It's pretty hot and humid here in Alabama, so I usually just wear the light nylon quick-dry, sun-shield "fishing" type pants and shirt. And even that is soaking wet most of the time from sweat. Bees sting right through it. The light color clothing, and keeping them physically off my skin is most of the protection.
I almost always wear a pull over veil, and gloves for intrusive or fast work. The gauntlets are a nuisance, but you can work faster so I usually wear them. If I am going in bare-handed I always at least smoke my hands. That way when they crawl on you they stop to think and smell before stinging the nasty hot sweaty human flesh. When you accidentally crush one, she will generally try to sting you no matter what.
I do have the cotton gear, zip-on hood, slightly large cotton painters pants, etc. I use this stuff in the cooler months, or if I am expecting a spanking - like doing a full hive inspection or trying to find/replace a queen on a known 'hot' hive during a nectar dearth or later in the fall.
I have gone in with not-too-dark blue jeans, aggravated the bees, lifted a crotch-height brood box and had them jump me on a couple of occasions. I've pulled as many as 30 stingers at a time out of the crotch area of my pants.
Blue jeans + underwear was enough to keep me from getting my junk stung to death.
I would suggest keeping an epinephine inhaler around. They cost ~$20 and you get a lot of metered doses from one inhaler. And you might be more likely to use it if you though you needed to. Although, unlike an epi-pen (which I don't even keep around) they may not be of much use if your airway is closed.
Don't worry icedmetal, if you keep bees you will get stung soon enough. If there is any fear of a bona-fide allergic reaction (meaning anaphylactic shock) , I would do it in a controlled circumstance, and get stung in a location of my choosing. Most people who say "I'm allergic" just experience more pain or swell up more. I'm a little sympathetic (OK not so much really - suck it up) but this isn't the same as a full-blown systemic reaction, breaking out in hives all over, and having interference with breathing.
Many years ago I used to play paintball a lot. People would ask: "Does it hurt?" I would respond: "It hurts enough to make you not want to get hit, but not enough to make you not want to play."
For me at least, it's pretty much the same with bees.