[BigCity]

I have a question that may be obvious for some - I have been confirmed for a number of Oxbridge career events with investment banks. Some are drinks, some dinners, some presentations. What would be the best advice on dress? I plan to wear a suit to all of them but wanted any suggestions.

No harm in asking.

[jacketpotato]

Suit and shirt without tie - smart but relaxed (or the equivalent if you are a girl)

[stanmoor]

Pjamas! You wanna stand out right?

[LizardCalledRoswel]

I would've said suit with tie, you can always take the tie off if you get there and it doesn't look that formal.

Suit up!

[Inflation]

Shirt trousers.

[Fat-Love]

shoes, trousers and shirt and a smart coat instead of suit

[Zürich]

(Original post by BigCity)
I have a question that may be obvious for some - I have been confirmed for a number of Oxbridge career events with investment banks. Some are drinks, some dinners, some presentations. What would be the best advice on dress? I plan to wear a suit to all of them but wanted any suggestions.

No harm in asking.

Depends on the event.
Smart shirt with dress trousers will always be OK. On the other hand, if the event is 'informal' then jeans and a football top could be fine.

[jamz0770]

I went to a presentation (JP Morgan) with 4 MD's yesterday, which included the chance to talk to them afterwards and only one guy went in a suit. I went with smart trousers, shirt and jumper which seemed alright although lots of people were far more casual, including one guy in the corner in flip flops and board shorts

[Chewwy]

no matter what industry you work in, if you are meeting somebody new and want to impress them then you dress accordingly.

[Bb^]

Depends on the event, depends on who you're meeting.

For example, if you're meeting a few MDs from Equity Sales, and the event is drinks at a bar (not as uncommon as you'd think), then a suit and tie is probably overkill.

That said, if you're going to a hotel conference room, and the event involves a talk, followed by wine and networking with M&A MDs, then a suit and tie's going to be more appropriate than casual trousers and shirt.

Some people do go to these events in shorts/ whatever. It's fine, but don't count on the people you meet remembering you fondly after. Remember, they only see a snapshot, and if the visual image they get of you when you ring a few months later is of you looking balls to the wall awesome in your shorts and havaianas, unless you made the most amazing impression when you met, will probably feel cautious about offering that same guy an interview.

In conclusion: know your event, and who you're meeting. I tend to agree with the whole "dress smart and then you have the option of being casual" approach. Better safe than sorry (and often it's only months later you're sorry..!)

Bb^

[Bb^]

"Oh I know that guy - he came to the presentation dressed as a Yeti - some fancy dress social immediately afterwards."

[BigCity]

Thanks for the advice - having been to 3 presentations in the past week I'd say 95% of people were in shirt and tie. Perhaps the figure is swayed by the fact it's Oxford though..