Monday 11 October 2010

Wall Street 2: Money can't buy you taste

They seem to dress quite well on Wall Street, if Oliver Stone's sequel is anything to go by.

It's all Gucci loafers, Hermes ties and Bulgari rocks. A far cry from my experience of the shopping habits of investment bankers in London. They might splash out a couple of quid on a pair of shoes, but they are more likely to be John Lobb than Gucci, and when it comes to work suits, "what's wrong with M&S?" as my pal Jamo recently exclaimed.

Not quite the exhibition in extravagence you might expect, but then this lot tend to be more reserved in the sartorial department than you think.

They take care with the money they've got. Wearing it, with the exception of a decent Rolex or Panerai, is tantamount to burning it as far as they are concerned.

Why spend it on clothes when it could be spent on holidays, and massive houses, the wife and kids and that Maserati Quatroporte? Not forgetting the pension plan. Who really wants to work past 50 when you're doing 12 hour days?

So we have a financial sector populated by a lot of people with the money but no inclination to dress as well as they could.

So Wall Street 2's designer Ellen Mirojnick got it right with Shia La Beouf in the Central Park scene, when he rocks up in a leather bomber, slacks and loafers, looking like a doorman who has just finished his shift.

Mind you, the suits still look sharp.

Michael Douglas takes Gordon Gekko to the country a little later on in the film with a nice line in subtle plaid sports jackets and there's a whiff of Mad Men in Shia's skinny tonic suits.

Ms Mirojnick, had the suits made by a tailor called Leonard Logsdail in New York. The shirts were made at Anto Beverley Hills, and yes there is a thought process behind the variety of collar designs.

You can read the full interview with Ellen Mirojnick here

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