The coco de mer grows wild in only two places, Praslin and its small neighbour Curieuse, and its great double nut has been carried, traded and wondered at for centuries. To walk beneath those palms in the Vallée de Mai is to understand that Praslin is not simply a beach island. A Praslin wardrobe has to account for forest as well as sea, humidity as well as sun, and evenings that are relaxed without ever being careless.

Praslin lies a short flight or a fast ferry crossing from Mahé, and most visitors arrive at Baie Sainte Anne or the small airstrip near Grand Anse. The months between the two trade-wind seasons, roughly April and May and again October and November, often bring calmer seas and lighter winds, and many consider them the island's finest. The air is warm and humid all year. Loose cuts in a breathable cloth matter more here than in the Mediterranean, and linen's open weave answers that need.

The Vallée de Mai is a UNESCO World Heritage site, a palm forest of deep shade and great fronds, with marked trails and the call of the black parrot somewhere overhead. It is humid under the canopy and mosquitoes can be present, so long trousers make sense. For men, a Vibes Linen Shirt in Dubarry with PP Casual Linen Trousers in Vanille is cool and covered at once. For women, the PP linen blouse in Sky Blue, its sleeves left down against the mosquitoes, does the same with loose trousers.

Anse Lazio, on the island's northwest tip, is the beach most people come for: soft sand framed by smooth granite boulders and water clear enough to see the bottom at swimming depth. In the sea, PP natural swim shorts in Oyster; on the sand, a linen shirt within reach for the shade. For women, the Amelia linen dress shirt in Hibiscus carries the morning on into lunch at one of the restaurants along the bay.

La Digue lies a short ferry ride away, and a day there is spent on a bicycle, the island's usual way of getting about. The road runs past old plantation houses to Anse Source d'Argent, where granite boulders stand in shallow water. Linen shorts and a short-sleeved linen shirt are the practical choice on a bicycle; for women, the ladies linen set in Mint Green moves as easily as anything in the collection and looks right at a beach lunch afterwards.

A boat day often includes Curieuse, with its giant tortoises and mangrove walk, and the small granite islet of St Pierre off the north coast. The sun on open water is strong even when the breeze makes it feel mild, and a Laos Long Sleeve Linen Shirt in Beige Cream is worth having between the tortoises of Curieuse and the snorkelling off St Pierre, where PP natural swim shorts take over.

Evenings on Praslin are calm. Resorts along Anse Volbert and Grand Anse set their tables near the water, and the island's Creole cooking, with its grilled fish, curries and breadfruit, is served without fuss. For men, a Laos Linen Shirt in Blue with PP Trousers 100% Linen in White is the right weight for the warm night air. For women, the Amelia linen dress shirt in Blue, with flat sandals, suits a terrace by the sea.

Practicality is part of dressing well in the tropics. Showers can arrive suddenly and pass within the hour, and a linen shirt caught in one is soon wearable again in the warm air. A light bag, a hat and a pair of shoes that can cope with wet granite are as important as anything else in the case. Next to Mahé, covered in what to wear in the Seychelles, Praslin is slightly greener and slower, and a little less formal at night.

Dinner on Praslin is relaxed, but it is still dinner. A fresh linen shirt and long trousers are the courtesy the evening asks for, and nothing more.

What to Wear in the Seychelles: Men  ·  What to Wear on Frégate Island  ·  What to Wear in the Maldives