I've watched with amusement this week as DH makes his final preparations before winging off to Lift in Geneva. Packing for this type of week-long event is fraught with indecision over which clothes will make the right impression. Lift is popular with super-smart, geeky hipsters, most of them from Europe. Techies, designers, futurists, innovators and strategizers; some of them are even women(!).

Sampo Karjalainen at Lift 07, photo by Stephanie BoothThere has already been much mental packing and repacking. So when I saw this article in today's NYT I told DH to relax, he's already got it just right. Go simple, a little conservative and make sure you've got one elegant detail. Casual is de rigeur with these guys, but the black t-shirts have to fit just right (James Perse, Banana Republic or H&M), jeans make a statement (super skinny, or fitted like they were custom-made) and a coat, that tells everyone who you are (and sometimes, what you do). Have a great bag and tons of cool stickers on your laptop. iPhone, check; edgy haircut, check; now, don't forget the custom sneakers and you're ready to go. Fashion editors, eat your hearts out, the nerds have you totally beat on this one.

Oh, and this quote from the article made me chuckle to myself:

"Even Mr. Margiela’s ultradiscreet trademark, four little white pick stitches on sweaters, shirts and bags, is instantly discernible to the style cognoscenti while invisible to others, like a whistle only dogs can hear."

I totally called that, here.