I've spent alot of money on bee garb. The only time that I use my full bee suit is when the weather is cold and I want to keep warm. Other than that, the only thing that I wear is the helmut/veil. I think my bees are very calm, I've never been stung yet on the arms, back, and only a couple of times on the wrists (that is because of my black velcro watch band), and now and then on the finger. I have been stung on the face, but that was human error when I dropped a swarm and it landed on my head and another time on the face when I didn't have a veil on and lifted up a box and didn't twist that box sideways as I lifted and the frame from the lower box pulled out of the box. I rarely have any stings.
The gloves were a total waste of money. I have only used them maybe once or twice, when I first began to keep the bees. Many people have bees that are a little more aggressive and require to use gloves for protection. But I don't.
I like to wear jeans when I work my bees, so they don't climb up my pants. There is nothing worse than feeling a bee climbing beneath fabric, I think that terrifies them too when they can't get out, and they are more likely to sting if they get that claustrophobia or confined feeling, hee, hee, smiling. Don't think that I could ever wear shorts, unless I put something around the thigh, like a big strap or something to prevent bees going up.
This is how I dress to work my bees anytime in the warm weather, it prevents me from sweating. Bees don't like the smell of sweat. Have a wonderful and most awesome day, life, health, love this life we all are living, lovin' and sharin'. Cindi