Unfortunately I have been sick this week and did not have the time or energy to try something new and exciting for Fashion Friday so... here is another biking outfit suggestion from items I found online. It has been below-zero-cold here so this outfit is all about looking fashionable, staying warm and safe!
A friend suggested that I feature my MEC Crosstown Jacket for Fashion Friday, so here it goes! I have not had to wear the jacket much this summer, but we had a couple rainy days this week so this post is timely! When I first got this jacket I was skeptical of its claim to be "waterproof", mostly because the fabric did not feel like traditional rain gear. While most rain jackets have a plastic or rubber texture to them, the MEC Crosstown jacket is soft to the touch. The claim that this jacket is waterproof is highly accurate though! The first time I wore the jacket the weather was terrible, there was a big storm coming, the rain was pouring and the wind was blowing. I was so pleasantly surprised when I got to work, took off the jacket and found my base layers nice and dry! I would like to give a shout out to Lou Binik of Foxwear who custom made me a pair of Power Shield rain pants that also left me nice and dry that day. I have the curse/pleasure of being a tall lady (almost 6 foot with a 36+ inch inseam) with limited options for pants! While my Foxwear pants were a good $20-$30 CAD more than buying off the rack, having stuff custom made is incredible, nothing can beat that fit!
When I was ordering my MEC Crosstown jacket online I noticed that a lot of the reviews were saying to size down. I am a US size 6, sometimes I wear a small and sometimes a medium, so I ordered both sizes with the intention of returning one. While both sizes fit decently well I decided to keep the medium. This jacket is thin, it is waterproof and windproof, but if the temperature gets too low you need a sweater or something underneath to stay warm. The medium fit better with a chunky knit sweater under it! This is a necessary requirement to wear the jacket in the Fall. The MEC Crosstown jacket has built in bike friendly features, including reversible cuffs that reveal reflectors, a reflector strap that goes over your shoulder (the reflector lives in your right hand pocket when not in use and clips at the shoulder when in use so it does not fall off) and a hood large enough to fit over a helmet. I found other rain jackets online that I liked better, that were more fashionable, but the built in bike friendly features put this jacket ahead of all others! Even though it is not the most fashionable jacket, in terms of rain gear, it is pretty darn attractive! The MEC Crosstown jacket truly and successfully combines fashion and function! I am so glad that I did not have to choose function over fashion! If you have any ideas or wishes for future Fashion Friday's please contact me! Have a lovely weekend everyone! Next time you hop on your bike for a ride try an ensemble like this that is both comfortable and stylish. The jeans are a relaxed skinny fit with a slightly higher waist, which I find ideal for biking. The top is loose and airy, but the pattern and fit make it more interesting than your basic tee. Ankle boots are a great option for a variety of activities, I own a few pairs! My favourite pair of ankle boots are my Original Blundstone's in Rustic Brown! They are durable (resilient), comfortable, weather proof and rustic chic. You cannot go wrong with a pair of Blundstone's. Add some accessories to your outfit that are bike friendly and you are ready to ride in style.
I am a city commuter who does not bow down to hideous performance spandex. I like to be comfortable, but fashionable. Of course flexibility is a necessary consideration when picking the right biking outfit (and leggings with a cute dress is a go to for me), but the right pair of jeans can be just as ideal. I bike for transportation and fun, to get from point A to point B, but not necessarily as fast as I humanly can. I take my time, I like to enjoy my surroundings and appreciate not being dripping with sweat when I arrive at my destination, which is often the workplace (where I need to look relatively professional). I have not been commuting by bicycle for very long and one day it struck me that my style has been somewhat altered by my daily commute, not in a bad way, but I seem to dress more simply and bicycle consciously.
Biking has changed my style…
Fashion Friday will be a weekly post on Me and My Azor. I will either share some of my biking outfits from the week, compile outfits with items I find online or discuss something biking fashion related. I want to show people that you do not have to sacrifice your fashionable self in order to bike! Stay tuned for next week’s Fashion Friday! |
AuthorMe is a "lifestyle cyclist" and a lover of all things bicycle! Archives
January 2016
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