While many go out dressed in expensive suits, designer shoes and luxury watches, their counterparts in New York City have launched the popular Instagram account, Midtown Uniform, which features Patagonia coats and the uniform global attire worn by financial bros in Manhattan’s Midtown district. .
In fact, there are many different types of financing, each with its own unique style. With the help of a source close to the industry, here are five Hong Kong subgenres to differentiate stylistically.
1. Extremely rich
The Post’s source said the Hong Kong-based hedge fund traders sported a different look: plaid shirts with rolled-up sleeves and no ties, casually strolling from their elegant offices in Central.
“‘Hedge funds’ are people with investor money sitting in front of a Bloomberg terminal thinking of ways to make money. That’s all they do, their investors make money on whatever margin they want,” the source said.
“They make enough money to take care of it, so it’s low-key but expensive. It’s probably HK$2,000. [US$250] A pair of shoes too.”
Since Covid changed working from home, some hedge fund workers are dressing more casually, wearing polo shirts and comfortable pants on some occasions.
But not everyone wears it. They wore some expensive clothes and designer shoes, carrying posh key fobs, probably for the Lamborghinis themselves parked at IFC.
“These are the customer-facing people who make a lot of money for key customers in private banking or UHNW [ultra high net worth] group. They can be seen sipping HK$100,000 bottles of wine in restaurants or having dinner at the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club.
2. Dress professionally
Commercial and retail banking are customer-facing jobs, but low wages – although you’re probably still earning more than most people in other industries.
“This category wears suits and ties and is more likely to give cards to individuals.”
Then there are those who work in banking and financial IT departments.
“They’re wearing shirts, lanyards and glasses. IT in finance is its own special business, unlike the technology work in the outside world, in the banking system.
“They usually earn more than a typical IT officer, but probably less than other finance brothers.”
3. The tech bros
Finance workers in fintech — where technology is used to improve financial services, banking and securities — or cryptocurrency generally have a more “techy” look, meaning they’re a mix of tech bros and finance bros.
“Unlike other financial workers, you can stand out because they wear polo shirts and sneakers from Monday to Thursday. They dress this way only on Fridays.
“They often look healthy in the light of yoga.”
In the year Hong Kong is reported to be home to more than 600 fintech companies by 2021, with the number likely to have increased since then.
4. Overdressed (but why?)
One finance bro wears a three-piece suit – not the most practical fashion choice in Hong Kong’s humid climate.
“Fail in London, try Hong Kong, there’s this expression also known as ‘FILTH’. These are the ones with big pinstripes and bright colors off the boat from London.
But they are not the only ones who dress like this in Hong Kong.
“If they’re wearing a loafer and coat, they’re probably pretending to be in the industry for whatever reason — maybe they’re trying to look important or fit in.
“People who work in finance don’t take that kind of dressing seriously.”
5. Desperate
Finally, there are the finance brothers who look nothing like regular finance workers, but definitely work in the industry.
“A short-sleeved shirt, a bag and a straw. They have been doing the same job for almost 20 years and have given up.
But of course there is value in every job, and they are just as important as the other views on this list, serving as an indispensable support to the entire industry.