I agree one needs to dress appropriately for the occasion. That's why in the previous thread I asked if such occasions (formal) were commonplace on cruises. I certainly wouldn't try to show up to one in shorts and sandals!

At work I wear "office casual". At least here in the southwest that is a collared shirt and pants/slacks (NOT jeans or cords). I work as an engineer and spend a fair amount of time in the lab. Suit and tie is not expected.

When I travel domestically, I dress for the climate. If it's cold, I'm not wearing shorts! My preferred attire is either cargo pants or cargo shorts, and a decent t-shirt (or "hoodie" if it's cold, though I'll probably have my parka also). The cargo pants are purely practical. They allow me to go without fanny pack to carry money, etc, plus they are great for holding my lens cap, filters, and whatever other stuff I'm swapping on/off my camera. My camera bag is a backpack (my rig is too heavy to carry any other way, except maybe a roller but that doesn't work well if I'm hiking). I often have a hat of one sort or another, but I'm old enough to have been raised to remove the hat when stepping indoors. Which I do.

The one time I went to Europe I had a jacket (it was brisk, but not cold), my camera pack, cargo pants (not shorts), and comfortable walking shoes. (I just pulled up some photos from 1poorlady to verify). After a time I began wearing a hat that 1poorlady bought for me there (it was an Oktoberfest in Munchen cap). The t-shirt under the jacket was a simple travel t-shirt (most of my t-shirts are from places I've been, and they are all tasteful...no crude jokes, just something representative of where I got it).

The comfortable walking shoes are not negotiable. Even at work. I have a history of knee problems, and "dressy" shoes are death for me. No stability, no shock absorption, no support. But that's a whole 'nother thread. :-)

1poorguy