[Anonymous]

Hello!

So, my style of professional dress includes sporting a suit vest. I usually wear a suit vest with a tie, along with matching pants and dress shoes. I’ve gotten compliments and even won “Best Dressed” Award in college for looking sharp at my business meetings with Beta Alpha Psi and Delta Sigma Pi (accounting and business fraternities).

I’m starting my first accounting job as an auditor with Big 4 in California. I’ve heard that my firm usually goes with the simple button down dress shirt, dress pants, and dress shoes (no tie, suits only for clients and meetings type thing). Would it be a bad idea to continue wearing the suit vest ona daily basis, or do you think it’s more of a negative impression on me being a new hire?

I checked a lot on google searches for other people’s opinions and I’ve not seen any worth noting. I hope I can get some of this forum’s opinions! If it helps, I’m 5’7, pretty fit; I lift weights and exercise regularly; I’m also Asian. For reference, I googled a picture of what I’m referring to. I don’t plan on wearing the blazer/suit top with the outfit, it’s just the vest/tie + dress pants + dress shoes I consider wearing, and of course bring the suit top in case I need to wear it.

https://www.express.com/clothing/stretch+wool+suit+vest/pro/6102483/cat320035

[Anonymous]

Thank you everyone for your replies! I'll definitely consider your opinions. I'm too excited for my upcoming job. Too excited!

[Anonymous]

Hey, dress for the position you want, not what everyone else wears. Best advice I saw above was fuzyfro89 and krokofilen.

Also, I would absolutely wear what you have posted in the link. If it's a casual environment, role the sleeves a little.

Our corporate office actually allows blue jeans (and this is a multi-billion publicly traded corp), so you know what? I dress it up. Dark jeans with a blazer and dress shirt.

[mla1169]

I'm going to assume the vest is what you wore when you interviewed since it is your professional attire. That said, if that's the way you initially presented yourself and the way they were introduced you by all means wear it!

If for some reason you chose not to wear the vest to interview, the reasons why you made that decision should apply as you are working there.

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[fuzyfro89]

I give you permission to wear a vest, but only if you also wear a top hat and carry a cane.

[alboreland]

I was going to say no, but since you're 5'7, pretty fit, lift weights and excercise regularly and you're Asian, I will have to say yes.

[acamp]

Wear it on occasion, or be prepared to be known as “vest guy!”

“hey who's on your team” … “oh so and so” … “Who” … “You know, that vest guy”

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[Anonymous]

@cpa2geaux, what's your dad's store called?

[Anonymous]

Signature as EY staff and Weekend Warrior. Bingo.

[Anonymous]

Usually I tell people to tone it down during an interview, but you already got the job! Congrats!

I have no problems standing out while at work as long as it doesn't interfere with my job. Wear the heck out of that pocket square, vest, tie, tie bar…

[StephAV]

I think it is fine… Underdressing is a problem, over dressing, who cares… It sounds like that is a part of you and your personality. We have some guys at my current job (it's an NPO) that are really fashionable. One is an assistant and regularly wears bow ties… Whatev… That is his style. We have a wide range of attire, from people wearing jeans to custom suits… Custom suits? Our CEO was actually featured in a local magazine as best dressed… So maybe that is why it is okay for these other guys?

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[Anonymous]

@cindywindy- The name of his store is Tuxedos To Geaux! Please let me know if you have any other questions. I am sitting in his office at the store studying right now.

[Skynet]

I heard the white suit by KFC Colonel Sanders will get you places at the Big 4.

[nicole2035]

herd mentality, we create rules in our heads a lot of time that aren't real. Be you, try it out. I think everyone is putting a bigger light on it, a big 4 firm has lots and lots of people…no one will care. And honestly as a guy, not too many people are gonna pick on you for it

[Anonymous]

Nicole, all that is fine, but times are changing. These firms are all trying to modernize. If the op is at EY, he's going to get a shock as EY is essentially emulating Google with the 20/20 stuff. Their dress code is insanely lax and they often have wear jeans/random color days. Op will simply look silly as an overdressed staff 1. Whip out the style when it's needed for a client, but just relax at your home office and enjoy that no one really cares what you look like.

[wannabeCPA123]

I find that people who are consistently overdressed to be kind of annoying.

But I find people who under dress to be irresponsible.

Things that bother me are 1) crew neck undershirts 2) Balloon dress shirts (a relic from the 90s)

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[Author]

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