Since I bought a lovely vintage bike, I am fond of riding through Paris. But the main question is : how to cycle with style, without feeling uncomfortable or endangered?
High heels rule
In my opinion, it is easier to cycle than to walk with 12 inch heels. More, cycling is the right time to wear the sexy but painful stilettos you never managed to walk on.
On your legs
Let’s wear suspenders and stockings : it’s perfectly fine while cycling, even if nylon stockings might be a bad idea. I think they are a bit stiff to ride easily.
Garment
- I love to cycle with a mid leg dress or skirt. It’s pretty and easy : no technical troubles with fabric stuck in the spokes of your wheels! You may prefer shorter one, but be ready to show off a bit whenever you stop.
Don’t: pencil skirt are just the worst idea on earth. Forget them or you will never cycle more then 2 meters.
- Pants, especially 30’s one, are a bit tricky : I ruined some of them on the chain of my bike… You should prefer short pants or skinny ones!
- During summer, enjoy high waisted shorts : let’s reveal your amazing legs !
- Everything is possible on top, except maybe, 1910’s corsets…
- Gloves : is there anything classier on earth than a gloved hand? Well, cycling is the right time to wear your vintage driving gloves!
Wind in your hair!
- Hairspray is your hair’s best ally. I love to make big bun with 50’s rolls when I am going out for a ride. With a lot of hairspray, this hairdo is impressive and strong!
- Obviously, bike may not be bang fringe best friend…
- Loose hair are casual and nice, especially if you wear a nice turban, and your ears will be thankfull (nothing more unpleasant than cold wind in your ears). I bought mine in this nice hand-made shop.
- Last but not least, don’t forgot your shoulder bag, slung accrocs your chest, or nice bags for your bike.
Inspirations
Catherine Baba is one of the most elegant Parisian lady on bike! She is on every pictures except one…
What I love about cycling
I go faster than undesirable persons.
I am often bothered in street. On my bike I also feel a bit harrassed, but since I go faster, I allow myself to respond to these insults. I know… that’s not the epitome of chic but it feels good, sometimes.
As I live in a small remote place here in a mountainous region here in france and I go everywhere on my bike,at a certain time I was loosing either my trousers or shorts having to make efforts on my bike! until a couple of years back My nephew who was a young man and having a bike too we went out everywhere together !But I noticed that his trousers or shorts never came down,they stayed in place ,so I asked him ” howcome” So he showed me his large elastic pant suspenders and said that he could’nt do without them ,Plus!they maintained his back too!So honestly I was convinced,so as soon as we arrived in a small town I went straight in a shop selling suspenders and I bought me a pair of very large ones with 4 branches and 4 huge metal clips,so they could’nt come off!A atter of fact my nephew helped me to put them on correctly!and effectively thet did work and at last I was on my ease,and from now on I don’t have any more problems anymore,!whats more I ‘m so udes wearing them that I can’t do without themanymore,so what can I add that pant suspenders come in freally handy
Thank you very much Carmen,
Now I want to try that! Especially because some of my pants are too large ^^
Have fin on your bike :)
Thank you for your advice,Carmen,concerning to wear pant suspenders when doing a lot of cycling around the region! I live in Belgium and I do aswell a lot of cycling and I listened to your advice concerning pant suspenders maintain much better your pants or short pants when on a bike! I need not to worry as my elastic suspenders not only maintain but follow my mouvements! What’s more my doctor who is a woman doctor explained to me aswell that pant suspenders maintain much more better your back,so less pain ! A matter of fact even when I go to work during the week to my office I also wear my suspenders ,and I have had quite a succes too in my office , a matter of fact my other men and women collegues sais that they too were going to buy for themselves a pair of large clip on suspenders ,and that it looked quite sexy too !