I know this is talked about a lot, but I'm really confused over the whole issue of followers and their possessions, especially with regards to Lydia, who's my wife and main companion in Skyrim.

I've been fully aware how her carry-limit drops and drops over time. When we married I was able to buy h er Steel Armour from her, and kit her out in anything - Forsworn, Fur, Tavern Clothes. I'd just trade these items with her and she'd equip them automatically.

Nowadays, even if I take absolutely everything I can from her, so she's standing there "naked", (she's still got a Hunting bow and some arrows), she is unable to carry anything that doesn't weight nothing. All I can trade with her are arrows.

The really odd thing though...when I originally bought her Steel Armour and kitted her with something else, she'd wear whatever I gave her, and walk around in her skimpies when not following me. All very well. Just lately though, I gave her a Wedding outfit, with shoes and wreath, and she wouldn't equip any of it. I fast travelled somewhere with her and suddenly she was dressed in Steel Armour again, with a Steel Shield, (though she did equip the Wedding Wreath!). Where on earth did she get the Steel Armour? If you travel with a naked companion, do they suddenly produce more default Armour from somewhere? Was she carrying it all the time, hidden somehow so I can't take it off her? Is this why her carry weight is zero...because she's got loads of hidden apparel and weapons somehow? And if so, how do I get these off her?

It's the most annoying glitch for me right now. I want to be able to travel effectively with a companion, but having to drop things on the floor and ask Lydia to pick them up is daft.

Her inventory probably reset.

I guess so. Some Steel boots were the last thing I was able to pick-pocket off her just prior to me fast-travelling and her suddenly being fully equipped again. Maybe it's reset her carry-weight? (Doubt it though!)

It's a glitch.. Every time you fire and rehire a follower.. their inventory does exactly what you are describing.
It was also a glitch that allowed you to take her armor in the first place.. usually like you rightfully assumed it is hidden, just like their default weapons..

Such a ridiculous system with followers inventories, they should just let us take whatever we want, no hidden items at all, apart from an unlimited supply of iron arrows.

All it does now is act buggy, if the iron arrows bugs it doesn't matter, they weigh nothing.

This would solve the problem with them equipping inferior weapons as well.

I also thought Perfect Touch Pickpocketing meant you could take everything, and apart from her Steel Armour and Steel Helmet, Pickpocketing her *is* what I had to do to remove her Bracers and Cuffed Boots. But her Hunting Bow never shows. I guess I just have to wait until I can Pickpocket her again, (the last time I tried she caught me!). I can't seem to buy them from her now, because every time I ask what she's got for sale she shows me a massive list of items and her Armour isn't in the list.)