Funnily enough, when in W Africa (eg Ghana, Senegal, Ivory Coast etc) I always wear a full-length, straight, wrap-around African cotton 'pagne' and a loose matching top like a maternity smock, plus a 'foulard' wrapped around my head keeping my hair off my face and out of sight. In other words, exactly the same clothes as the African women. Far from being too enveloping, this get-up is remarkably cool (pure cotton) and keeps mozzies away from one's skin. It also keeps the blooming sun off, as only one's feet and face are exposed.

I cringed when I was last in Accra and saw European women walking around in tiny shorts and bikini tops, as this is so indecent over there. (Imagine, say, walking topless into Marks and Spencers in Norwich)

When I get home, my feet are burned to smithereens in spite of suncream, and I have so many old scars from mozzie bites over the years, it's a good job the rest of me was covered properly!