10 years ago by
As we’re about to move in our first real Studio (meaning, not a part of my home but a real separate place) (exciiiiiting!!!) (freaaakyyy!) I am wondering what it will do to my lifestyle.
How am I going to get there? A half hour walk, a ten minute bike ride or a 15 minute subway commute? A drive?
I wonder how these choices will affect my wardrobe. So, I decided I’d ask…
How does the way you commute affect the way you dress?
Delphine, my agent and friend in the photo, bikes:
From March 1st to December 1st I BIKE E-VE-RY-WHERE…
I have a black Linus, the Céline of bikes…and my best friend is my basket.
Shoes are not an issue at all, whatever the heel is, it’s actually easier to bike than walk in them… With the exception of the platform which I find a bit dangerous as I can’t feel the pedal.
The problem is the summer: humidity + effort is a killer.
That’s when the basket comes in, I can carry an extra t-shirt, deodorant, wipes… As well as a scarf/sweater/jacket, the AC in the office is so strong, we freeze all summer. And of course my gym clothes!
Come spring, the basket holds my hat/cap in case of rain (tried to ride with an umbrella like Wes, my husband, but that’s not for me) a jacket/trench coat and a cotton scarf.
The fall routine tends to be a little bit similar to the spring one, except I also have gloves, a headband (if my ears get cold it’s really, really tragic) a scarf or more accurately a mini blanket, and of course the gym bag!
Biking is really the best, and my favorite transportation in NYC, I really bike everywhere. I love it love it love it, but I had to revisit my wardrobe a bit and say goodbye to pencil skirts, long skirts (look awful on me anyway) and mini-mini skirts…
But I adapted and my leather and suede shorts became my summer staples, I invested in a few amazing summer pants and skirts with enough fabric I don’t feel naked while riding…
And then between December 1st and March 1st, it’s way too cold = no bike. I walk e-ve-ry-where and I am all about mini/pencil skirts with tights, and platform shoes.
Garance is the non-commuter:
Working from home is fantastic if you’re not a very private person, and you may have gotten the hint from… Well, my blog: I am not.
The lines between my morning coffee and my first step into work are very blurred. Actually, I start off a lot of my days in my PJs.
It’s because I do most of my creative work in these, have a sip of coffee, let the morning inspiration come to me and start writing. If I cut this with the whole “getting ready” ritual, pooof! the morning magic is gone. So I use my early mornings, from say 7:30 to 9, to do my personal work, and sometimes push it until 11, when it’s time to put my business girl cap on.
But even then, because I’m at home, the look is pretty easy unless I have very important meetings.
My team is so used to seing me in my grays that when on special days I open the doors to them all prepped and ready to go, they’re like: “Are you okay G?”
I have a large collection of pajamas, not silky Olivia Pope-y ones, more cozy (molleton), in all different shades of grays that I welcome my team with. I put a lot of attention into buying these – there is a real art to sweatpants. I guess I could say they are part of my style.
I know Karl Lagerfeld would say it’s a terrible disrespect to show up to others in this type of attire. I would answer that it’s one of the last “freelancer” (let’s be honest, I’m not a freelancer anymore) perks I’ve been hanging on to. I’m about to give that away though…
In December we’re getting a new office, a real one – but I already have figured out how I’m going to play it : I’ll work from home in the morning, in my dear pjs, and go to the office in the afternoon, walking, or biking. All dressed up.
I’m sure my team will miss, very much, seeing me in my grey (molleton) robe.
Rebecca drives:
In L.A. they say you are what you drive. Which makes total sense to me as the driver of a vintage Jaguar convertible from the 60s. Sleek and slippery as a bar of soap, mahogany steering wheel, paint job the color of unsalted butter. Gorgeous, elegant, classic. It’s funny come to think of it, how the words you might use to describe my car are the VERY SAME words that basically define me. Ha ha! HahahaHAHAHAHAHA ha…ha…ha…hmmm. Okay, okay, fine…I drive a Prius.
