Warning: This article contains spoilers for the HBO show Industry . Shorts and sneakers may be a common sight in the relaxed world of post-COVID office dressing, but you wouldn’t know it from watching an episode of Industry , where image is everything. The hit HBO show, now in its third season, follows a group of ambitious graduates vying for success in the world of finance.
The style evolution of Harper Stern, from season one to three. Credit: HBO Mickey Down, the show’s co-creator who drew from his former life in the finance world, has spoken about the importance of fashion in crafting the Industry universe, telling Gentleman’s Journal , “I had visions of Hermès ties and nice suits.” The show’s fashion follows a rich legacy of bankers on screen, from Gordon Gekko to Patrick Bateman and Jordan Belfort.
“It’s really fascinating how powerful that image of the banker is, and how much it affects people’s dress still,” says Laura Smith, a London-based costume designer who came on board for the latest season. And while much of the finance talk on the show may go over most people’s heads, fashion – as something tangible and immediate – is a powerful narrative touchpoint. Take, for example, actor Myha’la’s character Harper Stern.
The merciless American transplant with a penchant for insider trading is chameleon-like in her style. In season one, she arrives in London with the sole purpose of seeking her fortune at Pierpoint. By season three, she’s be.