My character is in the low 50s and I love the look of Iron Armor. I've got 100 in Smithing and Enchanting. I have a set of four +28 to Smithing items to wear and popped a +50 smithing potion. Improved the Iron Armor from 28 to 125. Its still over 100 less AR than Steel Plate. Have any of you tried using Iron at higher levels? I'm wondering if its feasible on default difficulty before i waste four grand soul gems enchanting this stuff.

No. I'm with you in that I think the weaker armours look cooler, (daedric just looks too over the top to be taken seriously,) but I'd rather have good protection than something that looks cool

I do something similar with light armor. My level 47 melee warrior is still wearing Hide Armor.

With 100 Alchemy/Enchanting/Smithing you can wear anything and hit the armor cap.

Ah, still working on the Alchemy - its only 33.

How did you manage to get 28% Smithing items without that? Generic potions?

P.S. If you didn't realize, Alchemy levels proportionally to final cost of the potion, so you can create 25% Alchemy gear to make you level faster, along with taking Alchemy perks.

100 Enchanting with a 25% potion from an alchemist shop did it. I think I can make much more powerful smithing potions if I get my Alch skill up though. The tops you can buy or find is 50%.

My current character is still rocking with just Wolf Armor at level 32. 534AR with a shield and not abusing super smithing, I am taking advantage of the bugged "Ancient Knowledge" perk that adds +25% AR to all armors.

Same here, except level 56. Hide armor + dragon plate boots/gauntlets + brown hood + hulking body = badass look

On my Heavy Armor I guy I went to Ebony and then Daedric. I agree that Daedric looks a little over the top, but devs have to make armor non-functional to keep it interesting looking and the Daedric looks sooo menacing.

This absolutely.

My chick wears Legendary Forsworn that's over the cap, but she has the Custom FIt and Matching Set perks.

With my Alchemy at 99 (almost 100 ) and all the positive effect perks and 4 pieces of +25% Forty Alchemy gear (I don't bother with the 5 piece glitch) I can make a +120% Fortify Smithing potion. Then I wear 4 pieces of +25% Fortify Smithing gear and enhance.