A boring old Prius with 69,000 miles on the odometer, dinged up bumpers, and a decidedly un-mahoghany steering wheel. The only thing that distinguishes my Prius from the three zillion other Priuses driving around Los Angeles is the fact that it is exceptionally filthy. That and the bobble-head tiger which sits on the dashboard sagely nodding its proud tiger head while I race around town, driving from Century City to Burbank to Santa Monica, from the Hollywood Hills to Beverly Hills, going on meetings.
(I’m a TV writer and that’s what TV writers do — go on meetings. Sure, if you’re on a show you spend time in writers’ room eating Twizzlers from the Pleistocene era and okay, there’s the actual writing part of writing, where you sit alone for long, long periods of time moving only your eyeballs and the tips of your fingers. But a big hunk of my time is spent driving from meeting to meeting in my filthy Prius.)
Is this a classy way to commute? I would answer emphatically: yes!
I think it’s chic to arrive at some big important meeting in a dinged up filth-mobile. It’s insouciant — like Jane Birkin carrying a basket as a purse. But the messy car only really works if I look kind of elegant when I emerge. So for instance, I’m not going to be putting on mascara like some tacky vagabond when the valet opens the door (I apply it way earlier in the commute at red lights!!).
The same balance is key when it comes to dressing for a meeting. You definitely DO NOT want to look like you tried too hard (desperate, pathetic etc.) and yet ideally you shouldn’t be mistaken for an actual bum. Me, if I have to err on one side? I lean bum… but maybe throw on some Céline snakeskin heels and my Hermès watch with gold spikes. Something to reassure the executives they aren’t accidentally meeting with a homeless person.
Which is why commuting in a car is so genius. You have plenty of options at the ready to dress up or down any outfit as needed. In L.A. your car is basically your closet away from your closet.
Although mine is perhaps more of a sartorial compost heap. It is absolutely filled with clothes! There are bags full of things I’m taking to the tailor (someday), bags of holey jeans for the denim repair place, shoes with broken straps, boots in need of new soles, boxes of returns for Net-a-porter and La Garçonne, clothes for Goodwill, clothes I intend to sell at vintage shops, discarded coats from when the weather turned warm, flip-flops for when I get pedicures, heels I swapped out when my feet started to blister/bleed — borrowed clothes, forgotten clothes, clothes for day, for night, for meetings, for nights on the town, for impromptu costume parties… for pretty much any occasion imaginable.
So…am I what I drive? You know what, I would have to say yes. Because I’m ready for anything.
Emily walks:
I thought I could add “walking to work” to the list of perks of moving in with my boyfriend, until I realized that my life has become a perpetual schlep.
A 20 minute walk is not very conducive to shoes with heels, shoes that rub your heels, or shoes that squeeze your toes which I had to learn the hard way (you thought your heels were ugly? I’m talking a good old fashioned blood bath in-transit). Now, if I have meetings or an event after work, I have to bring a change of shoes in my bag and wear comfortable flats to work. This requires that I carry a bag big enough to fit another pair of shoes at all times.
It’s also more challenging in the winter, when ballerinas or sandals won’t cut it.
Rain also adds some complications. No umbrella = disaster. There have been multiple times when it has poured, with no cabs in sight, and I have completely drenched through my white clothes that suddenly became see-through – maybe it made people on the way happy?
And in winter, layering is essential. Twenty minutes in the snow is cold. I usually try to wear 2-3 layers on top and have been known to put a pair of leggings on under my jeans. Scarves, hats and boots are no longer just optional if you don’t want to freeze.
Then there’s the fun part of showing up to the studio and continually stripping all day until your body reaches a normal temperature just in time to layer back up again to head home.
Alex takes the subway:
I live pretty far uptown so I bring my life along with me every morning because there is a 99% chance that if I go home after work, I won’t leave again (party pooper!). I have a select group of heels that I’m able to walk great distances in and can make it from day to night without losing a toe, but most of the time I pack a change of shoes. If I have any plans after work, I usually pack non-essentials into said canvas tote and carry a small handbag with me, leaving the tote and flats under my desk for the night.
