Try A Pretty Camisole: New Bike Chic Outfit Ideas

A pretty camisole is like your cycle chic secret weapon. It's extremely comfortable, but a million times more lovely than a regular old tank top. I borrowed this Lucky Star Deco Camisole from Honey Cooler Handmade, a line of stunning, vintage-inspired lingerie. It's all made by hand (naturally) right here in San Francisco.

Of all the pieces that I borrowed from Stephanie, this was the easiest to style. I adore an equestrian dressage look, minus the horse of course. So this is dressage as worn by a San Francisco cyclist chick. Classic elegance with a very slight kiss of punk rock.

My tailored blazer is also handmade. By me! A tailoring course was one of our graduation requirements at FIT. We all made the same grey wool jacket, shaping the roll of the lapels with hundreds of tiny hand-stitches, sewing in colorful linings by hand.

By the end, we were all sick of looking at our jackets. But it's impossible to throw away something that we spent a better part of a semester working on. Finally, enough time has passed since graduation that I'm ready to show this jacket the light of day.

Or not. The better to show off the insertion lacework on the camisole. My American Apparel Disco Pants are as far as I will go towards skin-tight lycra racing kit. They have a zipper and pockets, so they're not leggings. Right? At any rate, the shirttail hem of the cami dips lower in the back and covers my butt. A stretch-pant recall wouldn't slow me down.

Ever since I was fifteen, I wanted knee-high Chuck Taylors. My need was so palpable, I could never understand why Converse didn't just make them already! A few years ago, other manufacturers started making them and Converse was forced to catch up. These are actually a pair of Airwalks that I got at Payless for $30.

It's very strange for me to wear flat sneakers after a diet of heels. I actually wear little heel lift inserts in these for a bit of height. I also replaced the white shoelaces with an entire spool of double-sided black satin ribbon. It's an elegant way for a woman over thirty to dress like a teenager. At least, that's what I tell myself.