Shape of Icefalcon mail shirts

[Tibbie Croser]

I have a question on the sizing/shape of Icefalcon's mail shirts, especially the riveted aluminum. Are the shirts shaped like simple tubes, or do they flare out toward the bottom? Are they split on the sides?

I'm asking because the riveted aluminum haubergeon might be nice for my rapier kit (over my standard puncture-resistant clothing) someday, but since I'm a female whose hip measurement is somewhat larger than my bust measurement, I need to know which of my measurements to use for sizing. (Or as an alternative, whether I would have to cut slits in the sides of the shirt to make it fit over my hips.)

[Knight Sir James]

I don't have the aluminums, but the stainless hauberk I have doesn't flare (90* T-tube). However, the fauld I got does have some flaring.

There's a thread on here about getting properly tailored mail through IceFalcon - I don't have the link handy, but poke around for it.

[Konstantin the Red]

I say never leave it as a slit: flare instead, using triangular expansion zones inserted there, wherever you think to slit it. The coverage is better, the fit and freedom of motion every bit as great. Use from two to four such inserted triangles, according to your taste. Four thinner expansion triangles hide better than two really huge ones. And it may be Ice can do that for you, since it's no problem to deal with extra mail if the insertions are a bit too generous -- it just collapses down onto you. He could err on the side of generosity and it still works. If the shirt stops at the bottom of your zipper (over your other protection) or maybe two inches below that, you're not going to run into trouble either. Mid-thigh length, you have to pay more attention to your flare and your leg freedom -- though I'm not sure at all that you'd be going for so long a shirt for rapier.