team spirit – As professionals in New York’s Financial District lean into team pride, executive stylist Alison Bruhn says there is still a right way to do it—one that respects finance, banking, and legal expectations while keeping meetings and clients in focus.
In New York City’s Financial District, it doesn’t take many minutes to spot the shift. Around Business Insider’s offices, professionals are slipping into jerseys that echo the Knicks—or the World Cup soccer team they follow—bringing game-day energy into the workday.
For many, it’s not a break from professionalism so much as a small extension of identity. But as that team gear starts to show up more often, there’s a practical question hanging over every outfit choice: where does “support” end, and where does “distraction” begin?
Alison Bruhn. an executive stylist for more than a decade. lays out a simple rule for anyone tempted to wear their allegiance head-to-toe. “Business is still going as usual. you’re still meeting with important clients. ” she said. adding that jerseys can feel out of place in industries such as finance. banking. and the legal field.
Her guidance is straightforward, with a clear aim: keep the message subtle enough that it doesn’t pull attention away from the work.
For men, Bruhn advised grabbing “a quarter zip up that has a discreet logo or even a tie.” The goal is to keep the team reference present, but controlled—something you can wear without turning a meeting into a conversation starter.
For women, Bruhn suggested options that blend team colors with executive dressing. She recommended wearing a cashmere sweater in the team’s colors, or a polo top with a subtle team logo.
When the issue isn’t the jersey itself but the “style spillover” around it, Bruhn’s perspective stays grounded. When she was told that some professionals in FiDi were sneaking in team pride through tennis shoes in the team’s colors. she said that was understandable—especially as more offices move away from strict dress codes.
Still, she doesn’t leave it at personal preference. “Ultimately, Bruhn said, your company culture will help determine how much you can get away with.”
That culture-driven approach is echoed in her closing advice to clients: know the room you’re walking into. “What I tell all of my clients is know your audience. Know where you work,” she continued. “Work is work. You don’t want to be a distraction.”
team spirit at work dress code jerseys New York City Financial District executive styling finance workplace banking attire legal fashion Business Insider Alison Bruhn
So like… are they saying jerseys are okay or not? Confusing.
Honestly the finance bros can wear whatever as long as they do the math. But I feel like a Knicks jersey would be distracting, like every meeting turns into sports talk for no reason.
Wait it says “quarters zip” with a discreet logo? That’s just a normal quarter zip lol. Also I saw somewhere that lawyers in NYC can’t wear sports stuff because it’s “unprofessional” but then they’re recommending cashmere in team colors so which is it? I’m lost.
This is wild because I’ve worked in FiDi and nobody cares what you wear until you wear the WRONG colors on the WRONG day. Like tennis shoes in team colors sounds harmless, but somehow it’s “style spillover”?? Companies culture decides everything I guess. Next thing you know someone will be wearing the whole World Cup kit and pretending it’s business casual.