I also went with the linen, to ensure that it wouldn't be too hot. Ordered it in a burgundy with black edges, size 0. I am a 38-ish EUR normally. It's LOVELY! Fits like a glove and isn't too hard to move around in. I use it as a free-standing armor for viking reenactment, and it does it's job well, even though the padding are somewhat thin, as to be expected when it's supposed to be under a plate. Thinking to enforce it by the weaker points, as collarbones and shoulders, but we'll see. For now it is enough.

I went with the linen fabric, concerned that wool might be too hot or bulky and cotton too thin or not sturdy enough. And while the color choice pictured with the model (black main with gold contrast) is a good and somewhat obvious choice for armor that is blackened and accented by brass rivets, I saw more "bluing" in the Dark Star armor and thought a midnight blue main color with natural linen contrast might be a good alternative. The natural linen color is a light gray tending to silver. I have attached photos of the gambeson taken in natural light for those of you who wonder what the colors will actually look like (in sunlight and in shade). The idea to have this garment as two pieces is a great one. I often have trouble getting tops in non-stretchy fabrics to fit well in the shoulders, without constricting movement, and yet not be huge in the midsection. If it fits my shoulders, it's typically too large everywhere else. This two-piece solution works great. Additionally, the lace-up closure for the underpart (sleeves) combined with the buckles for the surcoat enable the gambeson's fit to be a bit more customized. Despite being padding meant to protect us from blunt force injuries, it does not restrict arm and shoulder movement appreciably! One-piece gambesons definitely feel restrictive unless you're practically swimming in them. As an aside, the secondary color was included at the main part of the underpart (the bodice?) so if any of you are considering custom color combinations, be aware of that in case you want to request a change. Personally I didn't mind what the crafters did; it's a good contrast with the sleeves and looks nice, if I ever happen to wear the underpart without what I'll call the surcoat portion. The pattern of the quilting contours lends a nice design touch to the garment, and the buckle closures are well-attached. Photos of the arming points at the shoulders are included. Overall, this is a great product and it may be easy to balk at the price, but for a well-designed and constructed functional protective garment, I'd say don't skimp. Get something that does the intended job and yes, looks good while doing it.

Many thanks. It is a really super piece. Once again I'm delighted with my order. The fact that it's a 2-piece makes it much more comfortable to move around in. Thank you

I'll start out by saying that I love the quality of this-- the fabric is great and well-constructed, as are the buckles. I ordered the blue flax and was afraid it might be a little too bright, but it's actually a really pleasant strong blue. My only issue was the fixed sizing. I went with a size 4 based on my waist and biceps, even though my chest isn't as large, and as a result...the hips fit well but the chest was large! That said, tailoring to fit was really easy, mostly because of the smart way this garment was constructed. (The first pic attached shows one side before tailoring and one after-- basically, this gambeson flares out more at the waist than my body does.) The sleeves fit well under the vest and the nipped in back gives a very smart look from all angles.

I love the products come with a linen bag. Fit's nicely with room to grow. I love the range of motion of full shoulder rotation without material bunching. ^-^ This Gambeson is for the win!