Dress decoder

The old adage says “Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.” In the finance world, however, that might not be true.

While some people buy clothes depending on what speaks to them, Jessica Cadmus, former Goldman Sachs employee turned Wall Street stylist, listens a little harder to hear outfits “whisper.”

According to Cadmus, “The Wardrobe Whisperer,” there’s a fashion hierarchy in the industry (for men specifically), and junior level associates cannot go around sporting the expensive garb of a managing director, she told Business Insider.

How do you know if you’re dressing above your pay grade? Cadmus recommends certain brands for certain tiers in a finance career. Junior level: Brooks Brothers or J Crew.  Vice president level: Thomas Pink or Burberry. Managing directors: Ferragamo or Hermes.

As rigid as these rules may seem, Cadmus might be on to something. In his tell-all book, former bond trader Michael Lewis spoke of wearing a pair of red braces on his first day at Salomon Brothers. He was told to take them off, because only managing directors could wear suspenders.

Are you following these unspoken rules? Take a good hard listen to your wardrobe and ensure that nothing’s too loud.