Fashion Friday: Little Brown Dress

Chocolate, mocha, cinnamon, caramel, chestnut. The little black dress may be the diva that gets all the attention, but understated browns are fresh, easygoing and just as versatile. A tie-front cropped bolero sweater adds a little cream to my coffee brown dress, for a richer look that warms me up on my morning ride.

Mushroom brown peep-toes heels offer seasonless style, even in suede.

When the dress colors are subtle and lines are clean, the necklace shines.

A supportive footbed makes these my go-to heels when my feet are tired.

About Fashion Friday: Inspired by a 2011 Bike to Work Day challenge sponsored by the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, this series highlights the broad range of “dress for the destination” bicycling fashions.

 

Fashion Weekend Edition: Tropical Heat Classics

When the weather forecast proclaims the hottest weather of the season and you’ve got errands to run, it’s time to pull out the tropical classics. Dick’s loose fitting cotton shirt, cargo shorts and sandals work as well rolling around town in California as they have for over a century in Nairobi, Mumbai, Hong Kong and Singapore.

Supportive but ventilated sandals keep Dick’s feet from overheating.

Not quite seersucker, the shirt’s wavy weave helps keep the air flowing.

When you’re running errands, cargo shorts’ pockets come in really handy.

About Fashion Friday: Inspired by a 2011 Bike to Work Day challenge sponsored by the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, this series highlights the broad range of “dress for the destination” bicycling fashions.

 

Fashion Friday: Something Old, Something New

When it comes to our wardrobes, most of us play favorites. We pull the same things out of our closets day after day, and rue the day they wear out. I’ve loved everything about this knit dress for over five years: the slit neckline and cap sleeves, the empire waist and A-line skirt in a flattering print. How much longer will it last?

It was sad to retire my go-to shoes for this dress: closed toe Mary Jane heels. But I love my new wedge heels.

The wedge heel gives me more contact with the pedal than my usual high heels.

The slit neckline is flattering to everyone, but the wide band works particularly well for me.

The shoe’s vamp reminds me of a keyhole halter neckline–not the best silhouette for me.

About Fashion Friday: Inspired by a 2011 Bike to Work Day challenge sponsored by the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, this series highlights the broad range of “dress for the destination” bicycling fashions.

 

Fashion Weekend Edition: Play Clothes

When my oldest sister Susan was a little girl, she suddenly decided she wouldn’t wear shorts or pants anymore, only dresses. So my mother went straight to her sewing machine and whipped up a set of play dresses. I think little Susan was on to something. This loose-fitting cotton dress has become my go-to outfit for kicking around town on the weekend: easy to throw on, comfortable and girlishly feminine with a sporty twist.

We took these photos for Bike Fun with Dick and Janet, a new blog I’m writing for the Mountain View Voice.

I love the heel on these ankle-strap espadrilles: not high, not flat.

Dick is as comfy in his short sleeve button down shirt as I am in my dress.

Dick loves his Chuck Taylor sneakers for kicking around town too.

About Fashion Friday: Inspired by a 2011 Bike to Work Day challenge sponsored by the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, this series highlights the broad range of “dress for the destination” bicycling fashions.

 

Fashion Friday: Wrapped in Confidence

In an interview during a product launch enhanced by flash mobs of young women chanting “Be the woman you want to be!” and dancing by the Eiffel Tower, Diane von Furstenberg said, “My mission is to empower women to feel beautiful and secure and confident. Because when you are confident you are beautiful.”

No wonder her iconic wrap dress has been embraced by women of all ages, shapes and sizes for over 40 years, including me. I’m always confident in my wrap knit dresses, on or off the bike. Mission accomplished, Diane!

The overlap of the wrap skirt gives me extra coverage when I’m in the saddle.

The wrap dress flatters almost every figure. I love the neckline.

Confident and secure and ready to take on any situation. Thanks, DVF!

P.S. Diane, sign me up to dance in your flash mob at your next launch. I’ll even fly to Paris for it.

About Fashion Friday: Inspired by a 2011 Bike to Work Day challenge sponsored by the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, this series highlights the broad range of “dress for the destination” bicycling fashions.

 

Silicon Valley Bike Style

Copenhagen has Cycle Chic, New York has #BikeNYC and San Francisco has Bike Pretty, but did you know that Silicon Valley has Bike Style? Yes, indeed, in the last couple of years, I’ve been spying more and more stylish people riding beautiful bikes all over the Valley. The word is out that you don’t have to get kitted out in lycra or other performance bike wear every time you hop on a bike.

I had never seen as many stylish people on bikes strutting their stuff as I did at the Bike Away From Work Bash hosted by the SVBC at San José City Hall last Thursday night. I grabbed people out of the bike valet line and quickly snapped almost 50 bike portraits. The full set of portraits shows an amazingly diverse community of riders. Whether in lycra or jeans or work clothes, everyone looks great when they’re on their bike.

