When it comes to city bike gear, I’m a minimalist. Other than the bike, all I usually bring along is a roomy pannier and a helmet. When I wear a dress without tights on warm days, I’ll slip on lacey bike shorts for extra modesty. Then last weekend, I decided to get crafty and make my own bike skirt garters. So far, so good. They’re cooler than bike shorts, more dignified than putting a penny in my pants, and just in time for summer.
How to Make Skirt Garters. I bought the garters for $4 at a costume store, then sewed on clasps recycled from a conference name badge lanyard (see close-up). Clasp the skirt hem as shown, or for a less visible look, clasp the skirt from inside a few inches above the hem. Allow space between clasps for pedaling motion.
About the Bike Commute Diaries: Launched in May 2012 for National Bike Month, this series explores the unexpected and surprising things I’ve seen and learned about bicycling for transportation.
One woman. Many bicycles. 
Cycleverse
April 30, 2015 at 4:08 pm
Great Idea! No more spandex, well maybe..Go skirts!
Kim Walesh
May 1, 2015 at 5:53 am
the brilliant idea of the week!
georgie
May 2, 2015 at 12:33 pm
Oooh I like that – you could get different colours to complement different clothes. That beats my peg that I gather my shirt up into and remedies the riding up of pencil skirts. Thanks! This will be great when I’m back at work after maternity leave and will save my child from his mother embarrassing him with flashing when cycling (currently I’m not that bothered).
Jame
May 4, 2015 at 1:43 pm
I tried to make my own, with a clip to open! It turned out ok, I got the sizing a little off. Then I heard about this, and have been using it instead: http://www.bikepretty.com/shop/tandem-ny-skirt-weight
For all of the non-crafties!
ladyfleur
May 4, 2015 at 1:55 pm
The costume garters work fine, but I can tell they won’t last long and they’re a little tight. I think I may have to buy a pair of these from Eleanor’s NYC. http://www.eleanorsnyc.com/products/bird-industries-bicycle-skirt-garter-clip
labicichica
May 14, 2015 at 12:04 pm
Cute but too much fiddling for me. Has anyone tried one of these clip-on skirtweights? http://tandemny.com/ Kinda expensive but look easy to use. I took their idea and started using a common large-size office clip. Not bad!
Brent
May 14, 2015 at 2:50 pm
Hey There Lady Fleur – I couldn’t find a ‘contact’ form to write you about this but thought you may be interested in it as a commuter in the Bay Area…and it is bike to work month. http://kck.st/1zxye2K
Also, here is the press release for the product: http://www.crowdfundingpr.org/a-simple-and-effective-new-safety-tool-for-bicycle-commuters-to-celebrate-bike-to-work-month/
Best,
Brent