I am thinking that I need to make some culottes for riding my bike to work.
As mentioned Sunday we are having a little heatwave here in the UK and normally I wear trousers/pants on my bike but it was so hot yesterday I wore some cropped linen trousers, but I didn't really feel it was appropriate office wear.
Lots of ladies wear skirts on their bike, and some with high heels too but not me. I recall a trip to Rome a few years back and was amazed at how elegant some ladies looked when riding their bikes as do the wonderful ladies in the picture above, and the ladies here all love wonderful but note are wearing trousers - sadly I opt for the bright visi jacket so the mad drivers of London can see me, and a cycle helmet, so this attire drops me way down the elegant stakes.
So back to my culottes. I figure I can make them just below the knee, wide enough that they look like a skirt, but providing the much needed modesty that a lady of a certain age needs on a bike.
Just one quick google search (I am heading off to work) brought up the following selection from an online store called ASOS so I am comfortable that I will not be adding frumpy and old-fashioned to my not very elegant look.
So what do you wear on your bike. I know my Dutch friends seem to manage it better than I do. Tell me what you think.
Have a good day. Catch you later........
As mentioned Sunday we are having a little heatwave here in the UK and normally I wear trousers/pants on my bike but it was so hot yesterday I wore some cropped linen trousers, but I didn't really feel it was appropriate office wear.
Lots of ladies wear skirts on their bike, and some with high heels too but not me. I recall a trip to Rome a few years back and was amazed at how elegant some ladies looked when riding their bikes as do the wonderful ladies in the picture above, and the ladies here all love wonderful but note are wearing trousers - sadly I opt for the bright visi jacket so the mad drivers of London can see me, and a cycle helmet, so this attire drops me way down the elegant stakes.
So back to my culottes. I figure I can make them just below the knee, wide enough that they look like a skirt, but providing the much needed modesty that a lady of a certain age needs on a bike.
Just one quick google search (I am heading off to work) brought up the following selection from an online store called ASOS so I am comfortable that I will not be adding frumpy and old-fashioned to my not very elegant look.
So what do you wear on your bike. I know my Dutch friends seem to manage it better than I do. Tell me what you think.
Have a good day. Catch you later........
I've been thinking about making culottes too! I plan to draft a pair from a straight skirt. I love how they look like a skirt and still give you freedom to move. I think what prompted me was something I saw that was not pretty. A young woman was riding her bike in a much too short skirt. I think that's all I need to say;)
ReplyDeleteHa ha Rhonda, I agree with you - plus I have visions of the wind blowing my skirt up and the oncoming traffic having far too much to see.
DeleteI assume you've seen the Megan Nielsen culottes pattern? http://megannielsen.com/collections/sewing-patterns/products/tania-culottes-sewing-pattern The model's even wearing them to ride a bike!
ReplyDeleteKathleen, I wasn't familiar with these sewing patterns, and I did like the design of their culottes, however the site says the pattern is sold out. I am sure that I saw something in one of the Burda magazines so will have to have a look there too.
DeleteIt's not actually sold out - the designer's just on holiday so she's not shipping them herself at the moment. They can be obtained from her stockists in the meantime, which are listed here: http://megannielsen.com/collections/sewing-patterns/products/tania-culottes-sewing-pattern There are some in the UK if you scroll down.
DeleteBut of course they may not be quite what you're after - I do understand that! I hope you find what you want and look forward to seeing it.
The Megan Nielsen culottes are nice, but the bike needs a "coat protector" at the back ;) Really don't know what that's called in English, google pictures for "jasbeschermer" and you'll find it.
ReplyDeleteIt's been a long time since I've seen culottes, they are practical though. Being Dutch I cycle even with high heels or flipflops, and as long I'm not wearing a narrow pencil skirt I'm fine. A-line skirt will do as well. Couldn't you wear a dressy linen pair of trousers?
sigrid, I can wear linen trousers, but I think I fancy wear a skirt in this weather but don't want to expose myself on the bike, and I just figured that the culottes would be closest look to a skirt.
DeleteI've always wondered how ladies managed to ride bicycles in skirts - practice? Culottes seem to fit the bill. Though, you might also check out the trousers in Vogue 2532. There's a mid-calf length. I made these in a drapey fabric, and they were almost like culottes.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link to Vogue 2532 that is a lovely pattern worth consideration.
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