What’s your bike style? Urban edgy? Frills and lace? Preppy classic? Euro sophisticated? Slouchy chic? Whatever it is, you can show it off by uploading your photo on the newly launched Silicon Valley Bike Style.

Black and white and classy all over with a porteur-racked mixte.

Bow tie, horn-rim glasses and dress shirt on a burnt orange city bike.

Lime green jacket with a twist on step-thru with flowery wicker basket.

Laid-back and smart in business casual on a flat foot geometry bike.

Sweet as cupcake in a pinafore and mary janes on a drop-bar mixte.

Plaid zip cardigan and a flat cap with a classic green and white cruiser.

Ballet neck top and ballet flats with a full pleated skirt on a wicker basket mixte.

V-neck sweater and cycling shoes on a early-1990s aluminum road bike.

Bold blue striped tunic and floppy hat with my French-inspired mixte.

Euro style jacket and messenger bag on a vintage French mountain bike.

Red polka dots and retro piped skirt on a sunny yellow loop frame.

Scoop neck T, light sweater, slim jeans and boots on an long-tail Xtracycle.

 

Fashion Friday: Katie in Candy Apple Red

Some things are just made for each other, even when they’re not. Katie fell in love with this retro-styled A-line skirt, delightfully piped in red with big red buttons. But it took years to find its perfect mate: red polka-dotted blouse with delicate tuxedo ruffles and a narrow-banded collar and sleeves. A match made in heaven.

Katie was one of the many fashionable people at the SVBC Bike Away from Work Bash at San Jose City Hall.

Thongs in seafoam green add a touch of flair to the red and white palette.

Two sizes of polka dots on this blouse: big on the bodice, tiny on the ruffles.

When you see a skirt this unique for sale you don’t pass it by.

About Fashion Friday: Inspired by a 2011 Bike to Work Day challenge sponsored by the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, this series highlights the broad range of “dress for the destination” bicycling fashions.

 

Fashion Friday: A New Road Style from Giro

Back in the day, real cyclists wore wool. It combated bitter chill to keep them warm and wicked sweat to keep them cool. In 1976, lycra came on the scene for bike racers and it was game over. Wool jerseys were relegated to touring cyclists and those looking for vintage appeal. Now there are new breeds of performance wool bicycle apparel that gives lycra a run for its money and offers a lot more style, like the New Road line from Giro.

Eric Richter of Giro was kind enough to model for me outside the New Road launch party at Palo Alto Bicycles.

When skin-tight lycra shorts won’t do, the Giro 5M shorts do the job in style.

Paired with a merino wool polo, the look takes Eric from ride to party.

Neither skin-tight nor mountain biker baggie, these shorts are just right.

The New Road line keeps bike specific features on the down low, like this jersey pocket.

And this pocket in the shorts, perfect for slipping in a cell phone.

Add Republic shoes and you’ll go anywhere with Giro’s new line.

About Fashion Friday: Inspired by a 2011 Bike to Work Day challenge sponsored by the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, this series highlights the broad range of “dress for the destination” bicycling fashions.

 

Fashion Friday: Pretty in Pink & Cool in Cream

Full-skirted and full of fun, Corinne’s ladylike 1950s-style summer dress helps her beat the heat riding around downtown San Jose on her lovely mixte. Classic dresses and classic bikes never go out of style for a reason.

Corinne can been seen riding all over the valley as the Executive Director of the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition.

The 1950s full-skirted silhouette is fresh, flattering and flirty, especially on a pretty step-though bike.

The essence of feminine chic: a fitted bodice and box-pleated skirt accented with a narrow bow belt.

A slouchy bag and some strappy gladiator sandals bring the look out of the 1950s and into today.

About Fashion Friday: Inspired by a 2011 Bike to Work Day challenge sponsored by the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, this series highlights the broad range of “dress for the destination” bicycling fashions.

 

Fashion Friday: Cowgirl Denim and Ruffles

Whoopee ti yi yo, git along little dogies! There’s a little cowgirl in me, from my heavy cotton twill jacket, ruffled shirt and gored denim skirt down to my fancy cowgirl boots. Feels just right as I keep rolling along the trails in San Jose, drifting along with the tumbling tumbleweeds. (yes, San Jose has tumbleweeds)

The denim skirt was a size too big but I bought it anyway. Good ones are hard to find.

I’ve had these boots for years. Every time I wear them I get compliments.

The ruffles and puff sleeves are fun, but it’s the sage green color I love most.

The denim skirt is full for pedaling but heavy enough to stay down in the wind.

About Fashion Friday: Inspired by a 2011 Bike to Work Day challenge sponsored by the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, this series highlights the broad range of “dress for the destination” bicycling fashions.