So if I have multiple dates social engagements in the week, I always end up having one day where I end up lugging home four tote bags full of flat shoes aka my weekly bag lady moment.
Taking the subway in the summer, I basically want to be naked (I mean not really, but kind of) because it is way too hot on that platform. You sweat your face off (literally) and then you enter a freezing, AC filled car and watch your sweat turn to icicles. You don’t really want to sit, especially in a shorter skirt or shorts or in anything white. So you stand, you drip, you freeze and then you are back out into the heat for the 6 block walk to the office.
In the winter, it’s a little bit of the opposite. I tend to avoid dressing like a yeti for as long as possible (I grew up in the Minnesota tundra, I can sport a bare ankle until at least mid-November) but eventually the time comes and I layer up. I throw on my wool coat, my wool socks, my Heattech and head to the subway. The platform temperature is pretty stable and then in all my layered glory, I enter the subway car and while it creeps down the west side, I want nothing more than to strip off every single layer on my body (again, here am I wanting to be naked on the subway). Upon exiting, I turn back into an icicle on my walk to the office.
I wouldn’t really trade my subway commute for anything (okay maybe for walking) but it’s easy, it’s quick (usually) and I spend most of my time listening to other people’s music thanks to their volume to the max headphones (finding all the latest hits) and wondering if that cute guy in the suit will write a missed connection (Do people still write missed connections? You know, those things on Craigslist where you write something like “To that cute girl in the Heattech on the subway, I’m sorry I didn’t propose.”) about me.
And where would I be without that fantasy?
Here are our morning and evening personal disasters!!! Which one would you pick? And which is your routine of choice?
PS: Thank you to Delphine Del Val and Rebecca Sinclair for sharing their commutes with us!
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FRIENDS IN WARSAW!
Quelle allure! J’aime son manteau, son bun et son écharpe!
Mafalda
http://www.mafaldadotzero.blogspot.fr
i’m a free lance translator: my commute is usually from my bed to my desk :)
http://littleaesthete.com
I walk 20 minutes to work every day in Toronto like Emily, and I agree, no heels ever, only flats. Layering and a really warm parka is definitely key too for the super cold Canadian winters! I also had to cave and buy a pair of Hunter rain boots because I was tired of getting my feet soaked when it rains.
Bon sang, que j’admire ces femmes… se trimbaler une paire de chaussures de rechange juste pour le plaisir d’enfiler des talons qui font mal aux pieds après le bureau… ;D
Excitiiiing un nouveau bureaaaau!! Congrats!
Alixxx
http://alixdebeer.com/
J’ai à peine 10 minutes à pied, à Paris c’est le bonheur. Je porte beaucoup de chaussures plates ou des talons pas trop hauts. Si je veux porter des talons hauts, je prends le métro. Je ne suis pas très adepte de trimballer un sac avec des chaussures de rechange.
30 minutes de marche, ça commence à faire un peu long, nous qui sommes généralement toujours hyper pressées. Je te conseille donc le métro en hiver, le vélo au printemps et à l’automne et la marche plutôt l’été ou les jours où tu as le temps. Mais JAMAIS la voiture, non mais quelle idée!! Je ne savais pas que tu avais une voiture, à moins que tu ne parles de prendre un taxi. OK, mais à réserver les jours de très hauts talons!!
Awesome shot! I love her coat and scarf! I walk 30 minutes to work every day and it’s a great routine!
http://heelsandpeplum.wordpress.com/
J’oubliais: moi, je marche. Look et confort sont les deux essentiels, à 50/50.
http://www.mamzette.com
I wish I could walk or bike to work I have a 45 minutes drive to work. Great photo love the oversize coat and scarf.
xo
http://pinksole.com
I have to say that I heartily disapprove of Delphine riding her bike in New York without a helmet. She thinks cold ears are tragic? She should talk to my friend the surgical resident who has had to tell the parents of a 27-year old that their son is brain-dead from a bike accident (and this wasn’t a rare case–nearly all the head traumas he saw were to cyclists without helmets. Okay off my soapbox.
