Related Posts
Why do I share my bar tips with lazy managers?
Conversation Starter
More Posts
Additional Posts in All Things MBB
Subject Expert
What is Bain SAC comp these days?
BCG or McKinsey for consumer goods/retail?
What’s paid better at McK? Associate or Analyst?
Boston Consulting Group
What will the project dynamics be on a project staffed with 3mdps, a PL, and myself, a summer UG intern? Just got staffed and will be hearing more on Monday from the team, but it came across as an interesting staffing composition.
Have the feeling I'll be making quite a few slides as the only junior. Anyone staffed on a similar case composition?
New to Fishbowl?
Download the Fishbowl app to
unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
Depends what MBB you are going to and how much you travel. Personally at BCG I haven't even had to wear dress shoes yet. I am in a large American city.
You should definitely just have a nice pair of black dress shoes ready to go. I like Allen Edmonds (about $400 but hold their value really well and are very comfortable). If you wanna splurge then get some dark brown ones too.
As for everyday office shoes. Relaxed Nike, NB, or Adidas are fine. A lot of people wear Veja and similar
Yeah you're good with those I would say
Gucci 1953 or gtfo
If you want the true OG white leather sneaker that started it all, go with some Common Projects Original Achilles. You can usually find them under retail price on StockX or other websites, so don't pay the full $447 for them (got mine for ~$270). While they are expensive, they're very comfy, look very sleek and great, and people who know fashion will recognize them. The build quality (handmade out of Italian leather) and form fit look nicer in my opinion than other white sneakers out there. Not as bulky looking or generic, and they hold up well over time. For context, all the other white sneakers you see on the market are a copy of that original brand and design. While All Birds/Veja/Stan Smiths are nice, I feel like everyone is wearing them these days and it's a little uninspiring to see the same shoes worn everywhere you go. That's not to say CPs aren't worn by many people as well, but definitely not as much given the price point or how mainstream in the corporate world those other brands are. CPs are timeless and considered classics these days.
If you don't care about the brand and those other differences, check out New Republic or Thursday Boot Co. Both have good white leather sneakers that still look great but are a lot cheaper. I personally would get one pair of CPs and a cheaper pair from one of these brands so that I can wear the CPs on nice occasions/events/dinners or to the office, and the other pair when going out to bars or clubs where they'll inevitably get ruined. Since white sneakers are so versatile, I'd imagine you'd end up using them a lot and could justify two pairs.
Of course, none of these are "needs" at the end of the day, and a simple pair of comfy shoes is all you need, but given your question this is my two cents on it.
Edit: saw some CPs on StockX just now for ~220-240 before fees (so prob $230-260 total) for the most common sizes.
Uhh stan smiths have been around way longer than common projects
Greats white sneakers will serve you well, Oliver Cabell as well. Definitely acceptable in BCG offices in NAMR at least.
Stan smiths probably fine.
I personally don’t care for running shoe silhouettes with business casual but I’ve seen people wear Allbirds around the office.
would allbirds or stan smiths be fine?
Coach
Bain ATL (maybe other offices too?) purchased Bain-branded allbirds, so I think you’re good
No idea what all birds or Stan smiths are. Can’t say I’ve ever really looked at people’s shoes. I usually talk to their face.
Any views for London MBB please? As a suit wearing black Oxfords ex-banker…
I was in Denver McK for a few years and would constantly wear sneakers to the office. No one cared.