Peugeot and the Adorable Girl

The hat with it's grosgrain ribbon bow is such an unexpected sweet and feminine touch to the overall tomboy look she sports. I love her mix of stripes, the suspenders, and the pretty tie up ankle boots too.

She said it was her boyfriend's Peugeot bike she was riding.

Where I Live, Sunny Ride, Cork Handlebar Grips

(Adrienne Vittadini coat, RidingPretty bicycle helmet cover, thrifted-then reconstucted peg leg pants, thrifted shoes, Forvever 21 sunglasses, vintage 1970's Motobecane bicycle)

This is where I live, and this particular spot is just a few short blocks from my front door. Gratefully the sunlight was just gorgeous yesterday when this pic was snapped. My boyfriend who takes these pics is loosing patience with me. He doesn't understand why I want to get my outfits photographed so regularly now. Sigh..



This is my 1970's Motobecane. I promise to devote a whole blog post on 'Belle' sometime soon. I did just add cork handlebar grips and the basket. The basket is thrifted, but it's really nice because the underlying structure is wire. So it's like a wire basket that's been wrapped in a rattan. When I shellacked my (bare, untreated) cork handlebar grips I had enough shellac to do the basket at the same time.



I'd love to add bamboo fenders and shellac them in the same matching amber shellac color, but it seems sort of overkill at $150.00+ for the fenders when my bike was purchased for only $10.00. I also don't want to make my bicycle so pretty and styled out that she becomes a big theft magnet either. Still... I do need fenders, so I will probably settle for some recycled ones. I'll just dream about the bamboo fenders for now.

Noki

Noki is an up and coming fashion label designed by Jonathan 'JJ' Hudson.

THE ART BRAND OF NOKI CUSTOMISATION IS A STATEMENT AGAINST MASS PRODUCED FASHION BRANDING WHERE THE MERE TAKING, DIY STYLE OF A SECOND HAND GARMENT AND RE-WORKING IT INTO AN ETHICAL 'ONE-OFF' PIECE OF CLOTHING, CREATES THE NOKI ART. THIS ALONE IS PARALLELING THE ORIGINAL ESSENCE OF FASHION, BEING COUTURE. IT'S A CASE OF NOKI - COUTURE THE THROAT OF READY TO WEAR. THE FULL NOKI SILHOUETTE INVOLVES THE NOKI ROCK FROCK AND THE SOB- SUFFOCATION OF BRANDING MASK, THIS HAS BECOME KNOWN AS THE UNIFORM OF THE NOKIETTE- THE ALL NEW CULTURE JAMMER GRAND SLAMMER. NOKI IS WORLD FAMOUS, SOME MIGHT SAY INTER-CON-TA-MENTAL, FOR PIONEERING THE FASHION MOVEMENT OF CUSTOMISATION. FOR THE RECORD IT IS MUCH CLOSER TO THE PHILOSOPHIES OF CULTURE JAMMING COINED BY THE AMERICAN AUTHOR KALLE LASN, THE FOUNDER OF ADBUSTERS MAGAZINE

Bike Gang Instruction Manual -- The Deadly NightShades

photocredit/source: The Deadly NightShades

The Deadly NightShades have been working hard to bring you this essential guide... important for the female bicyclist. Learn from it. Study it completely.***


____________________________________________________________________
***disclaimer for those who take things too literally
Deadly Nightshades; Toronto based midnight bike crew & design collective combined. We encourage ethical and sustainable design, as well as general mischief.

Ah, Mardi Gras...My Dream of a Bike Parade

Mardi Gras in New Orleans winded down. This got me thinking about a bicycle parade. My kind of parade, my way...I'd want Skeletons, Saints and Sinners.

photocredit/source: Dazza NZ

My frightful Skeletons ... coming to you from Carnival Cuba and frocksonbike.

photocredit/source: hetmobielenaaiatelier.nl

My lovely Saints...hetmobiele and aaiatelier at the front of the parade. These ladies pedal and generate power to their sewing machines and sew. They offer their sewing services and transform ordinary clothing (supplied by spectators watching the parade) into works of art.

photocredit/source: polerider

My beautiful 'Sinners'...Polerider. A guy pedaling a bike outfitted with a Pole and beautiful girls putting on quite a show! Polerider is available to make your parade/event extra sizzling.

The reason we never film together....

Only watch this stupid clip if you really have nothing better to do.
Nic and I tried to film a 30 second intro for our website, see the results for yourself.

Winter Hat Options for Bicycling

Mel kindly agreed to pose for a couple of pics. Thanks Mel.

Mel is more Conservative, definitely price conscious, and very eco conscious too, so she urged me to design a helmet cover to fit her needs...She liked my designs but thought they were 'too fashion forward' for her personal style sensibilities.

The Details: the fabric is felt-like in touch and feel, and is made from recycled plastic bottles so it's about as eco as it gets. It has a long, attached scarf wrap to tie anyway you want. It is cozy and keeps your head and neck warm. It can be made waterproof by simply wrapping the bicycle helmet in a plastic bag, thin shower cap, or even saran wrap before putting on the helmet cover. The price was within Mel's budget. Mel's design requests were solved!

