Great legs, red shoes

Those great legs - nature? bicycle? or both?

Cool Morning Cute

We're getting some summer rain and a bit of a chill today. It's a welcome break from the humidity! This lady was looking sleek in her cardigan and slingbacks. I love how she's strapped her bag to her rack (it looks so rugged!) and she's clearly got a very nice saddle. Indeed all her choices appear to be 'quality over flashiness'. I approve!

That's quite the chainguard she has there.

Gracious Boston

OK America - If a lady my grandma's age can ride a bike this elegantly on the mean streets of Boston, there is no excuse for the rest of us.

I'll see you on your bike! If you're still there in sixty years? That's cycle chic.

Sleek

Little red 3-speed

There's nothing cuter than a three speed bike.

Confidence

I was struck by this woman's confidence on the road. She wasn't aggressive, but still had a forceful presence (in a good way!).

Capri pedal pushers everywhere

How did I not notice this trend sooner?

Ironic Juxtaposition

This lady we've seen before provides an amusing juxtaposition here.

Don't you just love her functional and loaded bike in the street next to the empty pickup truck?


As Sheldon Brown quotes Victor Hugo -
Le beau est aussi utile que l'utile
When you're both? That's cycle chic!

She's gone to Capri...

Anyone remember the Capri cigarette ads?

Anyway, since I posted that I've reconsidered my position on capri pants I've started noticing them all over town. This is just a few of the short trouser-wearing ladies I've seen around.

All Red

This is a classic Boston look, true Boston cycle chic.

Blue Helmet Yellow Bike

Love the matching handlebar tape!

Bright jacket and capris

I've talked about wearing a bright jacket and capris as possible concessions for easy cycling so when I saw this woman I immediately thought "Where's her bike?" Maybe she parked it to go to lunch with her friend, or maybe she's just wearing this ensemble because she finds it cute, even without a bike!

Sunglasses on the Sidewalk

We've finally got some sun here in Boston, just in time for the long weekend. It's making us all euphoric!

Bike fashion: Pedal Pushers

I recently bought my first pair of pedal pushers. Some know them as capri pants, cropped pants, clam diggers.

I've been avoiding the trend these last few years because often cropped pants do no favors to the derrières of the ladies wearing them. That said, they were called "pedal pushers" in the 50s for a reason - they make a lot of sense on a bike.

So how to wear them fashionably?

Based on the photos of looks I like above, I think the key is to keep a slim silhouette and ensure that the hem/cuff hits at a flattering place on your leg. For me that's much further down than many women. I also needed to find a more tapered capri. I'd love to see a photo of good-looking "boot cut" capris - so far I think they're a really bad idea. Finally I think you need a shoe which complements the amount of leg you are showing. If your whole calf is exposed you'll want a heel, and possibly a skin-toned shoe to counteract the break in the line created by the trousers.