Wall Street Women: What The 1% Wear To Work

The tumult happening on Wall Street is currently tearing our country apart, but financiers apparently still need to dress to impress.

Business Insider posted a seemingly unironic list today of the "15 Work Accessories That Every Wall Street Woman Must Have." You heard it here first, ladies! Just because you work insane 90-hour weeks doesn't mean you can get away with (*shudder*) Nine West shoes.

What are BI's must-haves? Well, nothing comes from Kmart:

One Wall Streeter suggests owning Tory Burch, Lanvin or Chanel flats, while another recommends Ferragamo flats.

Chanel flats cost upwards of $600, so cool, good way to spend your bonus this year. One of our female finance friends says, "Flats that are that expensive may be difficult for someone starting out. Steve Maddens or Sam Edelmans will do."

You also want to make sure you're rocking the right kind of watch:

A Wall Streeter told us some popular watch makers are David Yurman and Tiffany's.

Omg, which one should I get?

Another tip, for the gym:

One popular suggestions is a simple black Longchamp bag, which is also useful for toting gym clothes.

But wait, won't my dirty yoga clothes stink up my $200 tote? Or do finance women not sweat?

Our helpful male finance source: "I know that people had small bags and not large ones. Usually black and could be carried easily so as not to hit people."

And where will you shop for all of these luxe goods? Your iPad, duh:

We suggest using it to "fill your daily Gilt addiction," says one Wall Street woman.

Other Wall Street-approved accessories, according to BI:

• Cardigans ("preferably black").
• DVF wrap dresses (only on Fridays).
• A huge rock ("we hear that there's competition among women at some Wall Street firms over the size of diamond engagement rings").

On the banned list? "Absolutely no glitter." Our male friend from the finance world confirms: "I can't even imagine someone wearing glitter to an i-bank."

But we want to say to any downtown ladies who are fretting over fashion: chill. Because you work in a mostly-male environment, most dudes will have freakin' clue what type of shoes you're wearing. Case in point: when we asked our male friend about Chanel, Lanvin and Tory Burch, he responded, "There are a lot of words here I don't know."

It's neither shocking nor news that Wall Street denizens like their luxury goods, but still, in this economy, perhaps the finance world should be a little more self-conscious about the kind of appearance they're putting forward with listicles like this.

Read the full list at Business Insider.

Comments

[DatingA1Percntr]

03:54 PM on 12/14/2011

A lot of this is true because Wall Street is about image. Of course, backing it up with intelligence is essential- but looking good is not a suggesstion, it is a must if you want to make it in the big leagues it seems. As harsh and backwards as that may be- good looking, put together women get past a lot of the initial BS they get from the jock locker room that is your stereotypical Wall Street. So dressing up and playing the part of well-dressed co-worker becomes a must!! I may not agree but it is a fact of Wall Street!

[DatingA1Percntr]

03:57 PM on 12/14/2011

Again....I am not by any means a label-lady. I don't purchase any of it unless it is severelyyyy on sale and opt for comfort over stlye most of the time. Hence, as insulting as this article may be to me (who could care less about the brands etc) it is sadly a reality for women (and the men) of Wall Street. Remember, SMOKE IN MIRRORS....that is alll it is.

[syds180turn]

01:53 PM on 11/06/2011

First of all, what is wrong with Nine West shoes? They're top quality leather, stylish and you won't have to sell your organs to purchase a pair. Secondly, more power to anyone that can afford Lanvin, Chanel and every other luxury brand out there, but it's not what you wear that makes you successful...that's just window dressing, it's your intelligence and drive to succeed. How sad that hard work and intellect is negated because you don't wear the right designer label. Whew...that's madness.

[ms.understood]

07:37 AM on 11/07/2011

nine west are my favorite brand of shoes to be quite honest. they are comfortable and stylish, and pretty reasonable. they also happen to have my favorite bags too! i agree with you, there's nothing wrong with nine west.

[syds180turn]

10:31 AM on 11/08/2011

Their bags are nice...I love their suede ones in the rich plums, violets and you can never go wrong with black.

[gloriaswanson43]

12:25 PM on 11/06/2011

This article is rather insulting. Dressing the part for Wall Street is no different than dressing the part for any job you want. If I could afford Chanel flats I would buy them and take care of them so they last a long time. You're making this sound like these women are just spending frivolously. I see the clothing and bag items as more of an investment in their own future.

[eyelashviper]

12:10 PM on 11/06/2011

In related news, the French firm Hermes, makers of fine luxury accessories, have put out a press release denying the rumor that they are in the process of designing a new scarf line, "Let "Em Eat Cake"....

[robmccolley]

04:21 AM on 11/06/2011

Irony & cynicism aside, I'll suggest that this column will remain salient for decades.

It's Babbitt Mark II.