Buying Info: is here***

***this style is no longer offered- HOWEVER you can go to the very top the page and click on the online shop link to see newer designs.

Fashioning An Ethical Indistry...

Fashioning an Ethical Industry (FEI) is a fashion-education project of Labour Behind the Label. The project works with tutors and students on fashion-related courses to give an overview of how the fashion industry can positively and negatively impact on the working conditions in garment manufacture and to inspire students - as the next generation of industry players - to raise standards for workers in the fashion industry of the future.

fashioninganethicalindustry.org

Totorial ...

Well I had my tutorial on Friday and it went really well but I have so many ideas that it's going to be hard to decide which on to go with and what direction I want to take my work in. From the work I have done so far I seem to be interested in very wearable fashion, and garments which are eco friendly and have a vintage style to them but you can still wear every day. There are a few books and magazines I am going to find which will help me with ideas etc.

I am really interested in 50's objects as print ideas. I am thinking of using monoprint, and maybe PVA image transfer to create some interestign effects. I am also thinking of experimenting with dissolvable fabric and tyvek. I have used these techniques before and I feel they would work so well.

We also taked about a few companies which really relate to my work which I could look at.

LFW - Qasimi

This London Fashion Week Nicola was working backstage at Qasimi on a host of Supermodels inc.

Erin O'Connor, Jade Parfit, Jasmin Le Bon, Lily Cole and Jaquetta Wheeler. (pictured)

The look was created by Make-up Artist, good friend and everyones favorite New Yorker Rachel Wood and was inspired by Hollywood glamour. So it was right up Nic's street.

I will update this post with the products Nic used on Jaquetta.

Going to the Oscars? Bicycle Rack is Available!

photocredit/source:via dannymichel

Hey there, A-lister! ... want to avoid sitting idly in the limo while getting through the intense traffic congestion to the Academy Awards?

"A bicycle rack will be erected on the east curb of Highland Avenue from Hollywood Boulevard to the alley north of Hollywood Boulevard from 12:01 a.m. to 6 a.m. Monday, February 23, 2009."

Can’t wait to see who wins this year …
Good Luck to Everyone!

***
oh, check this out from the Chicago Sun Times ...

(if you) "care about bikes in movies, just vote in the bike category. We'll announce the winners of the Ride Movie Awards the day after the Oscars, Monday, Feb. 23."

And in the Bicycle category:

Best picture with a bike in the leading role:

"The Triplets of Belleville," 2003
"Breaking Away," 1979
"The Bicycle Thief," 1948
"2 Seconds," 1998
"The Flying Scotsman," 2006

So hurry up and vote!

SF Tweed Ride – Photos! - More!!!

Additional photos from the San Francisco Tweed Ride as promised! Great pictures from a variety of photographers who collectively did a darn good job of delivering! Thanks to the photographers; pepperlime, RubinStarset, Capetom, nmondoux, Adrienne, occlupanid and of course the SF Tweed Pool. For even more Tweed Ride photos (and great descriptive comments) go check these photographers out!

photocredit/source:pepperlime

photocredit/source:RubinStarset

photocredit/source:Capetom

photocredit/source:Capetom

photocredit/source:Capetom

photocredit/source:Capetom

photocredit/source:Capetom

photocredit/source:nmondoux

Head Wear Look on the Runway ... Bicycling Fashion 2009

NYC Fashion Week is winding up tomorrow on Friday. I've been keeping an eye out for any bicycling fashion showing up on any of the Runways for 2009. Here's what I've been finding so far...

photocredit/source: via www.elle.com

A riding style hat shown recently on the runway by Designer Remix during the Copenhagen Fashion Week.

Can the acceptance and fashionable wearing of actual ‘protective’ head wear, as in a stylish bicycle helmet, going to be very far behind I wonder?

photocredit/source: via www.style.com

Luella also has this riding style head wear for Spring 2009. Very pink, very pretty.

photocredit/source: via atomicecho

Celine has very sweet bicycle riding attire. And aptly described as a 'sportswear couture' Collection;"Bicyclette". So very much in step with the Parisian style of cycling. Look for the skirt with concealed shorts, dresses with hems longer at the back, and all designed with the bicyclist in mind. Notice the head wear/helmet in this very pretty sketch by Garance Doré.

Oh, by the way maybe a trend...

SF Tweed Ride – Photos!

Head on over to the SF Tweed Ride for a nice pool of pictures captured at the very first San Francisco Tweed Ride. Here are some of my favorites. I will be posting more! And Thanks to Colin who organized this most stylish ride through the streets of San Francisco.

photocredit/source: Adrienne

photocredit/source: Occlupanids



photocredit/source: Adrienne

Tips - Buying a Fashionable and Stylish Bicycle

Ready? Good! Let's jump right in...

