Help! Business meeting in 80% humidity-wtf do I wear??

[archfiend]

I have to go to the Seychelles for business (I know, I know -sounds fab but long flight, no time on the beach and fucking massive spiders) - high ish level meeting so need to be presentable.

What the hell can I wear that looks smart but that doesn't leave me looking like a wrung out mess within 5 minutes of stepping outside? Am thinking something linen but then it will get horribly creased. Also have a tendency to get bitten by any bloody insect nearby so need something that covers me up to hide the inevitable red hives.

Heeelp! Am 5'8 ish and a 12-14. Also not huge amounts to spend. Am throwing myself on your mercy here

I'm not in Seychelles but we do have 80+% hummidity and 40c heat. The most surprising thing is how bloody cold I am thanks to the air con which cools everything to abOut 16c! I'm sure someone in the Seychelles will be able to advise better but my advice would be take a scarf!!

Otherwise normal business attire without jacket.

The trouble with meetings in hot places is that the meeting will be air conditioned and cool, and its the taxi journey there that gets you hot (bitter voice of experience). My favourite dresses for hot climates are crepe (from Wallis, but they don't seem to have them in yet), or a ponte shift dress and carry the jacket to the meeting, then put it on there. I wear nude micronets as I feel its not smart to not wear tights and they are cool.
Lee Stafford do an anti humidity spray for hair, and good primer stops the makeup slipping off.

I work in this sort of climate. I tend to wear shift dresses in a lightish material with a jacket to slip on for meetings. Marks and Spencer usually have a good range of good value ones. And wear good control underwear if you have a 'feminine' tummy like me! I bet the AC will be turned right up a lot of the time so you will need a jacket or at the very least a formalish cardie sometimes does it. Enjoy the Seychelles!

The best thing to wear? Anhydrol Forte!! Just as a temporary measure to avoid any embarrasing 'patches'. It will basically temporarily block the sweat glands. You can buy it over the counter for around a fiver but I find it an absolute god-send when I have to dress formally in hot climates. It stings for a couple of mins when you put it on but then its fine. I totally agree with CMOTDibbler fashion-wise - crepe really works. For hair, a mini can of dry shampoo in your handbag is essential, Bumble&bumble and Percy&Reed (who do a dry conditioner too-fab!!) are the best ones.

I'm with Cheerful here. M&S s my go to shop for basic but smart shift dresses and jackets. Last year Autograph had a really nice lightweight pale grey suit.

Wow, thank you all for your replies-very helpful! I am making a list of things to take that I hadn't even considered

I shall look for crepe and have a poke round M&S too. Feeling marginally more confident that I won't look a total mess now!