will be a be a more effective conversation.

Always dress more formally as it's easier to then dress down if you've pitched it too high.

Can you keep tags on everything so if it's wrong it's only 1 outfit then get more casual if needed.

The posh end of male uniform these days tends to be suit and collared shirt minus tie, or suit/smart trousers and collared shirt with jumper. So I'd start out with suit and tie in pocket, as discussed. If more casual, he could then take it down a notch by ditching the jacket and can mix and match suit trousers and shirts.

And I have now hit semantic satiation on the word "suit".

DH is in banking but wears the uniform above.. Suit trousers, nice shirt, fine jumper and jacket. Sometimes a suit jacket, sometimes a nice one.

The fine knit jumper is always cashmere or merino wool. But no one would know if they they were viscose from John Lewis basics!

As I am the one who buys them, I can tell you they come from a mixture of Gant, Gap, Marks and Spencer, John Lewis etc.

They are almost all blue or grey.

Fab, thanks @ShiverOfSharks and @Moredarkchocolateplease that’s great - particularly the welcome news that the sweaters can come from gap / JL rather than Hackett or somewhere pricier. I think I can feel a trip to Bicester coming on…

OP they are literally nice merino v necks. And literally all of DHs male colleagues wear the same.

They do also sometimes wear a half zip sweater but this might be an age thing.

DD says DH dresses like Tom from Succession. I'd say that's a good starting point!

Ha ha re Succession!

ooh now you said V neck @Moredarkchocolateplease . I think the consensus of others is <<<checks notes>>> crew neck. Is that an age-related differentiator do we think? Or purely a preference point? <<licks pencil, waits expectantly>>

I do like a half zip but probs not in July

I work a few of these types and have been joking about the new post Covid uniform recently. The consensus seems to be suit / no tie for client meetings, suit trousers, shirt and navy half zip sweater for the office and a definite smattering of gilets under jackets and over shirts for spring days. On casual days there is an outbreak of chinos with gaucho belts and blue Oxford shirts.

https://www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/men/knitwear/jumpers-cardigans

My dh buys the fine knit merino jumpers and smart trousers from uniqlo and John Lewis. His shirts are from various shops such as JL, Charles Tywirt, Hackett, Massimo Dutti, Uniqlo, H&M, M&S and Debenhams online.

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/giorgentiny/mens-business-casual-style/

Very fitted styles here though but there are a few adaptable styles without looking like a male catwalk model!

This. Ask HR. You will get the correct answer for this employer.