[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

[thechapman]

I wouldn't do it. “Stand out” all you want during your personal time, but I don't think work (especially as a new hire) is a smart place test any kind of boundaries in a conservative industry. However, it's your decision.

On a side note, this is a very interesting video you have here… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TT5TvCyYauA

Passed - 2014

[klink24]

The rule of thumb for dressing at any job is to adapt to the culture in which you work. If the culture only calls for button down dress shirts and slacks, then do that. Being sharply dressed doesn't mean much to me as a manager, nor does it mean much to any of the higher ups I know. If it did, the culture would reflect that and everyone would dress as you suggest.

The only time I would suggest going against the culture grain is if the higher ups wear suits but your particular department allows khakis or even jeans. Then you'd want to dress for the job you want, not the one you have. I've recently stopped wearing jeans on casual Friday because none of my superiors wear jeans on casual Friday.

FAR: 4/19/2014 - 85!
AUD: 5/27/2014 - 90!
REG: 7/18/2014 - 81!
BEC: 8/13/2014 - 84!

4 up, 4 down, in 4 months.

Licensed 9/22 in NC.

[Anonymous]

I recently left a Big 4 firm and there was a guy on the team who wore a suit vest usually once a week. Everyone always told him he looked sharp. No one cared that he was dressed “nicer” than the rest of the team. Although, if I think about it, I don't remember him wearing the suit vests until he had been at the firm a year or 2.

I think people might see it as trying too hard to impress if you started off with a suit vest every day, but if that's what you're comfortable with I would think you'd be fine mixing them in once in a while.

I was a manager when I left and while I might have thought it was silly to be dressed up more than necessary, it certainly wouldn't have bothered me if someone chose to.

[MikeHoncho]

Whenever I hear vest, I think McLovin from Superbad. “I should have wore the vest.”

Done: 5/22/14

"Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut."
- Ernest Hemingway

[ScarletKnightCPA]

Vests are usually worn with a blazer, I wouldn't wear it by itself. Also, don't wear black to formal.

Far: 76 (Wiley Test Bank)
Aud: 77 (Wiley Test Bank)
Reg: 61, 76 (Wiley book, Wiley Test Bank)
Bec: 86 (Wiley Test Bank)

MBA in progress

[fuzyfro89]

Career-wise: No, wearing a suit-vest on the job will not help you progress or be seen more positively. If anything, you will be discussed among managers as “Hey, I got this goofy staff who wears a tuxedo every day!”

If it were me, I would take it down a notch to a regular suit with a tie, or dress pants + blazer, or something just a step above “business casual” (pants + dress shirt).

An alternative would be to wear the full outfit one day a week and have that be your thing.

I'm also someone who dresses up compared to most others in my department. I regularly wear a suit (no tie) or pants + blazer and occasionally don a tie when I have an important meeting or am meeting with upper management. FWIW, Express is not work appropriate. Go for a more classic style. In the professional world, as a 22 yr old, you don't want to appear to be the youngest in the room… even though you are.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't wear the vested suit on a day-to-day basis either, but feel free to wear it when suiting up unless its from Express. Wear a more traditional brand. Go to Macys if you're on a budget. You can get a vested suit for like $250 that won't leave you looking like you just graduated from college.

I have always taken pride in how I dress as well and learned pretty quickly that the best dressed in college doesn't equate to the best dressed in the office.

[krokofilen]

Man, be yourself and wear whatever you like as long as you don't break any specific rules (such as wearing shorts).

I've been with Big 4 for 8 years now and that's what I always did, and it worked out just fine. I work in Europe though, so it might be culturally a little different, but a golden rule for me has always been that it is a good thing if you stand out… especially if you stand out from a group of accounting individuals. You will most likely not get any compliments (I never did), but people will remember you for standing out and that is not a bad thing at all.

Or… you can look like everyone else and become a random, dull accountant.

Big 4 Audit Manager from Europe here to pass the CPA in the U.S. of A in 2014! Niiice!

