What to Wear to an Investment Banking Interview

Why Interview Attire Matters in Investment Banking

Before you answer a single technical or behavioral question, your appearance communicates professionalism, attention to detail, and judgment. Investment banking is a client-facing business where presentation matters. How you dress for an interview signals how you would present yourself to clients, executives, and colleagues.

While attire alone will not land you the job, dressing inappropriately can hurt your chances significantly. Interviewers notice when candidates look out of place, and that observation colors their assessment of judgment and cultural fit. The goal is simple: look polished, conservative, and professional without drawing attention to your outfit.

Your clothing should fade into the background, allowing your qualifications and personality to dominate the conversation. When interviewers remember your outfit rather than your answers, something went wrong with your presentation.

General Principles for Interview Attire

Several principles apply regardless of gender and should guide all your wardrobe decisions for investment banking interviews.

Conservatism Is Key

Investment banking culture values tradition and conformity in professional dress. Stick to classic business formal rather than trendy, fashion-forward, or creative choices. What works for interviews at tech companies or creative agencies does not work for banking.

Conservative does not mean boring. A well-fitted navy suit with a quality tie presents professionally while looking sharp. The goal is to project competence and seriousness, not to express personal style.

Fit Matters Tremendously

Clothes that fit properly make a better impression than expensive clothes that fit poorly. An off-the-rack suit that has been tailored to your body looks more professional than an expensive designer suit that hangs incorrectly.

Pay attention to jacket shoulder width, sleeve length, trouser break, and overall silhouette. If you are unsure about fit, get a second opinion from someone with professional dress experience or visit a tailor for assessment.

Neutral Colors Dominate

Navy, charcoal gray, and black form the foundation of professional interview attire for good reason. These colors convey authority and seriousness while avoiding distraction. They work across virtually all professional contexts and never go out of style.

Save brighter colors or bolder patterns for after you have the job and understand the specific culture of your firm and group.

Subtle Accessories Only

Accessories should complement your outfit, not compete with it. Keep jewelry, ties, and other accents understated. Anything that draws significant attention detracts from the overall professional impression.

Grooming Counts Equally

Clean, polished shoes, tidy hair, and overall neatness are as important as the clothes themselves. A wrinkled shirt or scuffed shoes undermine an otherwise appropriate outfit. Attention to grooming details demonstrates the same attention to detail that banking work requires.

What Men Should Wear

Men interviewing for investment banking positions should aim for classic business formal attire that could fit seamlessly into any conservative corporate environment.

The Suit

A two-piece suit in navy or charcoal gray represents the safest choice. Black suits are acceptable but less common in banking environments and can appear overly formal or funereal.

Stick to a conservative cut with moderate lapel width. Avoid ultra-slim fashion cuts or boxy, dated silhouettes. The suit should be current without being trendy.

Single-breasted jackets with two or three buttons work best. Double-breasted suits can work but carry more risk if the fit is not perfect.

The Shirt

A white or light blue dress shirt is the only appropriate choice. Both colors project professionalism and pair well with navy or gray suits.

The shirt should be crisp and ironed with no visible wrinkles. Long sleeves are mandatory regardless of weather. French cuffs are acceptable but not necessary since simple barrel cuffs work perfectly well.

Collar style should be classic point or spread collar. Avoid button-down collars, which read as too casual for formal interviews.

The Tie

Choose ties with simple patterns or solid colors. Stripes, small dots, or subtle geometric patterns in navy, burgundy, or dark tones all work well.

Avoid loud colors, novelty patterns, overly wide or narrow widths, and anything that could be described as flashy. Your tie should complement your outfit without demanding attention.

Silk ties in matte or subtle sheen finishes look most professional. Avoid shiny or textured materials that could appear cheap or dated.

Shoes

Black or dark brown leather oxfords or derbies are appropriate. Shoes should be polished, in good condition, and free of scuffs or visible wear.

Match shoe color to your belt. Black shoes require a black belt; brown shoes require a brown belt. This coordination demonstrates attention to detail.

Avoid loafers, monk straps, or fashion-forward styles for interviews. Save these for after you understand your firm's specific dress culture.

The Belt

Keep your belt simple and classic with a plain buckle. Match the leather color to your shoes exactly.

Avoid statement buckles, unusual materials, or designer logos. The belt should be virtually invisible as part of your overall presentation.

Watch and Accessories

A simple, classic watch is appropriate but not required. If you wear a watch, choose something understated with a leather band or simple metal bracelet.

Avoid expensive or flashy watches even if you own them. Wearing a Rolex or other luxury timepiece to an interview can backfire by suggesting poor judgment, showing off wealth, or attempting to impress inappropriately. Junior bankers are not expected to own expensive watches, and displaying one raises questions about your background and motivations.

Skip cufflinks unless wearing a subtle pair with French cuff shirts. Avoid bracelets, necklaces, or other visible jewelry.

Carry a slim portfolio or leather folder for extra resumes rather than a backpack or messenger bag. The bag you carry contributes to your overall professional impression.

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What Women Should Wear

Women interviewing for investment banking should also aim for conservative business formal attire that projects professionalism and competence.

The Suit

A tailored pantsuit or skirt suit in navy, gray, or black provides the safest foundation. Both options are equally appropriate in modern banking environments.

If wearing a skirt suit, keep the length at or just above the knee. Avoid shorter hemlines that could appear inappropriate in conservative professional settings.

The suit should fit well through the shoulders, waist, and hips. Tailoring makes a significant difference in overall presentation.

The Blouse

A conservative blouse or shell in neutral or light colors works beneath your suit jacket. White, light blue, cream, or soft gray all project appropriately.

