What to wear at SXSW interactive

By: SMITHmag/Flickr

As my favourite comic book writer once said, ‘Never apologise, never explain’. So, after a blogging sabbatical, I’m back and getting micro-local on dress codes. In just over a week I’ll be heading to South by South West interactive in Austin, Texas. SXSWi is a conference-party mashup and once more I have no idea what to pack. So I asked around on Twitter and got this reply from@peteashton, a 2008 attendee: 

Sxswi attire is pretty much tshirts and jeans. But which tshirt opens a whole can of worms!

So there’s t-shirt pressure then. Of course, Pete’s not a girl (!) so we shall see if the same dress code goes for the girl geeks, too. Til then here are some past SXSWi tees in action. And thanks also to@BostinBloke, who has kindly offered to sort me out a Bostin Austin t-shirt for the big event.

Tip of the day: Cuba

…sent in by recent visitee to Havana and surounds, Felicity Cumming.

‘For girls, the tighter, the brighter, the better. But watch out for men with belt buckles – the bigger the buckle, the more danger you’re in!’

And here’s the pix to prove it…

The tighter…

The brighter…

The belt buckle…

Holiday packing for female fashionistas

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from looking at dress codes around the world is that, as diverse as they can get, there is often enormous overlap. Jeans and t-shirts anyone?

So I’m liking this 10 items women should pack to stay fashionable on the road piece from Lily Girma. It’s a capsule/suitcase wardrobe for women with holiday gear that goes from daytime to dining to dancing. In reality, it’s probably more suitable for spring-summer vacations in the warmer parts of Europe, the US, Canada and the city breaks of Australia.

And the images are aimed at the younger end of the market.

But as a packing list, you can easily suit it to your own wardrobe.

Probably more for the two-week holidaymaker than a months-on-end backpacker. But if you’ve ever dithered over the balance of casual to going-out stuff, then this’ll help.

Dressing for the Caribbean

Have just been recommended a great site on the Caribbean Islands, called Definitive Caribbean. The site has a packing and dress code section for each island. Check out the nudity links – on many of the islands it’s against the law. And take something dressy for evening dining, festive season or carnival wear. Here’s the DC lowdown:

• Dominican Republic - same advice for Anguilla, Aruba, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Caymans, Curacao, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Montserrat, Puerto Rico, St Lucia, St Maartin, St Vincent, Tobago, Turks and Caicos, US Virgin Islands.
• Antigua – don’t wear camouflage gear, it’s illegal!
• Bahamas – dress up up for festive season… men, take a jacket and tie.
• Barbados - no camouflage, no nudity, and no incoming meat products!
• Cuba - casual by day, party by night.
• Dominica - excellent hiking terrain here so pack your trail gear.
• Jamaica - take something warm for staying up in the Blue Mountains.
• Nevis/St Kitts and Trinidad  - all camouflage-free zones.
• Saba - take a jacket for hiking up Mt Scenery.
• St Barths – chic, sexy, designery, it’s even dressy on the beach!

Hopefully more to come on local dress codes soon. The national dress of some islands looks great! Pretty white flowing dresses, petticoats, colourful headscarves and straw hats. And that’s just the men! (only kidding.)