As we've discussed before, Nomura's acquisition of Lehman's internal operations has not gone as smoothly as everyone had hoped. The Lehman employees are being very difficult, all but refusing to submit to their new employer's way of doing things. Particularly the women. Despite being told that short sleeves are not acceptable, as they are the clothes of whores, these Lehman ladies apparently spent the summer just absolutely slutting it up. I'm talking sleeveless tops. I'm talking silk shirts. I'm talking bright nail polish. Well no more! The summer's over, and you've had your kicks. It's time to lock it up and know what else? This goes for any of the men straddling the line between "upstanding businessman" and gigolo. And don't give me this shit that you couldn't understand the memo. One short sleeve, one red nail-- and I mean one-- and you're gone.

A recent e-mail politely reminded staff in Nomura's Tokyo headquarters that "gay colour nail polish and manucure" fell outside the company's strict dress code. The trading floor was also left baffled by guidelines on the correct type of trousers: "Wear the one gives to the ankle to the height of pants". The awkwardly-worded memo, which one former Lehman Brothers recipient described as "sounding like a Japanese VCR instruction manual from the '80s" was an attempt to rein-in bankers' attire after the long, relatively permissive days of summer.
With autumn now arrived those carefree, tie-less months are gone and the winter dress code is in force. "Bare foots", said the memo, are no longer appropriate. Unsuitable clothes are listed by category. Under the "jacket and suit" heading, for example, bankers are reminded to avoid "the one of lustrous material". Skirts may neither be extremely short nor be a "skirt that deep slit entered".

Nomura Dress Code Bans 'Gay Color Nail Polish' [Times Online]