Avoid low-cut, sheer, or overly bright tops. Necklines should be modest enough that you do not need to adjust them throughout the interview. The goal is to appear polished without any element that could distract.

Shoes

Closed-toe pumps in black, navy, or neutral tones are appropriate. Heel height should be moderate at two to three inches since extremely high heels can appear impractical or overly fashion-focused.

Shoes should be polished and professional rather than trendy. Avoid open-toe styles, platforms, or anything with embellishments that draw attention.

Flats are acceptable if you prefer them, particularly if you will be walking significant distances between interviews. Choose polished, professional flats rather than casual styles.

Jewelry and Accessories

Keep jewelry minimal and understated. Small stud earrings, a simple necklace, or a classic bracelet are appropriate. Avoid large statement pieces, dangling earrings, or stacked accessories.

A professional tote or structured handbag works better than casual bags or oversized purses. Like men, avoid backpacks that project a student rather than professional image.

Avoid luxury statement pieces like high-end watches or designer bags with prominent logos. The same principles that apply to men apply here: displaying wealth or fashion awareness inappropriately can hurt rather than help your candidacy.

Grooming Details

Hairstyle should be neat and professional without requiring constant adjustment. Simple styles that stay in place throughout a long interview day work best.

Makeup should be neutral and understated rather than bold or dramatic. The goal is a polished, professional appearance that does not draw attention to cosmetics.

Nails should be clean and well-maintained. Neutral or muted polish colors are appropriate; avoid bright colors, elaborate nail art, or excessively long nails.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Understanding what not to wear is as important as knowing what to wear. These mistakes consistently hurt candidates.

Overdressing or Underdressing

A tuxedo or evening wear is wrong. So are khakis and a button-down. Business formal is the standard, and significant deviation in either direction signals poor judgment.

When in doubt, err slightly toward more formal. Being slightly overdressed causes less damage than being significantly underdressed.

Bold Fashion Choices

Bright colors, unusual patterns, trendy cuts, and fashion-forward pieces distract from your professionalism. Save your personal style expression for contexts where it is appropriate and valued.

What impresses at a fashion magazine or creative agency hurts at an investment bank. Understand your audience.

Poor Grooming

Wrinkled clothes, scuffed shoes, messy hair, or generally unkempt appearance leaves a negative impression that undermines even strong interview performance. Attention to grooming details signals the same attention to detail that banking work demands.

Check yourself in a mirror before entering the building. Address any issues with your appearance before your first interaction.

Inappropriate Bags

Backpacks, gym bags, and overly casual messenger bags project a student image rather than a professional one. Invest in a simple portfolio or professional bag that matches the formality of your attire.

Over-Accessorizing

Statement jewelry, luxury watches, multiple visible accessories, and designer logo displays all create wrong impressions. Each accessory is an opportunity to make a mistake.

When in doubt, remove an accessory rather than adding one. Less is safer than more.

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Why Expensive Watches Can Hurt You

This point deserves special emphasis because candidates frequently make this mistake. You might think a luxury timepiece signals success, taste, or belonging in a wealthy industry. In interviews, it often signals the opposite.

Appearance of Poor Judgment

Interviewers may view expensive watches on candidates as showing off, trying too hard, or demonstrating poor judgment about appropriate self-presentation. The interview is supposed to evaluate your qualifications, not your possessions.

Questions About Background

Luxury items raise questions. Did your parents buy it? Are you independently wealthy and therefore not serious about banking? Are you displaying wealth to compensate for weaker qualifications? None of these thought processes help your candidacy.

Cultural Expectations

Banking culture values professionalism and conformity, especially for junior roles. Expensive watches are worn by senior bankers who have earned them. Displaying wealth before earning it yourself can appear presumptuous.

The Safe Choice

If you like wearing a watch, choose something simple and understated with a clean dial and leather or basic metal band. A $200 watch that looks professional helps more than a $20,000 watch that raises questions.

Virtual Interview Considerations

Video interviews require the same attention to professional presentation as in-person meetings, with some additional considerations.

What Shows on Camera

Dress fully in business formal even if only your upper body is visible. Wearing a suit jacket with pajama bottoms creates risk if you need to stand unexpectedly. More importantly, dressing fully puts you in a professional mindset.

Background and Lighting

A neutral, uncluttered background projects professionalism. Ensure lighting illuminates your face clearly without harsh shadows or backlighting that obscures your features.

Technical Presentation

Test your camera, microphone, and internet connection before the interview. Technical problems create negative impressions regardless of how well you dress or perform.

Final Checklist Before Your Interview

Run through this checklist before leaving for your interview:

Fit and condition: Does your outfit fit properly? Are clothes pressed, clean, and free of visible wear?

Grooming: Is your hair neat? Are your nails clean? Have you addressed any grooming details that need attention?

Shoes: Are your shoes polished and in good condition?

Accessories: Are accessories minimal and professional? Have you removed anything that might draw unwanted attention?

Overall impression: Would your overall look blend in at a conservative corporate office? Would a senior banker be comfortable bringing you to a client meeting?

If you can answer yes to all questions, you are ready.

Key Takeaways

Conclusion

Dressing for an investment banking interview is about demonstrating professionalism and good judgment through appropriate self-presentation. The specific items you choose matter less than the overall impression of being polished, conservative, and put-together.

Remember that your outfit should not be memorable. The ideal outcome is that interviewers focus entirely on your qualifications, your answers, and your fit for the role rather than what you wore. When clothing becomes a conversation topic, something went wrong.

With your attire perfected, ensure you are equally prepared for what happens inside the interview room. Review the complete IB and PE interview process to understand what to expect at each stage and how to perform your best regardless of what you are wearing.