In 2017 a new uniform emerged for men employed by the financial industry: fleece/ puffer vests, dress shirts, slacks, and dress shoes. The unadorned look was first documented by the Instagram account Midtownuniform, and it became the signature outfit of “finance bros.” Finance bros are the latest “corporate subculture” to come out of Wall Street, but they are far less fashionable than previous corporate subcultures like Yuppies.
On this week’s episode of Silent Generation, Joseph and Nathan begin by delineating the elements of finance bro fashion before speculating where trends in casualization might lead things. They then note that “quants” (quantitative analysts) have even lower professional standards for their appearance. Amongst other things they discuss how finance bro fashion began to bleed into politics in the 2020s, how finance bros fueled the “bowl slop” trend in fast casual dining, and how the vulgarity of Finance Bros was depicted on Succession.
Links:
Finance bros Pinterest board: https://www.pinterest.com/silentgeneration/finance-bros/
Midtownuniform
Then and Now: Wall Street Power Dressing by Pierre Schermann/ WWD
Fleece Is In Full Bloom by George Chinsee/ WWD
The Patagonia vest endures in San Francisco tech circles, despite ridicule by Bobby Allyn
Patagonia Is Refusing To Sell Its Iconic Power Vests To Some Financial Firms by Katie Notopoulos
Four lads in jeans meme
“Deal Sleds”
wtf is a “Quant”... (finance bro + autism)
The House Painters by Gustave Caillebotte
Who wears the power sweater vest better? Democrats or Republicans? by Marni Pyke
Alpha Dads at their Son’s Game
Alpha Dads at the Hardware Store
"Be white collar, the money is insane" meme
‘Chipotle boys’ are rampant in NYC — and even the burrito chain has commented by Brooke Steinberg
Chipotle Boy Bowl' Promo Is Aimed at Finance Bros - Business Insider by Dominick Reuter
Why fast casual chains like Chipotle, Sweetgreen, and Cava are losing their freshness by Dominick Reuter
The Executive Coloring Book
Every Finance Bro
Artwork:
#Finnhall
Recorded on 9/22/2025
