Yeh, that works at a ski meeting. Its just when you go to a meeting in a more formal location like a big city, that I like to have something a little dressier. We went to a cool meeting on the costa brava, where we cycled every afternoon in the foothills of the pyrenes, and you better believe we showed up for the morning session in cycling clothes to be ready to ride after lunch. In fact, one of the european teams was holding a training camp at the very same hotel, so we got to get ideas for routes from them.

But that is one of the cool things about science, there aren't a lot of rules about dress. Interestingly, we were visiting older colleagues in cambridge recently, and they told us they really hold it against a scientist that isn't dressed 'professionally' (not at a ski meeting or gordon conference where casual dress is de riguer) but at a big city meeting or seminar visit. So, as I've gotten older, I've learned that to some people its a sign of disrespect if they invite you to give a seminar and you don't dress 'professionally.' So, I started dressing better for these events, but still like to exert my personal style which means often means a zipped shak rather than a blazer. The other time I realized clothes matter is when trying to get money, especially from certain agencies that expect a more businesslike look. That is when I wear my suits. But sometimes I wear them cuz they look sharp, especially since I lost weight and bought some nicely tailored ones.