After my poor showing at the 2012 Seersucker Social, I decided to step up my game for the DC Tweed Ride over the weekend. This is the best outfit I’ve managed to put together for these vintage-themed rides. I decided not to go crazy trying to make something and chose to use the options already in my wardrobe. I sorely wanted to wear my cape from last year, but felt I should mix it up.
I wore a black matte and satin jersey dress from Burda 9-2003-134 dress that I made back in 2007. The coat is a vintage opera coat from 100 percent cashmere. It’s a garment that I couldn’t leave behind in the shop. It needed to be ‘saved’ by me. Someone who would love and appreciate it like no one else. LOL. Yes. That’s seriously what I told myself when I purchased it. The orange and black feather fascinator is borrowed from my friend Liz and the glasses are actually prescription from zennioptical.com.
This year, Liz borrowed from me again and wore my coat dress from Burda 2-2009-101. It’s interesting. This is one of the most complimented garments I own despite my fit issues. It was perfect for the ride topped with a thrifted fur cape and prescription glasses from coastal.com. Because Liz has a smaller head, she’s able to get away with wearing vintage hats. I on the other hand (with a ginormous head) am stuck with fasinators.
I’m sure Trena will tell you all about her look(s) soon enough. Let’s just say I am 120 percent in love with her hat(s).
I think this may be my last ride for a while. I love the concept. I like getting out. I really love seeing the District and how other people interpret vintage style. It’s a fashion lover’s dream! But, it’s gotten very popular with hundreds of participants. I find myself stressed out on the ride because with too many people, we’re not good at sharing the road. I want these rides to also be advocacy for biking. And, it’s not bike advocacy when drivers are annoyed that we’re hogging the road and not obeying traffic lights, etc. en masse. Pair that with one vegetarian option (*salad*) out of five meals after a two-hour ride and you’ve got one hungry, salty, cyclist.
Ooo! Love it? From ebay, custom mini license plates for your bike. Except, I broke mine on the way home to Baltimore :stinkface:. Maybe my next one will be Miss Celie.
I love that bag I’m holding. Sigrid was kind enough to accept delivery of it for me when I went to the Netherlands. It’s Basil and hooks on my bike rack. I use it *all* the time. These crazy old lady sunglasses are also prescription from zennioptical.com
Miss Celie's Pants 
You look incredible. I can’t believe a year has passed already!
I know what you mean about bike advocacy and frankly the behavior of many people on bikes. It drives me nuts the way many people see riding a bike as a license to break the law, do what they like, ride against traffic, and so on. And then people get outraged when someone doing those things is hit by a car. People truly need to understand that riding a bike IS just like driving a car in terms of obeying the rules of the road and the traffic laws. Until all bicyclists do that, we don’t have a beef.
Tweedy to the max!
Gorgeous! I love that coat – and vintage cashmere?! No way I would have left that behind, either!
I love big group bike rides but I know what you mean about being careful not to piss off the cars on the road (although the mean person in me is really glad when it happens – because they sure don’t care about my SAFETY when I’m just pedaling along solo every morning, you know? Ugh). Although, hopefully they don’t get too mad when they see all the pretty bikes & clothes being paraded down the street 🙂
Ha! Yes. They sure don’t care when I bike to work! You do find yourself waving and smiling — almost thanking drivers for their patience. But, there are a lot of people on the ride who don’t bike regularly and are seriously just not paying attention. There is definitely strength in numbers though! There’s lots of honking and picture taking along the way which is great.
Awwww, this is one other reason I’m sad I didn’t go. My interpretation of vintage wasn’t impressive, but I fized up the knickers myself and love to ride my bike. I rode by and nearly cried when as I had to keep driving [work.. 😦 ]
On the traffic, I did my first street ride in this weekend (led my a bike shop owner) and we certainly made some one driver angry. There is much work to be done on sharing th road.
Love you in that coat– so glam! What a fun day!
I love the vintage look…those shoes are awesome. I was watching the movie, The Color Purple just the other day, your vintage look is similar to what Ms. Celie was wearing…she was wearing red shoes in this particular scene.