I work from home too, so I’m in pjs much of the morning. But since the noisy terrier needs frequent walks, I make an effort when I go outside as I never know who I’ll run into, especially in the West Village. Comfortable walking shoes are a must, especially as I’m now suffering the consequences of too many years in snug, pointy toed high heels. I walk as much as possible, default to a cab and take the subway if the distance is too expensive for a cab (or frankly, faster). I love the leisureliness of the bus, but after 16 years in nyc, I confess I only know two routes!
I completely agree! I ride my bike to and from all my engagements during the day (all year), and I would say that the most important way it affects the way I dress is that it forces me to not do a lot about my hair – because of course I always wear a helmet! So I’ll do a low bun or let my hair hang loosely (both work well with a helmet), otherwise I’ll bring an elastic band and a couple of bobby pins and do a quick bun/ponytail when I arrive.
Aside from that, I agree with Delphine on the skirt-thing. Luckily, I’ve never worn a lot of pencil -, maxi- or super mini-skirts, so that’s not a problem. But I definitely consider “bikeability” when shopping for skirts, dresses or pants! Sometimes I’ll even do a squat in the fitting room to test the garment :)
I used to disapprove of every helmet-less rider out there. But then I started a bike fashion blog. Along the way, I researched helmet safety statistics…turns out the conclusions are not so cut & dry.
The risks that Delphine takes by riding without a helmet are exaggerated. Especially if she avoids heavily trafficked roads and rides slowly and cautiously. Some studies indicate that people who wear helmets might be taking more risks, and that drivers treat helmeted bikers with less caution!
Do you know that car drivers are at bigger risk of a head injury than bikers? Do you think helmets should be mandatory in cars?
I usually go to work by train. I wake up very early in the morning and I come back for dinner. I also have to walk a few from the station to the office. So only comfortable shoes (also heels, but not too thin), many layers and a folding umbrella in my bag! Have a nice day!
Cecilia
http://www.modeskine.com/en
Haha, I can relate to them all (except for the car, cause I don’t have one), working partly from home (definitely sweats), partly from the city (bike) and partly from another city (walking to the station and then taking a train and then a tram).
The last one makes sure I end up the most composed I guess, because I can relax on the train and touch up on the train – which I think would be a perk of commuting by car too.
However the other options are a bit more healthier (also environmentally) and I like walking/biking/public transport as an activity :) It does requite layers when it gets colder and the thing I dislike about that mostly (beside still trying to look elegant and balance the layers to not overheat in the end) is that when I wear a nice shirt (blouse) it gets all scrunched up underneath it and makes the clean look disappear.
Great post! I like all the different perspectives and funny analogies :)
Garance, you have a kindred PJ-wearing spirit! I got the idea for my PJs brand, POPLIN while working from home as a freelancer writer in Bombay and wanting to work in my PJs without feeling lazy and too scruffy. Freelancer chic!
Love the concept and the collection!
J’ai la chance de vivre et de travailler dans mon quartier à Paris. Donc tous les matins je pars de la rue de Buci pour me rendre rue de Varenne avec un trajet plus cliché tu meurs.
Place Saint Germain, Café de Flore, rue des Saint Pères, rue de Grenelle, et rue de Varenne.
Je fais les vitrines, je regarde les passants, je découvre quelques tendances, et j’observe la vie du quartier le plus Céline de Paris… A pieds. A vélo je me serais déjà fait écraser par un bus.
I take the metro! Parisian metro isn’t the worse and I’m lucky enough to always have a seat…
So I wear heels and never ever think of bringing a change (can be very painful every now and then). But I do always carry a lot of things with me. I keep many essentials at the office just in case (including a jacket and a shirt) and I layer like crazy in the winter – Paris can get cold, and the office is always warm…
Some day, I’d like to buy a bike and cycle to work. But then I think about all the clothes I couldn’t wear, the stress of having to deal with car drivers, how long it would take, the rain, etc. etc. and I give up on the idea!
