Several people have suggested this topic to me over time, and I'm past due in sharing my thoughts on it.

Austin is a pretty laid back city. That and it's summer and it's HOT! So is it ok to dress things down a couple of levels?

I'm actually going to attack this question of appearance from a much higher level as I'm probably not the person you want to take specific fashion advice from (especially if you're of the female variety).

Like it or not appearances absolutely do matter and it goes way beyond just what you're wearing. Your overall appearance is going to heavily influence how people view your professionalism, your attention to detail, and ultimately whether or not you're someone they would want to do business with. So it IS something you need to pay attention to and consider.

Now granted Austin is a bit more casual than other areas of the country and in many ways that is going to make all of this a lot easier. I have no idea where I heard this advice originally, and my guess is that it was related to being a speaker: You want to dress at least one level above that of your audience. You may have also heard something along these lines for interviewing purposes. Ultimately if you apply this advice to any type of event or function you're going to be in really good shape. Again, being in Austin this isn't hard. At SXSW you'll need to be one level above a t-shirt. :)

Also consider those other things that make up your overall appearance. This could include your hair style, accessories (pinky ring anyone?), and here's a big one - your attitude. Your facial expression and overall mannerisms can be potentially more impactful than anything else. A warm genuine smile will quickly smooth over any other rough edges and make you one heck of a lot more approachable.

How about your business cards? Do they look professional or are you pulling them out of your cramped wallet looking like they've been through the laundry a time or two? Are they good quality and a solid representation of you or do they have perforated edges and say Vista Print on the back? [This is a major pet peeve of mine. Please spend the $30 or $40 it takes to have your cards professionally printed. It's not worth a few dollars to have someone else advertising on the back of your cards]

Not sure of how you appear or are presenting yourself to others? Ask someone! Close friends are great for this, but I'd also recommend you ask someone you don't know well: "What is your impression of me." If they have nothing else to go on they're pretty much going to have to resort to your overall appearance. This is a great question in general. One that was suggested to me by Peter Strople, and every time I think to ask it I learn something. Try it.

Happy Networking!