Hubby Wayne and I are going to be visiting Ye Olde Englande in June, and we need some advice on what to wear. He says that the full armor would be too hot, but I say that we should repect the customs of the host country and dress like they do (we've made at least three trips to Medieval Times[tm] and have watched "Black Knight" and "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" (but we couldn't understand it, 'cause there weren't any subtitles). So who's right? Full armor or just that chain stuff and shorts? Our custom-made steel fanny packs will fit over either outfit.<BR><BR>Also, when we pack all this stuff, do we have to check it? Or can we wear it on the plane (good protection against all those crazy foreigners!)? Will the metal detectors let us through? At least we'll be protected from any rogue drug-sniffing dogs and those weird British people (though I hope things have calmed down since whenever Monty Python was filmed!) -- you know what they say about mad dogs and Englishmen...<BR><BR>Please help ASAP. If I'm right (and I know I am!) and we need the full getup, we have to place our forge order soon!<BR>

Well, I can tell you for sure that body metal is _so_ passe in London -- but if you're going to Scotland, it's a must have. I've heard that they hardly ever take it off up there -- leading to some rather...pungent...evenings, if you get my drift.<BR><BR>Maybe Sheila can help with the details. Being a solicitor, I bet she has hundreds of formal suits of armor.

We've decided to hold off on our trip to England for only one reason. We can't seem to get our outfits into the bags we've chosen to take. <BR><BR>Bubbette - I can understand your plight. My boyfriend is going to go with the summer armor.. Our current disagreement is about *ahem* undergarments. We already know that unless your boxers match your kilt, you shouldn't wear anything at all. He's very afraid of applying the same logic to the chain mail. Obviously, chain mail boxers would be extremely uncomfortable once he's on the horse. Do you think he should go without? Have you and Wayne thought about this. <BR>Where are you staying, by the way??<BR><BR>Who is Sheila? I thought that was an Australian name. <BR>

Naw, Mate, this Sheila's a Scottish lass.<BR><BR>It's topics like this that make me glad we're only part o the Commonwealth -- wearing full formal armour would be bloody horrible in our Summers!

Susan, dear, as to under garments, wear your Trim Jeans, of course!

My problem has always been proper budgeting. Bubbette, if you decide to go all the way and dress in formal weaponry, you might want to think about getting it at Costco or Sam's Club so that you'll have enough money to eat out when you get to Ye Olde.<BR><BR>My husband and I usually budget for $200 a day for food, more if we want to "treat" ourselves, so we're really budget travellers. Maybe you think you can afford to splurge more -- but armor accoutrements are expensive and soon add up!

Well, chain mail or chain link, you KNOW the color ... B, B and more B ... and to leave your plaids at the NJ border. Ciao

I prefer crispy pink jogging armour, myself...

Bubette, don't forget the WD40 for lubrication. It tends to rain a lot over there and that might get you all rusty. I'm not sure if you have to check the WD40 or if it's OK in your carry on bag. I'm sure someone will know.

Chain mail thongs are really hot here. You just can't beat that Gold Bond Powder though, to keep things smooth and dry. I'd bet you could use that combo under the summer-weight armor. Sometimes those old products can never be replaced

Yeah, you're right about armor for the guys, (by the way, my husband wears depends under the armor, because, as he says, you just never know, and there is NO way you can derobe the armor in a hurry), but what about you? I'm thinking "proper attire" would be in the same fashion as the queen, England's own trendsetter. Do you have plenty of pink, pale green, pale blue, and pale yellow outfits? With hats? And you really only need a few purses for those outfits..but puhlease, leave the shoulder straps at home!! And, then, of course, there's the shoes. Still have any pointy-toed pumps in pastels? See, I bet you've been spending all this time worrying about HIS armor and didn't spend any time worrying about what YOU will be wearing. Tsk, tsk. Well, you can always buy what you need at Marks & Sparks. Good luck!

We can't go, darn it! Our suits are all rusty from letting some friends borrow them on Halloween, a very heavy rainy night.

Iron wedgies! OUCH!

I think you should go with the latest in armor attire. Clear acrylic armors with nothing on underneath. Hmmmm what a sight the both of you would be. Could make for a very interesting "swinging" evening.

Definitely the clear acrylic armor - we can then eliminate you from the strip-search list. That will reduce security waiting time on your flight by 90 minutes.

I hope you know that helmets went out of style ages ago. Proper evening headgear is, of course, the topper.

You know-I was in this really posh hotel the other day in Jolly Olde England and there were all of these tourists wandering around..completely not dressed for the occassion.Not one bow tie, no cumberbunds, as far as I could tell, no ties or tails to be found.Now if you ask me, I think it is amazing that they let this riff raff into these posh establishments without at least a tuxedo,I don't even care if it is last years! My word! they even allowed -how should I say this, people from the East carrying cameras! What is this world coming to???? You know how those people congregate and take photos of everything,my goodness the flash like to blind me! There is just nowhere a decent person like myself can go and have an expensive meal and be surrounded by posh and refined folks like myself..what to do,what to do?

LOL - We are quite amused!

Try to get on the list for American wedding receptions if you want the cumberbunds, tails, and tuxes simultaneously--not to mention expensive food. (You didn't specify good food, right?) Of course, you might still have a problem with the flash cameras and it's possible that the flocked wallpaper at some of the caterers will offend your aesthetic taste, but it's more formal than them silly geezers wearing body armor in Scotland!

If you want to respect the customs of your host country,then take my advice-whenever I travel and stay in really elegant Ritzy hotels,I wear the most elegant formal suit,tie,and shiney shoes that I have-all the time.When I tried to eat at this really fine restaurant one time-there was this line of tourists! and they were all wearing tee shirts and sandals!! Horrors! and it was only 110 degrees outside and they were too offensive to look at,so I had to go to my room and lie down.I say ...If you cannot respect the amounts of money that I spend on my travels- you should stay home and leave me in peace...thank you..