Wharf - A Favorite Bicycle Ride

Santa Cruz Wharf is one of my favorite rides - yes that's a another panda shot and I'm wearing one of my custom bicycle helmets...

Big smile on my face, I know.... it's 'cause I'm getting the panda shot thing down, that and wearing my new bright red custom helmet - and getting all the tourists curious about what I'm doing waving this camera up in the air for.

A pit stop at the picnic tables on the wharf.

Is this bicycle abandoned? No she'll be right back, she just stopping off at Andy's (see above photo) to pick something up.

Being ever conscious of getting the WHOLE outfit in the shot - a requirement if you want to do a post of 'what you wore' to Chictopia, LookBook.nu and VV's Bike Wardrobe Remix (hmm which I haven't submitted anything yet but plan on it :) So anyway I did this 'after the ride' documentation photo.

One last wharf shot from the day... A sea gull wonders if I'll be sharing any of the seafood I'm purchasing from Stagnaro's Bros. outdoor Fish Market.

Bicycle Riding Cape, Red Legs, Fashion

(photos by RidingPretty)

Fashion, my bicycle...feeling chic, remembering Paris. Homage (especially) to the beret, to the shiny satin bow (worn on my pony tail and which by the way matches the ribbon trim on my dress) and well, to my old ex French boyfriend and his parent's Paris apartment. How beautiful those times were, enough to still get in my blood and inspire me to dress for the romance of my old memories. I don't know about you, but I do this all the time...
Besides my bicycle can bring out the best in me, and here's hoping your bicycle does the same for you!

p.s. there is a story to the last photo. I will follow up a with separate post and explanation soon my dears...

Plaid Cape, My Bicycle

(photo RidingPretty)

The 60's! -- I had so much fun taking this photo. It was another one taken on a long, dreary rainy day...
The cape is a very heavy 'blanket' wool and it weights a ton. It's reversible - to a brilliant blue which you can just see a peek of. And those red plaid 'over the knee' socks - they were so perfect, I felt so lucky to score them. What else? Just having a blast that day. Maybe had something to do with listening to The Beatles Box Set and having just finished reading Miss O'Dell.

More Fun

More Fun just like before.

This jacket is another one of my favorite jackets, it's Adrienne Vittadini, not sure if it's vintage but given the generous padding in the shoulders I'm betting that it is. It's Canadian Mountie Red with a vibrant purple. I'm also wearing my equestrian inspired bicycle helmet which you can see in more detail here.

Having Fun

Lately I've been playing, experimenting and having fun with a camera in this impromptu photo studio I set up...There's been a lot of rain lately, so why not. I may actually figure out how to improve my photography skills, plus I get to play stylist with some of my favorite vintage clothes. Not to mention joining in on all the fun of posting bicycle + fashion style shots - just like some other stylish bicycle mavens have been doing forever!

Oh, this jacket is a royal purple color which didn't exactly come across. It's a vintage I.Magnin label (40's I am guessing) with large brass buttons. It's got the Military Look, the Band Jacket, or Sgt. Pepper thing going on and I simply love it.

Wild Berries... Going by Bicycle -Topshop Chictopia Bicycle Contest

Sharing with you some photos from a couple of days ago. I'm off to go pick wild blackberries... which is one of my all time favorite summer time things to do! I'm eating delcious apricots from the farmers market until I get myself to the berry patches.

If you've been enticed to go check out the Chictopia Topshop Bike Giveaway contest , well you might have noticed my photos over there. I jumped in the contest just a couple of days ago.

I posted this back in June, but wasn't paying attention and thought the contest ran for just one week. When I went back to see who the winners were I found all sorts of our favorite chic bicycle bloggers with their lovely pictures posted. I learned the contest runs until July 17th!

I'm so impressed with how many young ladies are keen to ride bicycles! I keep meeting more and more Chictopians via this contest who are genuinely intrigued with the chic and the bicycle riding thing. It's all so fresh and quite unlike 'preaching to the choir'.

Any question about joining Chictopia and getting in on the contest? Let me know. Or don't want to submit photos, that's fine too you may still want to vote.

Listen To Music Riding Your Bike...Beach Cruiser Bum

(music balloon via LikeCool)

What a great way to listen to your ipod while riding your bike! I just have to get one of these Music Balloons.

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Off Being a Beach Bum...

(cut off's are heavily seed-beaded & thrifted Calvin Kleins, cuffed gladiator sandals UO, T-shirt just begging to be shredded, tiedyed or artfully painted to cover up the ancient old stains on it, my Murray beach cruiser 'freebie')

Sometimes you just wake up, don't bother brushing your hair, throw on some cut offs and the first clean t-shirt you can find and head off to the beach on a super low profile, rusty beach cruiser. Nothing could be simpler. 'Louche' Chic.

My sweet kitty, Lazslo who meowed to get into this shot, AND who has never agreed to get in my bicycle basket.

Have a Great Friday everyone!