Oh the curiosity and promise of a Missed connection! Haha!
I take a commuter rail that does not lend itself to dressing to the nines, so my wardrobe suffers mightily. I save my best outfits, shoes and bags for days that I drive.
I think I ascribe to the Lagerfeld theory of dressing b/c even on my telecommute day I like to still get up and get dressed before I turn on the computer to work. (Just enough to be presentable). I can’t negotiate with my brokers wearing PJs, I would mentally lose my “edge” ;)
Alex, I’m from MN and live in NYC, too. I was just on the phone with my mom last night joking about how everyone is complaining about how cold it is while I’m boppin’ around town in my ankle pants with no socks :)
In other news, I have the luxury of walking to work. When I used to commute from Chinatown to Chelsea, I would bike or take the train on rainy days in the spring/summer/fall. In the winter I always took the train to work. After work I would walk to yoga in the West Village and then walk home from there.
Also, as a commenter mentioned above, PLEASE WEAR A HELMET WHEN BIKING! I beg of you! I’m a very good biker (follow the traffic laws, stay in the bike lane, ect.) and I got into three accidents alone last summer. If I wasn’t wearing a helmet, who knows where I’d be! Please be safe!
I walk only when the weather is really nice, because it’s a 45-50 min walk and only if I have sensible shoes. But, since I don’t have a bike yet, most of the time I drive, which enables me to wear whatever I want (and sometimes carry an extra pair of shoes just in case), or take the bus, in which case I wear flats.
Bike. Always bike. …because you can take everything with you (in the bike bags), wear heels and what not (no problem with pavement, cobblestones or like) + it looks feminine (i have a dutch bike) and is convient… Besides – it’s the best speed to see a city at. Any city. People, skyline, all…
Love your blog!!!!
I’m posting looks from L.A. and accessories:
http://www.thegavlaks.com
Coucou Garance :-))!
Le transport c’est une question dont on parle peu et qui pourtant me semble tellement essentielle!! Le rapport aux transports changent totalement en fonction de là où on habite.
Parisienne, je me permets de vivre sans permis et de dépendre des bus mais dés que je souhaite partir en vacances quelle galère… je me sens ridiculement impuissante face au vaste monde ;-). Suivant la même idée, je me souviens qd quelqu’un qui habitait en banlieue m’avait dit: “ce n’est pas loin, c’est à 20 minutes en voiture”. Non mais 20 minutes en voiture pas loin?!? Le bout du monde tu veux dire!!
Ma géographie est pathétiquement modelée par mes capacités à me déplacer: il y a des endroits de Paris qui me sont inconnus alors que je connais par coeur toutes les stations que déservent les bus des alentours. Ce n’est pas moi qui suis fermée d’esprit, bien entendu c’est de la faute des bus qui ne changent jamais d’itinéraires ;-)) !
I have to take the car so I can wear what I want!
Kiss!!
Passa a trovarmi VeryFP
Garance, you should definitely bike! Since I’m from the Netherlands, it’s obvious for me. We bike all the time and never (after our 6th birthday or something) wear helmets. That is, to be honest, because here the cardrivers are used to cyclists, so that makes it much less dangerous.
Actually, this morning I read in a Dutch newspaper that cycling in NYC, thanks to your major, is really booming. And so it should, its the best transport you can have. Don’t bother about what to wear, you can wear almost anything on a bike and things you can’t wear, bring them along and change after arrival (I sometimes bring a pencil skirt along -in -yes!-the basket-and put on a jogging at first and change after arrival. No problem!) A long coat also helps. Good luck on you new routine!
I love, love, love this post. So many fashion blogs ignore the realities of everyday life, and I love that you try to make even the mundanity of life (commuting) stylish. Glad to know I’m not the only one hopping back and forth from work with bags of shoes and things I’ve left at work after running to a party afterwards! xo
Avant je travaillais moi aussi à la maison.
