Bike In A Skirt: The Pencil Skirt Challenge

Want to try riding a bike in a skirt? Why, it's perfectly easy UNLESS YOU WANT TO WEAR A PENCIL SKIRT.

Listen, I'll wear almost anything and ride my bike, but a pencil skirt? No effing way. You see, the tight fit through the thighs makes it impossible to actually pedal my bike. I know this from experience. Bitter, bitter experience.

The few times I attempted to wear such a fitted skirt while biking to school were a complete and utter failure. The first time, I tore the back vent and I was late to class. (But since it was fashion school, I was able to mend it right then and there.)

The second time, I ended up hiking the skirt up to my hips (coverage was provided by my trusty dignity protectors, thankyouverymuch). I was able to ride at normal speedy speed, but once I arrived, I had to hop off my bike and shimmy my skirt back into place. Kinda made for an awkward impression. Not to mention the necessity of pulling my skirt up when it was time to bike home. Yikes.

So I gave up my dream of wearing a pencil skirt. Too fussy and impractical. You really can't have it all, I told myself.

Enter Ann DeOtte Kaufman the designer behind Iva Jean, a line of fashionable biking basics. Turns out she's figured out how to make a bike-able pencil skirt.

The secret of the Reveal Skirt is a zipper that goes along the center back. Unzipping it exposes your undies extra fabric. Fabric that was there the whole time! All of a sudden you have the legroom to pedal as fast as you possibly can. Genius.

Learn more about the other bike-suitable features of the Reveal Skirt here and explore the rest of the Iva Jean line too.

Helmet: Giro Surface Multi-Sport Helmet | Shirt: Vintage pajama top, similar to this | Belt: American Apparel Wide Elastic Belt | Bag: Bike Pretty Satchel, designed by me | Skirt: Iva Jean Reveal Skirt | Stockings: American Apparel Back Seam Pantyhose | Shoes: from Milan,  similar to Two-tone Spectator Pumps by Marni