Trousers and long sleeves for very hot weather

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I am travelling to a very hot (30 deg Celsius+) conservative (need to cover shoulders and knees at least, pref covered to ankles) country for two weeks and need to buy some suitable clothes. I am 6ft tall, medium build size 12.
I am backpacking with cabin luggage only so does need to be lightweight and suitable for multiple outings, ideally able to dry quickly if needed.
Ideas I have had - harem pants (but the ones I can find online seem like they are made of too heavy/jersey type material), lightweight walking trousers (hard to find long enough).
For tops ideally loose fitting and breathable/cotton.
Will only be buying probably 6 tops and two pairs of trousers so happy to spend a bit. Please help!!

Thought so nice lightweight loose trousers

avoid linen

Why avoid linen? I was about to recommend it XD

Just because it wrinkles?

I like the idea of linen but whenever I've tried it it looks like a crumpled bag.

Always recommended

Always looks incredibly creased on travellers at airports!

Linen-viscose mix is a brilliant compromise. The viscose makes it more lightweight, easy-care and less creasy than pure linen. The linen retains its opacity and beautiful drape.

It does feel nice in 30+ weather though! I'd rather be a bit creased but a bit less uncomfortable (I would expect discomfort in this sort of coverage in this sort of weather; I run hot) than perfectly ironed but even warmer. You can iron linen out nicely, but I agree that in the later outing OP proposes it's likely to have suffered a bit.

We did a similar thing and took wiki tops which wash and dry quickly. You can get them as sports wear from supermarkets or M&S- lots of places.
I got mine from mountain warehouse

Added to which, linen generally comes in dire colours and patterns

I'm not a big fab of trousers so personally I'd be looking for long floaty skirts (or maxi dresses).

Then a couple of long sleeve shirts that you can throw on over the top of sleeveless tops. Linen can be a bit heavy so fine cotton might be best. (My favourite is a second hand Hobbs shirt that I dyed.)

Lululemon do very lightweight pants especially their dance studio ones are great to travel and back in action tops come in long sleeve, Also try PACT maybe their coastal range given heat but in general good for travel. And Uniqlo are great at lightweight easy to pack stuff. And mirror the point of a PP maxi skirts and dresses can be cooler than pants so depending on what your doing, consider whether they are a better option.

To pack light pick a palette say black, white and khaki, or navy, white and paler blue. Then get everything within that palette to maximise options, not super exciting but everything with 'go'

Always pack more pants than you think you'll need! You think you'll rinse and wear but by the end of week 2 you're going to want cleaner pants!

No advice but place marking as I was about to post asking exactly the same as the OP!

Linen-mix trousers from Next, variety of shapes and don't overly crease. Or how about something like these from H&M https://www2.hm.com/engb/productpage.0971104020.html?gbraid=0AAAAADvrmzTBubxI0YHQSuG822_YniHKRP&proyster=hnsqtsp6AA&hierrid=gocmp-127966634377adg-126516120852ad-5160529072722aud-925515874530:pla-902618575822dev-mmext-prd-en-09711040190033sig-CjwKCAjwxr2iBhBJEiwAdXECwzjLvjoCaNZA1Wg2FUDIYepcp8vVfatkDyxAHwyXdR6hf-TN5jRQ1xoCNFAQAvDBwE&utmmsource=Google&gbraid=0AAAAADvrmzTBubxI0YHQSuG82YniHKRP&gclid=CjwKCAjwxr2iBhBJEiwAdXECwzjLvjoCaNZA1Wg2FUDIYepcp8vVfatkDyxAHwyXdR6hf-TN5jRQ1xoCNFAQAvDD_BwE

Or how about https://www.fatface.com/women/clothing/trousers/lyme-watercolour-batik-trouser/978103.html?gclid=CjwKCAjwxr2iBhBJEiwAdXECw3nSNFfuGJwr5ykWCa1CVrJ8f7igzj0FIZxGv99PmBfqs6nVMIqYhoC29wQAvDD_BwE

Larissa shirts from Seasalt were my go-to when we lived abroad.

Really light weight breathable cotton muslin. M&S have shirts & matching wide legged trousers in several colours.

Would it make more sense to buy some clothes there?

Rohan specialise in this type of thing - check out the "summer travel" and "performance linen" ranges. Not cheap, but excellent at what it does.

You've been a bit vague. Going by my own experience of very hot climates, some suggestions:

SPF 50+ wrap to protect your skin

To protect your clothes: Sweat-proof undershirts and take a bunch of cotton pants, wash them often.

Long knit dress, linen/viscose/silk

Linen/silk blazer and smart trousers

In fact, just take a look at H&M's classy & useful linen/silk range!

Another great source of silk & natural silk-blend clothing: Patra. Sizes come up large, ime.

I don't think you need to look anywhere else than these. You could always get a long, light, cotton seersucker dress because it's impossible to crumple. Will be see-through in bright sunlight, though, so include an undergarment.

I was on medication for a while that meant I had to cover up in the sun and did a lot of research at the time. I'm a similar height and size to you.

I found that Patagonia do some good stuff and Craghoppers also came up trumps, it's not all ultra outdoorsy.

Not sure where you are shopping, but I've got plenty of plain linen in lovely colours, not a pattern in sight.

OP, linen or linen/viscose is a good call. We're somewhere hot for part of the year and I wear it lots. It looks a bit creased if you've been sitting for ages, but humidity and heat will soon help the creases drop out. As someone has said, H & M do a good range, also Seasalt.

M & S do some thin loose trousers which are very light. Haven't shopped there for years, but these are good. https://www.marksandspencer.com/cotton-rich-straight-leg-joggers/p/clp22511885#intid=plpnav_pid_pg1pip48g2r2c2

If you're after proper performance wear, we do all our walking in winter, so could help you on thermals, but not hot weather trekking kit

I have never shopped for linen.

It is what I’ve seen others wear. Tend to be 50 plus (not sure good old OP is) and the plain colours somehow look exactly that… “plain” .

lots of beige and pastels

My friend used to work for a develoment charity and would often have to work in very hot, socially conservative countries.

She would take a lot of wide legged linen mix trousers, loose light cotton shirts and maxi dresses with a wrap for smarter times. She is of Indian heritage though so would also take a few shalwar kameez outfits.

She would take a lot of wide legged linen mix trousers, loose light cotton shirts and maxi dresses with a wrap for smarter times.

That sounds perfect.

Great thread - I've been wondering how to dress in summer as I can no longer be bothered to cover myself head to toe in suncream and would rather just cover up. I have ordered the H&M trousers recommended above 🙂

Gap have these Trousers and Shirt