Depuis un an, j’ai enfin un bureau. Ce qui a changé beaucoup de choses au quotidien, comme le fait de devoir m’habiller un minimum pour aller travailler. et en fait, j’aime bien ça. C’est ce qui permet de faire la différence entre la maison et le travail. Dès que je rentre chez moi le soir, je me change, place aux survêts et pyjamas.
Le bonheur c’est que je peux aller au travail à pieds. Qu’il pleuve, vente ou neige. J’y vais toujours à pieds. C’est génial pour la santé cette marche quotidienne. Par contre, l’enfer absolu, c’est de trouver des chaussures à la fois jolies et confortables. J’ai complètement changé mes achats de chaussures depuis un an. Je cherche désespérément des chaussures belles mais avec lesquelles marcher sans souci. Et ça, c’est très très compliqué! Dès que je trouve une bonne paire, je l’achète en deux exemplaires.
Hâte de voir des photos du nouveau bureau!!
Bisous.
I thank god almost every morning that I’m a driver (my Mini Cooper is my most prized possession besides my Chanel bags ;) ) I can wear almost anything to work and the weather almost never bothers me. I also love to leave a change of shoes (reed flats) in my car for when my feet hurt. My running shoes are also always in the trunk. xo Hanneke
Check out my style on http://www.hannekeverstegen.com
My commute includes a 30-minute elevated-train ride on Chicago’s L and then a 10 minute walk. I never know if I’ll get a seat or if I’ll be forced to stand. So flats are a must. My heels go in a tote bag with my purse, planner, and other essentials.
As Alex described, layering is a must year round. In the summer, I wear minimal clothing while outside, with warmer and more work-appropriate layers for the L and office/Fashion Vault (climate control is chilly!). Conversely, I go to town when it comes to frigid temps outside in the winter. I’m not ashamed to break out a full-length puffer coat with a hood and layer long underwear for my commute and then reveal or change into a chic outfit once I’ve arrived at work.
I live a 20-30 minute drive from work…so driving is my only option. In terms of dressing, it doesn’t really pose many challenges…until winter, anyway. There is no way I’m standing outside in heels to scrape the snow and ice off my car, so I usually do that when I first wake up in the morning (the chill really wakes me up) while still in my flannel jammies. Then I get ready, and by the time I get out to the car, the sun has usually warmed it up enough. It’s a routine that works, and took me years to perfect. ;-)
If I could PICK how I commuted to work, I’d walk. As a college instructor, I live in shoes I can walk around in all day (since I bounce from room to room all day). So walking another 20 minutes to and from work wouldn’t be a problem.
Alas, I live in Ohio – the land of the car-only commute. The only places I can feasibly walk to are my favorite Chinese restaurant (partly why I live here), and a McDonalds (not something I like at all). Maybe someday I can indulge myself with an on-foot commute!
Congrats on the new work space! Hope you have a great time getting used to non-pajama work mornings!
good news for you.. it is so good to work outside your home base if the commute is around 30 min you will have a quality of time..if it is your case walk definitely and like every american woman use your TRAINERS SHOES and change shoes at work to high heel or more sexy one..to be in good shape we need to exercise at least 30 min per day so a nice walk in NY is not so bad I guess ..good luck to you and keep us inform of your decision……bonne chance.
I walk about 50 minutes in Washington DC from September-May. The summer humidity is too much for me, and I take the bus or Metro. Right now, I am walking in flat ankle boots that I can wear with my tights and dresses, or with my cropped pants. (I don’t really wear long, non-skinny straight pants, so dragging my hem on the ground is never an issue). If there is snow on the ground, I wear shorter snow boots (they’re black, not too bad looking). When it’s warmer I switch to comfy sandals–this year, I had some great strappy Ecco sandals. I dress to be a little chilly when I walk out the door, because I warm up in about 10 minutes of walking. Garance, I have a new pixie cut too, and I haven’t figured out my hat situation. I have to wear one when I leave the pool after after-work swims, but I look ridiculous by that point, so who cares? :)
It happened without my realizing, after about a month walking to work I stopped by the mirror and was a unimpressed with my look. I wasn’t wearing as much jewelry, I looked almost professional casual… the glamour, sexy thing I really enjoy adding was missing. Walking is a shlep so I wasn’t wearing my favorite items anymore, just a few pairs of pants that I rotated and the same flat slippers, and ALWAYS a button down shirt. By the weekend, I would come out in the nines after a sartorially starved week!