[they-r-us]

01:36 AM on 11/06/2011

Now let's talk about the lying, cheating, stealing, self-propagating, ruthless b*stards who are NEVER mentioned. This article is an insult and a slap in the face to people who know what's going on.

[Kathleen Shimp]

06:50 PM on 11/05/2011

Some commenters are whining that the truly rich don't dress like this, because the items are either too cheap, or too status-symbol-screaming- but the 1% in the HuffPo title here is misleading. The original article on BI never states that this is what 1%ers wear, just "Wall Street women". I'm sure there are Wall Street workers earning less than $350,000.

[Garcia Gomez]

06:13 PM on 11/05/2011

work? what work? this article iz 4 those who have gainful employment

[fuss1]

05:38 PM on 11/05/2011

Do you people realize how HP and the other media sources that keep talking about the 1% are manipulating you into hating wealthy people, simply because they are wealthy? This is how class warfare morphs into Socialism.

I don't hate wealthy people. I work hard every day of my life in the hopes of joining their ranks one day.

But I do hate media outlets who try to manipulate my emotions with trashy articles such as this one.

[beatlebabe]

01:09 AM on 11/06/2011

Socialism is just another word for less greed. Actually the Wall Street crowd are the trashiest of them all because they indeed have no conscience about thieving and robbing real people, letting their fellow Americans die if they can't afford healthcare insurance and even cheering for it like it's a sport. These bankers show no gratitude for being bailed-out (welfare for the rich), on the contrary they seem to think they are entitled to it but bash on a single mom or family receiving food stamps.Those Wall Street elites love pushing Americans who have been hurt by the recession onto the street to make their home a vacant house ripe for someone to flip, yes, aspire a way.

[gloriaswanson43]

12:46 PM on 11/06/2011

Unless this doesn't happen in every state, there are programs in place for single moms receiving food stamps and welfare checks to get either specialty training or a college education. The program pays for books, gas, classes and I believe child care. I've met "welfare moms" who want no part of this program. Maybe you could explain why they wouldn't want this generous assistance?

[syds180turn]

01:58 PM on 11/06/2011

You hit the nail on the head...F & F!

[knishinnyc]

01:43 AM on 11/06/2011

Socialism is sounding pretty good right now. Was the label socialism supposed to scare me?

[ExLibNowCentrist]

05:07 PM on 11/05/2011

Almost none of the women who work on Wall Street are in the 1%.

[DawnK]

02:26 PM on 11/05/2011

I don't care how much someone spends on a purse or shoes, it might be foolish but it is none of my business. People are behaving like people who make a lot of money should give every cent away. I think that the 99% just want to be treated fairly. The 1% needs to pay as much in taxes as I do. Corporations parading as individuals need to start respecting the American citizenry that made them what they are. Instead they act like brats and put out articles that seem to be rubbing their renegade money making in our faces. Some people who call themselves the 53% are selling themselves short by being so proud that their lives are only work and paying bills while the 1% barely work, don't pay an equal share in taxes and go on vacations and buy stuff and do stuff. If that 53% want to boost the sales of Torey Burch flats for Wall Street women than they are idiots.

[sgerlyn]

01:03 AM on 11/06/2011

Envy and Greed.

[Alma Carranza]

12:37 PM on 11/05/2011

Am I the only one who detects the purposefully sarcastic tone in this article?

[gloriaswanson43]

12:48 PM on 11/06/2011

No, you aren't. If I had the extra money, I would purchase these items, too. Better quality, taken care of, last for a good long time. What's not to like? One good quality skirt or pair of shoes beats PayLess or Kohl's.

[Sooladgaf]

11:48 AM on 11/05/2011

This is the most idiotic article. The 1% take heat from the liberal left and HP for buying $600 shoes while making millions of dollars...when you'll never see HP or the liberal left talk about the 99% buying $200 Jordans when they can barely afford it. Try looking at the % point compared to the salary..... looks like the 99%'r are the wasteful irresponsible ones.

[signgrrl]

08:12 PM on 11/06/2011

nice try. i don't know anyone who would pay more than $60 for a pair of shoes, never mind $200. and no one i know is wasteful and irresponsible with their money as they are too fond of eating on a daily basis and living indoors.

[Sooladgaf]

05:51 PM on 11/07/2011

I'm sorry but have you not seen the big lines outside in NYC when the new "Jordans" come out. Look at the people buying...does it look like they can afford $200 shoes? I would consider myself in the upper middle income....and I can't afford them...how can a 16 yr old kid???

[sillyblueness]

11:42 AM on 11/05/2011

"Listicles"? Oy vey I seem to have accidentally stumbled onto Perez Hilton's gossip blog.

[nwlover]

10:48 AM on 11/05/2011

I would think one could wear a bathrobe as they push a couple pieces of paper around and collect their riches. But try as they might, they'd still feel dirty after showering.

[ArChiMi]

12:39 PM on 11/05/2011

They never feel dirty or ashamed.