What to Wear: Biking in Fall

After four months of riding the tandem bike to work, I’ve finally got a good handle on how to dress. It’s actually easier to wear a lot of the heels that were gathering dust in my closet when I was walking to work. This outfit is inspired by my new favorite:

Skirt – A high-waisted mini with pockets and a slit in front. Mine is from Bloomingdale’s in a dark, almost denim fabric with a pleat instead that I found on sale. The slit or pleat is key for riding comfortably. And the
Tee – A gray long-sleeved tee shirt tucked in to the skirt.
Pashmina – A winter must-have.
Jacket – This cute tweed coat is under $40 from Forever 21.
Shoes – Black shoes with a wood heel are easy to match with either black or brown.
Earrings – Pearls from The Met.

Add on a pair of driving gloves and an old, rickety tandem bike – you’re set!

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This article was written by

mrsem

There are 6 comments for this article

Anonymous November 18, 2009 at 4:27 pm

I am so happy to see what to wear back. Could we get a generic "holiday party" for all walks of life post? There has to be an alternative to the little black dress?
Katie November 18, 2009 at 6:16 pm

I love it, MrsEm!
I'm in New York now and my favorite thing to do on a hot summer day was to put on a sundress and bike-bike-bike until the wind in my hair cooled me off. Your What to Wear completely captures the fall version. Throw in some leather gloves and a thermos of hot cider to warm up upon your destination, and you've got a perfect weekend. Or workday. But I spend those on my rear in the library and not on pretty tandems.

-Katie (http://emilystyle.blogspot.com/2009/04/what-to-wear-graduate-school.html)
Kealoha November 18, 2009 at 8:22 pm

Adorable! I love to bike to work if I'm wearing trousers, but I have fears about biking in a skirt: I ride a mountain bike, and I don't know how to get on/off without showing my knickers! Is your tandem a step-through frame?
erica November 18, 2009 at 11:49 pm

i don't have a step-through frame, and my bicycle just barely fits, so i have a similar issue with skirts. i tend to go for a mini that is slightly fuller for optimal range of motion. once it starts snowing, i wear knit tights, thigh high leg warmers, knee high boots, and a stretchy denim mini.

kealoha-
i usually get on my bicycle on the curbside of the road. the extra height helps with the knickers problem.
Jill November 19, 2009 at 12:06 am

I love this, Emily! Though my fall biking outfit in Seattle tends to include waterproof pants, I love the idea of biking in something so stylish.

I do wear skirts in the spring and summer for biking, and just don't worry too much about flashing my knickers. I just make sure to wear decent ones in modest colors!
Schwang November 19, 2009 at 4:29 am

I really like this, and how you're showing it's easy to ride a bike and still look fashionable.