There's quite a variety of beekeeping clothing now available in stores that is quite effective. This for only a couple of bills that will be nothing compared to the cost of the implications associated with improper beekeeping clothing - or lack of.
Before we go any further, I cannot highlight the importance of protective beekeeping clothing enough. It is an absolute priority when it comes to handling of the entire activity owing to the dangerous nature of bees. They are quite protective of their territory and can become violent with the slightest of agitation.
Beekeeping clothing can come in the form of a full suit complete with boots, or it may be broken into the hood, veil and ribcage-length tops or jacket. The more seasoned beekeepers like to don the modestly covering types of protective clothing that could only include a hood and veil covering only the head, neck and upper chest. This is risky for especially the novices as the bees might slip through from under the veil. If you are just starting out, I would recommend the full suit with the UV resistant hood and veil, a set of gloves, elastic cuffs, and strong seams at the joints. The gloves should have some elastic fasteners at the ends or at the wrist and should at least come up halfway towards your elbow. The cow-hide-like gloves are just the thing.
The hood and the veil are available either separately or pre-attached. It could also come in two shapes of either the hat-shaped kind or the dome-shaped one, you know, the Neil Armstrong kind. The hat and veil combo provides a wider angle view and is ideal for working with a couple of hives that could be sprawled on a garden or ranch. Its basic design offers a guarantee that your face will never get anywhere remotely near the veil which could expose you to the stings - remember the swarm generals will point to your face at the onset of an attack. Remember to clean your clothing regularly. Washing machines may damage the clothing so it is always advisable to hand-wash them.
White is the perfect color though there are other generally lighter colors. For some reason, bees will rarely attack you if you have a white suit. They perceive the dark colors as threats and easily get agitated prompting a vicious attack. For some other reason, they cannot resist the smell of your breath and will head for your face during any such attack. This area should be a priority as far as beekeeping clothing is concerned.
