Smart tops for a visit to the tropics

[ArtificialFlower]

I’m going on a work trip somewhere tropical where malaria is an issue and have been told I’ll need to wear trousers and long sleeves. As it’s work I’ll also need to look reasonably smart. I’m thinking linen or other light summer trousers, that’s fine, I’ve got a few pairs, but I’m a bit stuck for tops. Any advice? Ideally cotton, linen or otherwise cool (it will be VERY hot there). Size 16, large of nork. Not a huge budget as I don’t imagine I’ll get lots and lots of wear out of them in British summers when I return.

Thank you!

She was asking about clothes.
You were the one who took issue with a two-word phrase and overlaid hugely negative assumptions about the nature of the activity that she would be undertaking, which (as I explained) really do not reflect the ethics and practices of modern field research.

I am not giving my age, but trust me I’m not young. Middle aged if you’re being kind. I’m a senior professional in my, erm, field, and yes, it’s known as “fieldwork” when we go anywhere that isn’t our office in order to get data and learn. I’m going to another country, that happens to be hotter than my own, to meet other senior professionals in the same field, make contacts, exchange experience and, as in that country they are a lot better than we are in some aspects of what we jointly do, to learn from them. Like my work over here it will be a mixture of office based and fieldwork activities, but it so happens that the latter will predominate on this trip. I hope that doesn’t offend anyone?

Anyway. My last post on this derail. Thanks to everyone for the suggestions, keep them
coming. I’ve already decided I’ll need to
get in a load of the DEET stuff and I will be taking preventative medication on medical advice. I have a couple of bits of the craghoppers anti mozzie clothing but as others have said, they’re quite casual. You can buy pemetherin based stuff to soak your clothes in to have a deterrent effect - anyone tried this?

Thanks, @SapatSea. I actually prefer collarless styles - have never been very keen on “classic” shirt shapes on me - I think it’s the boobs!

@ArtificialFlower A word of warning about 50% DEET. Yes, use it but under no circumstances should you put it on skin that will be covered by clothing, not even around your wrists where your sleeves end or where your top meets your trousers. Not only does it rot fabric but it BURNS. Ask me how I know...

Also agree with the 'in the field' comments. It's a completely normal way of describing non-office based work. In my place of work it's literally fieldwork in the sense of ecological research etc but it can of course refer to any sort of work.

Thanks for the warning! I’ll be careful

I second the recommendation of the bite zapper - it really does work miracles.

Getting back to the fashion tips, have you looked at One Hundred Stars kimono* tops. They are made of a gorgeous light viscose blend and very useful as a cover up. A bit pricey new but Ebay is your friend.

*Yes, that is what they are called, before anyone begins frothing about cultural appropriation.

@JustLikeThatBluebird I'm asking you how!

I have to use 50% DEET all the time (as in every single day) and have never had clothes rot or have burns, but you do have to be careful with plastic and wait until it dries otherwise it makes it sticky and soft. Same with nail varnish, I have given up with my toenails as my feet get bitten if I dont spray.

Rather DEET than Dengue (which my DH has had, its truly awful).

Ooo gorgeous. And something I’d wear again in this country should we ever get a summer. I might need to treat myself

So I just need to set my alarm an hour early so I can cover myself with, probably in this order, my oestrogel, sun cream, and DEET spray, giving time for each to dry? 😆

She could be observing and examining animals, water supplies, ancient ruins, rocks, crops.
Fieldwork is a well established term and applies to a lot of work outside the office/classroom. It can include work in the UK.
I do fieldwork in the tropics (I'm an academic) and charity shops can be good for large summer tops. Don't wear white (both for modesty and cleanliness). Will you have a chance to get wash done?
Also wear trainers if you'll be walking as in developing countries it's unlikely to be pavements underfoot.
Finally, again if it's a developing country, ask a female colleague to take you to either buy a nice locally made top or a second hand shop.

Also re insect repellent - unless there is dengue you'll need it in the evening - if you get a stick/solid it won't take long to dry.

@Harbourofdiscovery I thought it was fairly self-explanatory! I know because I did what I suggested the OP doesn't do and used it in places that were covered by clothing that I thought might get exposed through movement, e.g., just underneath my shirt cuffs, around my ankles and around my midriff where my top overlapped my trousers. And I ended up with horrendous red, swollen burns in all those areas. Looking back, the band of red puffy flesh around my middle did look pretty funny but it didn't feel funny at the time.

Your post reads like I'm saying to avoid DEET. I'm not. It's brilliant stuff and I wouldn't be without it (50%) in the tropics. It's just not necessary to layer it with clothes and is in fact a bad idea to do so. A quick Google search also verifies that it shouldn't be used under clothing so it's not just me with unusually sensitive skin. I didn't know this at the time and only did it because I was trying to be very careful. I thought it was worth the OP also knowing.

I’m definitely not young and I didn’t get your reference. I know people who do field work “in the field” in geology, geography, marine biology, zoology, in fact pretty much all the science ologies and botany.

Just a thought that although these are beautiful and would be lovely as evening wear they may not be suitable for outdoors if you are avoiding insects, due to the wide sleeves .