Looking professional when you want to wear as few clothes as possible?

[shaunshaun]

I have been asked to look for business overseas where it's hot and humid much of the year. I want to look as professional as I can without looking like a fool sweating like a pig in the heat.

I was told that a dress shirt and trousers would be sufficient, but I'm wondering if there is more that I could wear and still feel comfortable (air conditioning isn't everywhere, and much of the time you're surrounded by other professionals in confined spaces so air conditioning doesn't help much.).

What recommendations do you have?

 

[mensimageconsultant]

Tropical weight wool trousers. Or, even better if allowed by the dress code, linen pants. Silk-weight underwear.

For an extra layer, a half-lined lightweight wool single-breasted sportcoat, a linen/wool SB sportcoat, you get the idea. Pure linen probably would look too rumpled

Nothing slim-fit (no room to breathe).

 

[Academic2]

[...]

Nothing slim-fit (no room to breathe).

Yes, And important because it's often overlooked.

OP: Consider the traditional dress of places like Arabia, Africa, and India and you'll see how important loose-fitting clothing is.

Enjoy your travels.

Cheers,

Ac

 

[mensimageconsultant]

One more tip: leather soles (not double soles) instead of rubber soles. There's a little evidence that leather breathes slightly better.

 

[APHK]

Looking professional (in a European sense) in a hot, humid environment is almost impossible. Often you'd just need to dress like the locals, which would probably mean short-sleeve shirt, no tie and tropical wool trousers otherwise you would be over-dressed (and feeling miserable in sweat).

 

[Ich_Dien]

Go for linen and embrace the dégagé look. Linen can be quite dressy if done right.