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agold
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suit for interview 15 Dec 2008, 08:57
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kryzak
BTW, just throwing this out there for those people applying to a West Coast school. from what I've seen, unless you're going for banking, the brand or "expensiveness" of a suit doesn't really matter. Just make sure it's fitted correctly (tailor it if it doesn't fit well!), navy/grey/or even black, and you're not "trying to hard" with pocket squares, loud ties, etc... and you'll be fine.

I've RARELY seen anyone in full suits here at Haas, and for those who wear suits, it's pretty traditional looking.
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I agree, and this is just not a West Coast phenomenom. Bankers are ridiculously snooty about clothes. Other professions - not so much. Put it this way - your typical associate/vice president-level bankers will likely be dressed about on par with the CEO of a $1B company. If you're interviewing with the CEO of $1B company or the Division Head of a $1B business within an F500 - don't outdress him :)

This is a funny parody of bankers (taken from the book "Damn It Feels Good to be a Banker"):

Intern: https://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak- ... 5_9970.jpg

Analyst/Associate: https://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak- ... 3_9502.jpg

MD: https://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak- ... 56_218.jpg

Bottom line:

If you're interested in consulting, general management, marketing - anything except for Finance - you'll be fine with something from Jos A Bank or that caliber. If you're interested in Finance, you'll still be fine with something from Jos A Bank or that caliber for your staples, but you may be smart to invest in one nice suit (Hickey Freeman or so) for first round interviews and first impressions.
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Leverandon
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suit for interview 15 Dec 2008, 10:28
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I'm not that familiar with Jos A Bank. Is it above, below, or at the same level as Banana Republic/Ralph Lauren in terms of price/quality?
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suit for interview 15 Dec 2008, 10:30
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Leverandon
I'm not that familiar with Jos A Bank. Is it above, below, or at the same level as Banana Republic/Ralph Lauren in terms of price/quality?
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Jos A Bank is nowhere close to the levels of BR, RL etc.

Right now, they are pretty much giving stuff away. You can see their ads on CNBC. It's pretty much 50% off or buy 1, get 2 free campaign for like 5 months now.

You can think jos A Bank as Mens Wearhouse except, Jos A Bank actually makes their own clothes.....
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suit for interview 15 Dec 2008, 10:31
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Leverandon
I'm not that familiar with Jos A Bank. Is it above, below, or at the same level as Banana Republic/Ralph Lauren in terms of price/quality?
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https://www.josabank.com

Comparable to Banana Republic, I think. Although I'm not very familiar with BR. I think BR is far too trendy for a top business school (for men). I think it works out well for the ladies.

Ralph Lauren has several different lines, and it depends which one you're talking about.

Jos A. Bank is comparable to the "Lauren" line that you would find at Macy's or something like that. i.e. approximately $200-400 out the door.

Ralph Lauren Blue Label is made by Corneliani and these are very nice, high-end suits that generally run in the range of $1000. They trump anything from Jos A. Bank.

Ralph Lauren Purple Label is sartorial clothing and will run several thousand. Comparable to a Brioni, Kiton, etc.
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suit for interview 15 Dec 2008, 13:00
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If you are looking to buy the best suit ever you gotta try an Ermenegildo Zegna on. They are expensive, but absolutely worth the money - I am a big fan. Brands like Armani, and Hugo Boss use Ermenegildo Zegna fabric for their suits.
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suit for interview 15 Dec 2008, 13:11
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I didn't realize that BR was considered too trendy for b-school interviews. Both of my suits are BR, but I think that they are pretty darn conservative. Both are 3-button (one black and one charcoal) traditional American cuts.
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suit for interview 15 Dec 2008, 13:12
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Leverandon
I didn't realize that BR was considered too trendy for b-school interviews. Both of my suits are BR, but I think that they are pretty darn conservative. Both are 3-button (one black and one charcoal) traditional American cuts.
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Your charcoal is probably fine. Black is not appropriate for interviews.
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suit for interview 15 Dec 2008, 13:47
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I'm hearing a lot of replies on here and for some of it I have to call BS. The two things that are going to matter the most are fit and quality. Fit has nothing to do with quality and is the most important. You'll look better in a cheap suit that fits than a $2000 suit that doesn't. The cheap suit might not last long but for interviewing purposes I don't think that's a factor. So if you ever buy a suit and somehow think that it fits, slap yourself and then go directly to a tailor. Now as far as quality, a good suit is going to be made of high quality wool, with an equally high quality silk inner lining. To be honest most people aren't going to be able to tell the difference unless your some kind of expert (i.e. no one going to bschool). A trick to spotting cheap suits is to look for the stitching that goes at an angle, midway up the lapel, grasp the fabric on the front side of the lapel and on the back side, near the stitch, and pull them away from each other - if they come apart, you have a glued-together suit in your hands. There are other considerations such as stiching and buttons, but for the most part you have to look on the inside of the suit to see most of this.

I personally like Z Zenga suits because I'm a slender (better word for skinny) guy. I can take a $200 suit to my tailor and he can make the suit look exactly the same (after $200). So for about $400 I can get the exact same look as a $1400 (blufly.com regularly $2000). The only difference is that the $400 version won't last as long. But no one here or in any bschool interview is going to be able to tell the difference.
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suit for interview 15 Dec 2008, 16:17
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I know a handful of CEOs of multibillion dollar companies... Bankers WAY outdress them.

You really don't want to make any sort of statement with your clothes. Nice enough so that they don't notice you look cheap, and not so nice that they think you're pretentious/trying too hard. Anything in between is fine.



agold
kryzak
BTW, just throwing this out there for those people applying to a West Coast school. from what I've seen, unless you're going for banking, the brand or "expensiveness" of a suit doesn't really matter. Just make sure it's fitted correctly (tailor it if it doesn't fit well!), navy/grey/or even black, and you're not "trying to hard" with pocket squares, loud ties, etc... and you'll be fine.

I've RARELY seen anyone in full suits here at Haas, and for those who wear suits, it's pretty traditional looking.

I agree, and this is just not a West Coast phenomenom. Bankers are ridiculously snooty about clothes. Other professions - not so much. Put it this way - your typical associate/vice president-level bankers will likely be dressed about on par with the CEO of a $1B company. If you're interviewing with the CEO of $1B company or the Division Head of a $1B business within an F500 - don't outdress him :)

This is a funny parody of bankers (taken from the book "Damn It Feels Good to be a Banker"):

Intern: https://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak- ... 5_9970.jpg

Analyst/Associate: https://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak- ... 3_9502.jpg

MD: https://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak- ... 56_218.jpg

Bottom line:

If you're interested in consulting, general management, marketing - anything except for Finance - you'll be fine with something from Jos A Bank or that caliber. If you're interested in Finance, you'll still be fine with something from Jos A Bank or that caliber for your staples, but you may be smart to invest in one nice suit (Hickey Freeman or so) for first round interviews and first impressions.
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