Is it a bad thing that I am dreaming about cool armor???

Literally dreaming about it. Like woke up with half formed plans of coolness. Of course the problem with me is that I automatically want to make it all weird and spiky and stuff because of my modern art, and I am having to quash that instinct, especially after having drooled over Ugo's pile o' neat armor on Friday. So who has cool armor books that I can look at? Since I now seem armor-obsessed, I would like to do some research on look, style, etc. New armor is going to be a winter project for me, especially when I am getting my knees worked on. I am leaning toward doing a transitional coat of plates mounted on the stage curtain upholstery velvet that I have a ton of. But I would really like to make at least a few cool metal bits too. Can I get away with doing neat steel/bronze/gold chased metal elbows and knees with the transitional coat of plates? I am having to balance my desire for cool stuff with the desire for light armor. I am planning on cheating and using plastic plates that will be hidden and then neat metal stuff for the elbows, knees, etc. I am also probably going to do fabric and leather covered kydex for the rest of my legs and arms, with metal hinges and shoulder protection. Oh, and a cool helm. ;-) At any rate, I am trying to compromise between sport armor which will be easier/faster/less heavy to fight in, and neat looking stuff, and trying to keep it as period looking as possible at the same time. Need pretty pictures to look at!!! Anyone? Pretty pictures?