Well, I'm lucky. The computer geek "uniform" is jeans or BDUs, ankle boots or tevas with wool socks, and we all carry jackets becuase a happy server lives somewhere with the air conditioning around 40 degrees. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Basically, what you do is stash an overnight bag in your car and at least a sweatshirt and real shoes at your desk. Do the superman thing, but skip the phone booth (IF you can find one).

As for what to take, I think all of us are less than thrilled with cotton for cold and wet weather, but after that, you use what works for you. There is no "one right choice". Wool is good, but heavy, bulky and pricey, and a lot people it doesn't agree with. Polypro and similiar "fleeces" aren't as effective as wool is when wet, and have a horrible habit of melting. Silk is pricy, a pain to maintain, some people think it feels icky. Tight fiting nylon doesn't wick as well as silk, likes to melt when too close to the fire, and some people think it feels icky. Leather weights a ton, and is maintence intensive. Goretex is noisy and doesn't work quite as well advertised. And so on and so forth. Pick the one who's downsides you are less worried about and use it for a while. After that, you'll know what works for you.

And THAT is the first lesson of gear selection. You aren't buying for a couple million guys, you are buying for you and maybe your family. Pick the gear you like and can afford.

Or maybe a better way of answering this is to ask a question- what have you already tried and liked, and under what conditions? That, right there, is the best place to start.