Bike to Work Day 2009

(thrifted Paolo Santini silk jacket, ribbed tank & skirt are old stuff I've had forever,
H&M leggings, wedgie shoes are DIY thrifted, RidingPretty helmet cover and my vintage 1960's Raleigh bicycle)

Here's what I was wearing today for Bike2Work Day. I admit I did spruce myself up a bit extra today since I knew I'd be encountering/meeting all sorts of people out and about enjoying all the events and fun that Bike2Work day brings with it. This picture is after the morning ride. Hey, I love helmet hair because in my case it flattens down my bangs in a way I actually like.

What a surprise, someone actually turned the tables on me and wanted to take my picture for a change... But wait!! I'm the one always going up to people asking for their photo! Well lets see if the mobile phone picture ever really gets emailed to me. In the meantime I coerced my BF into take this photo of me.

Hope everyone is having a really great Bike To Work Week!!!!!

Riding Along

(photo: RidingPretty bicycle helmet cover prototype, my 1970's Motobecane bicycle, DIY'd tie dye shirt)

This photo is fairly recent. A totally gorgeous spring day riding along a beautiful little path next to a pretty little stream, EXCEPT for the beer bottles and ciggies that were dumped in it...and that's why I have that look on my face!



Anyway, the crawdaddy denizens of this little stream are way down from prior years I've been told... So, after a little clean up I was on my way enjoying the rest of the day.

Flower 'Bicycle Bonnet' -- Easter

(ridingpretty bicycle helmet cover prototype, thrifted flower skirt, stirrup leggings, gladiator sandals, vintage motobecane bicycle)

This was what I wore for my ride on Easter...

I just finished this in time to wear it for Easter. It's my newest bicycle helmet cover with changeable flower attachment. It's all handmade. The bicycle helmet cover has an especially nice brim that keeps my face well shaded.

p.s. I'll be putting up more pics of the helmet cover (which will show it in better detail) very soon!

My Sherlock Holmes Look

(As you might guess from the photo, I'm so ready for the the Sherlock Holmes movie with Robert Downing Jr.and directed by Madonna's ex Guy Richie to to come out.)

Sharing this photo snapped last Saturday. I wasn't going anywhere in particular, just out for a short ride before the rains soon descended upon us again (like within a hour or so). I was happy the BF was in a pretty jolly mood, so asking him to come along to snap a few pics was no big deal.

The cape I am really fond of. It's vintage, 1940's I think. It was quite long, so I decided to shorten it, which gave me enough fabric to make the matching helmet cover. The helmet cover along with the cape, turned out so 'Sherlock Holmes' looking.

It's definitely time to formally introduce you to my 1960's Raleigh bicycle. I've posted pictures of her before, but never bothered to tell you her name. Please meet my 'Pretty Britty'.

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Paris Fashion Week starts today!

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.

Amgen-SantaCruz-RainyWeekend-Redcoat-Lance-MyShineyHelmetCover

Rainy Weekend and it was a blast. Amgen Tour came to Santa Cruz. A huge crush of spectators hugged tight at the finish line, while I was out prowling for the 'chicest' riding attire I could spot...



Was I crazy or from 'planet of my own imagination'. Get Real. This was a RACE, in the rain. What fashionista would show up on her bicycle wearing heels to this?? I admit I saw the best in rain gear /outerwear in gortex, nylon, hi-tech fabrics and by all the best brands, Patagonia, Columbia and designed for rugged wear. And then the lifestyle brands like Roxy, O'Neils, and so forth.
So, I settled for this little girl wearing her bright red coat and maryjanes.



Lance saluting someone in the crowd. This was my spot for the race. It had a huge outdoor viewing screen to watch the race. It was way beyond the finish line, lots more room to breathe
(I get a bit weird in big crowds, so always opt for as much space as I can find). Lance put his feet to the ground and after a hard ride. I had fun. This was my first cycle race.




Rainy Day and trying to go for a short ride on my motobecane.

**This above look is described in detail on lookbook.nu

My Trapper Hat for Winter

I ended up wearing the trapper hat (or as my boyfriend calls it the Paul Bunyan/Elmer Fudd hat) a lot lately. When the boyfriend starting seeing this style (minus a bicycle helmet underneath) being worn by lots of hipster types on the streets he hushed up. It's not easy sporting new styles!

This look is posted on lookbook.nu More details and fashiony tidbits about this look there.

Very limited time offer!!! I have a very few invites available to the first handful of people...
Looking to join LookBook.nu and couldn't get or find an invitation? Just email me.
Hurry!

***update: This Trapper Hat look was featured over at Urban Velo!

Stormy Weather at Last

Stormy weather to the rescue today...

and I couldn't be happier about it. I dread the drought, too many sunny days this year in California. So maybe my little feverish rain dance has helped. At least I'd like to think so.

this look of mine is now on LookBook.nu

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amended; I will be regularly posting looks here and correspondingly on Lookbook which will give you an item by item break down of what each item is, where it was purchased and how much was paid for it. I do a lot of thrifting, so you'll be amazed at how stylish you can look without spending a lot. I also will gladly include couture if any couture houses would like to send me stylish bicycle attire...uhh... ha-ha. That's a joke everyone. Anyway it will be mix of high and low.
This is (amoung other bike advocacy topics) a bicycle style/chic blog... so DEF time for an infusion of a lot more chic to inspire, inspire and did I say INSPIRE. I plan on having fun with this!