AUD - 95 / Jul 15 / 130h over 4 weeks
FAR - 86 / Aug 14 / 240h over 4 weeks
(11 week break)

REG - 81 / Nov 14 / 200h over 4 weeks
BEC - 87 / Nov 17 / 30 h over 2.5 days

[samdiegoCPA]

I have a friend who works at a Big 4 in Germany and he wears an entire suit everyday. Then again, my other two German friends with great jobs also dress formally everyday. Maybe it's European culture…. It's insane, but they look great (ahem hot) 😀

AUD: 84
REG: 84
BEC: 79
FAR: 83

[Anonymous]

Hey guys- this is my first post on here, although I am a frequent reader. I saw a member post above about going to Macy's for a suit for $250. My dad has a local shop here in New Orleans, and he sells two pc. suits for $159 and three pc. suits for $169 and can ship anywhere. Not trying to spam y'all with this, just trying to help out my fellow accounting peeps to save some money 🙂

P.S.- I'm a girl, so I can't take advantage of his awesome store!

[Vlakmir]

Oh boy

It took a lot of effort not to make fun of the link you posted and rant about the big 4 not needing another pretentious….

Do you mind if I ask where in California? I am starting at a big 4 there next month.

In regards to your attire,

Be yourself, stay within the code. Business casual.

Personally, I am not a pretentious person that puts a lot of emphasis on clothing and fashion, so I would not wear that. I'm not saying that's who you are, I'm saying that's what wearing a suit-vest everyday says, whether you want it to or not. If that sounds like you and someone you want to portray, go for it.

I would say I don't think people are not going to think of you any differently either way,

but this is the Big 4 in california. Lord, the amount of sideways glances I got when I pulled out a cigarette, as if It made me a terrible person.

REG - 92
AUD - 90
BEC - 82
FAR - 82
BISK Review Materials
DONE! /Happydance

[koz124]

As long as it's not sweats and a tank top (wanted to use another commonly used phrase), what does it matter? Yes, there are minimum standards you are expected to dress to, but I've never heard of professional repercussions because a person was overdressed. But what do I know…I work in a small organization and dress as comfortably as I can while still meeting the minimum standards. If you can stand the razzing for the first couple months and care more about your appearance than what others do, go for it. (FYI, I think I'd be impressed if our auditors showed up in a vest instead of the usual button up shirt.)

And sorry Scarlet, I think vests with a blazer are very old school and not necessary today (female opinion).

Studying with Wiley Review, Wiley Test Bank, Ninja Audio.
Retakes with Ninja MCQ only...awesome!
Far - 1/28 72, 7/22 79
Aud - 2/28 70, 8/14 83
Bec - 4/10 80
Reg - 5/30 64, 7/2 82

[krokofilen]

No one, I repeat no one, would wear a button down shirt in a Big 4 office over here (Europe). If someone did, I would find it really cool, not becouse I would like to look of it, but becouse it would show that the person had the guts to stand out. You're not gonna become a partner by being like everyone else (not saying that's necessarily your goal, but just so you know).

Big 4 Audit Manager from Europe here to pass the CPA in the U.S. of A in 2014! Niiice!

AUD - 95 / Jul 15 / 130h over 4 weeks
FAR - 86 / Aug 14 / 240h over 4 weeks
(11 week break)

REG - 81 / Nov 14 / 200h over 4 weeks
BEC - 87 / Nov 17 / 30 h over 2.5 days

[itsjustatest]

I would say the easiest way ensure everyone hates you by week 2 is to be the first year that dresses above the dress code.

Especially wearing a suit vest – you will just look like an a$$hole.

And that's not being mean, or funny, or whatever. That's just plain real world true life honesty. You aren't in a Frat anymore.

AUD - 83
REG - 78
FAR - 69,73,79
BEC - 85

[Anonymous]

I agree with most comments and itjustatest has put it bluntly yet honestly. No need to go overboard, especially when you are in your first year. And why would you want to be a laughing stock in your firm? People might tell you that you look sharp but who knows what they talk behind your back? Dress to impress but don't over-dress

[Author]

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