The Frame Style (the bike's geometry) is an early decision you make towards finding the right bicycle for you. I ruminated on this topic; Just how much do you need to know to buy a new (Euro Style) Bicycle Part I. My recommendation is a bike with an Up Right geometry, the Sit Up & Beg style or as I like to say the Euro Style bicycle. You may also want to consider Cruisers or Townie bicycles which are distant second cousins, technically speaking. I suggest reading Sit Up & Beg - Most Ergonomic? Then for further info & answers read Sit Up & Beg - Most Ergonomic? -- Good Answer. I highly recommend (for the greatest of ease while riding in dresses and skirts) a step-through frame and also simply called a 'ladies' frame. Size matters, so getting the right size for you is the other half of the equation. Be sure when you get to the point of actually buying your bicycle to consult with the seller and emphatically and absolutely determine that you are getting the right size bike!

Your next decision is whether to buy vintage or new?I started off choosing vintage for a variety of reasons. I always like to buy recycled (anything) first. I also think steel frames are far superior to any 'Big Box' bikes manufactured out of China. For the same ballpark $200.00 you can get a real vintage beauty, but you need to know a thing or two before jumping in and buying off Craigslist or Ebay. For some tips on buying read; Buying a Vintage Bike Guide along with reading about my own personal experience rebuilding a vintage bike; Finding and Rebuilding my Motobecane Bicycle. Price points, oh yeah the other determining factor. Not much cash? Ah, well choosing a vintage bicycle is the way to go. Read about how overwhelmingly popular vintage bicycles have become; Vintage Bikes - Girls want them! If you're looking for a NEW bicycle then be sure to check out this posting;12 Bicycles for Girls. Recommendations are across all price points, high to low.

The next big decision is going to involve how you plan to use your bicycle? Plus where do you live? Your answers will determine how many gears you'll want. General rule of thumb is 3 gears minimum. Flatlanders, strictly leisure riders, incredibly short distance bike commuters, and all those super fit fixie riders maybe be able to get away with a single speed. I have a single speed cruiser I ride to the beach and up the block to my neighborhood shops. If your terrain includes hills, then get multiple gears. Talk to anybody you can find who bike commutes in your area and ask how many gears they think work best. Now would be a good time to get friendly with your local bike coop, community bike advocacy groups, and your local bike shop (LBS) who you'll probably end up buying bike stuff from any way.

The Let's Be Lady Like! check list: Of course now that you plan to wear all sorts of stylish outfits while riding your new bicycle, then you'll want to make sure your bicycle has fenders, a skirt guard, a fully enclosed chain guard to keep you and your clothes free from dirt and grim. If these are not already included with your bicycle, it is possible in many cases to add them on later.

The Practicality check list: You will want a front basket, rear rack, and panniers (you add those onto that rear rack), for transporting your stuff, be it groceries, Chinese take-home, library books, you get the picture. Additionally there is a very possible extra benefit, you will earn respect and street cred amongst the utility and commuter cyclists!


The Safety Items check list: Lights, reflectors, bicycle bell, bicycle lock, and a helmet if you chose to wear one (I advocate for helmet safety). You could also add in a bicycle repair kit for fixing a flat tire in a pinch.


The Purely Aesthetic and Stylish checklist: Well this could get cross referenced to several of the afore mentioned items above. I'd add cork handle bar grips (cork is a sustainable and eco material). Also a Brooks saddle would be wonderful! And you can shellac those cork grips to match the patina of your Brooks saddle whether it's it vintage or new. Other considerations...Add streamers you make yourself or check ETSY, perhaps a bicycle basket liner, and pretty flowers for your basket (as in brightening up any dreary winter's duldrum day).


Sincerely hope you've found this posting and it's check lists helpful! Happy Bicycle Riding to All the Stylish Lovelies!!

***** Update:
Newer posting and highly recommended... 'Dream Bicycle List - Let's Go Shopping'.

Inside the Tents...Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, Bryant Park, NYC

Bryant Park is, once again, abuzz with fashion, fabulousness, a few familiar faces--and an overwhelming amount of fur. Cover your eyes PETA. Here's a look inside the tents at New York Fashion Week...












Bright red bag + molten metallic jacket (+ nice big smiles) = absolutely adorable

Perfectly preppy from head to toe (...and love the fur stole finish)

Lynn Yeager

Stylist David C. Melton...perfectly put together (and always working a bag)

In Short: She's rockin' her look

Barney's creative director, Simon Doonan

Carine Roitfeld (left), editor-in-chief French Vogue

Fashion Statements: Saying it loud and proud--and keeping it stylish while they're at it--with their Fashion Checklist bags.



Leopard love...


Black, white (and fabulous all over)...




Well-Heeled:



The girl told me they look much better with their laces, but I thought they were pretty cute without them, too...

I like the pearls, but what about those glittery shoes...?



Rockin' Robin: Stylist Robyn Fernandes

Mad for plaid (scarves, that is)

Pirate-chic

Tickled Pink: Notice her little car bag...

I just liked his makeup...

Green With Envy: I love her gradient green Prada bag


Elle style editor, Kate Lanphear (she's got great hair)

From the hat and glasses to the tie clip and cuffed jeans, I really like his look (...and her shoes)

Not the most flattering picture of Anna Wintour (sorry, Anna...), but how could I resist putting Vogue's editor-in-chief (Ms. Devil Wears Prada herself) in my humble House of Style?