Lightweight clothing for tropics - where to buy in London?

[Marmora Man]

I have to spend time in hot climes and need to fund appropriate, smart, clothing but haven't been able to locate a specialist store in London. I thought I would throw myself upon the collective wisdom of the EDF to see if anyone can advise where to shop.

Thanks

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Jermyn Street, dear chap.

Actually, I have a notion there is a travel shop in/near Covent Garden which may suit your needs. Can't for the life of me think what it's called.

[Mick Mac]

Too late - Jermyn Street has just switched to green and brown for the winter.....but you can probably still get a Panama hat in Mr Bates.

[Senor Chevalier]

But back to the question of where to procure garment finance in such times of austerity. Now that IS a tricky one.

[maxxi]

There are 3 or 4 shops in Southampton St, Covent Gdn. (between Piazza and Strand) that sell this kind of thing but they may have followed Jermyn Street's lead and be stocked up on skiing and rock climbing stuff - winter market.

[Huguenot]

Are you talking office attire? Linen suits are pretty ubiquitous.

Best advice I can offer is to wear an M&S premium white sheer cotton t-shirt under your shirt, not quite skin tight, but close to it. I can't explain why it works, but it will.

Don't wear a tie, it's a killer.

[steveo]

Farlows, Pall Mall. By appointment to HRH

[david_carnell]

Ask the master. Not Ray Mears.

[red devil]

Huguenot Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Best advice I can offer is to wear an M&S premium

> white sheer cotton t-shirt under your shirt, not

> quite skin tight, but close to it. I can't explain

> why it works, but it will.

>

> Don't wear a tie, it's a killer.

Having lived and worked in hot and humid Hong Kong I totally agree.

At first I thought all the locals were mad wearing a t-shirt under their shirt in such high temps. But after a few weeks of dripping wet sweaty shirts I tried it and it worked.

Why don't you buy some clothes at your destination, and just take a few lightweight basics to see you through the first few days? What's good enough for the locals will be good enough for you.

[katie1997]

red devil Wrote:

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> Why don't you buy some clothes at your

> destination, and just take a few lightweight

> basics to see you through the first few days?

> What's good enough for the locals will be good

> enough for you.

Agree with this. I spent a fortune in the UK on what I thought were smartish clothes suitable for when I worked in hotter climates. Didn't wear half of them n the end.

Depending on where you are going and for how long, it's best to have them tailored especially for you once you're there. If you have a few decent items to take with you for your first week or so, a good tailor can copy them in fabrics that suit the local climate.

PS good luck on your travels. (hope you're not leaving the edf)

[david_carnell]

Hmmm I'm not sure.

My experience of somewhere like Vietnam is that the locals don't wear the sort of thing Mamora Man might want to.

Whilst the tailoring there was cheap the quality of workmanship and materials was poor. Much better to buy better quality in Britain rather than cheap tat abroad.

Also, having met the rather tall MamoraMan, they won't have anything in his size in places like SE Asia!

[Huguenot]

That's certainly true for girls d_c - a size 8 would be described as 'fat' over here ;-)

Quality does vary - but having said that all my current suits and most of my shirts are made to order.

[Marmora Man]

Thanks every one - foolowing the combined advice I will pull together a basic wardrobe and buy local.

[tog_in_sox]

You could try the Rohan store (one in Covent Garden: 9/10 Henrietta Street WC2E 8PS)

They do travel suits in lightweight, packable fabrics. Not cheap but durable and functional, with traveller features incl secure pockets.

Otherwise try online for linen collared, short sleeves shirts.

Managed to get perfectly acceptable dark blue linen trousers from H&M this past season for cheap so if still available you could grab a couple of pairs. Material is quite thin so may not last years of trekking but should stand you in good stead for lightweight travel until you're in country and can buy local.

Of course if you have the cash then Saville Row has a few specialists who will be able to help.

Enjoy, you lucky b......

[katie1997]

david_carnell Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Hmmm I'm not sure.

>

> My experience of somewhere like Vietnam is that

> the locals don't wear the sort of thing Mamora Man

> might want to.

That's not what I meant, I meant if you bring some clothing from over here in the style you like, you can choose good quality material over there and hire a good local tailor (based on the recommendations of the expat community who work there and who have done the same thing themselves) to copy it for you in your size. Guess depending on what country you're based in, some are better than others for this. Check out expat forums perhaps before you go?

>

> Whilst the tailoring there was cheap the quality

> of workmanship and materials was poor. Much better

> to buy better quality in Britain rather than cheap

> tat abroad.

>

> Also, having met the rather tall MamoraMan, they

> won't have anything in his size in places like SE

> Asia!

[nashoi]

Jacket

Shorts

I'm afraid you'll have to source the pith helmet yourself.

One of my favourite shops in London, they even used to sell NBC suits, but appear to have sold out of those and I'm always runnung out of these.