So, I bought some hot flats, vamped up my button downs with silk shirts, and got great slacks. Same functional look as before, just elevated.
Now when I take a taxi…… it’s a whooolllee other story
Living in California, I can definitely relate to Rebecca. I loved reading all the commuting stories.
I smiled and could relate to some part of each person’s story of daily travel.
Thanks for brightening my day with this post <3
Bike one week and take the subway the other week… depending on the weather, my mood, and also… my energy.
This post is timely! Thank you Garance and team!
Please let’s discuss in greater details the bag part of the (long/public transportation) commute to work ! I am relocating to a great city (not NY though) and would love some tips on what is the best looking backpack out there that a young professional can rely on for a daily use – what is the best tote bag for meetings /business trips ?! To make my request even more specific!!! can we stay under the 300$ limit – Help! :)
Qwstion is a brand I recently discovered and they have really cool sharp looking bags. The best thing about it is that you can wear them several ways by adjusting the straps (a tote turns into backpack for instance) which makes them really versatile.
J’ai la chance d’habiter à côté de mon lieu de travail, donc je fais tout à pied!
http://www.laurablogmode.com
i loved this snapshot of different commuting experiences and am looking forward to scouring the comments for tips!
i know my own commute completely dictates what i wear. i used to have an 8 minute walk to work, which was heaven and i could practically wear anything i wanted. now it’s a 50/50 split between working from home and a 20 minute bike ride (or 40 minute walk, but who has time for that. no car, no bus, no other options!).
when i stay home i make a point of getting dressed (changed is probably more accurate) because it helps me make the transition from relaxing with my morning coffee (e.g. personal emails, reading blogs, online shopping) and working (work emails, analyzing data, writing). since both activities take place on my computer, the transition is very important! i’ll confess that it generally consists of changing out of flannels and into sweatpants, leggings, or very relaxed jeans if i’m feeling really ambitious..
the key to my cycling commute is to wear a base layer that (apologies in advance) soaks up all the back/torso sweat. when i get to work, i take the base layer off, air dry for a minute (it’s very hilly where i live!) and put my other clothes back on, leaving the base layer to air dry somewhere inconspicuous (please don’t judge). oh and when it gets colder than 10C, leather gloves (wind resistant) and a headband (pretty tight so that the wind is completely blocked out to avoid earaches) are a must.
one last suggestion is that, especially when you bike, you need to be very tuned in to the weather. make sure you check the forecast for your commute to AND from work. it’s easy to bring an umbrella just in case if you’re walking, but you need a rain jacket if you’re biking!
good luck with your new commute!
J’adorerais vraiment aller au boulot en velo mais je dois traverser Central Park et c’est vachement valloné en fait!!! Et puis le casque ruine à coup sur toute tentative de coiffure convenable! Bref j’ai le fantasme de la belle amazone sur son velo mais en fait je galere en metro et bus mais je suis toujours coiffée et pas transpirante en arrivent au taf!
I basically live in the countryside around Milano, so every morning it’s a challenge: 15min by car+40 by train and then also 3 km walk. My destination is a chemistry lab, so I can’t be too fashionable or wear high heels, and this really sucks. My only solace is sporting a full “natural” makeup, at least the cold outside prevents my face to melt down! The most important thing I put in my bag is THE HOLY BLESSED IPOD (could you imagine 40min on train without it?)
ahah super ce post, hyper drôle !
tu reçois ton équipe en pyjama/jogging gris ? ;)
hâte de voir le nouveau studio ! ça marche hyper fort, bravo !
Super post Garance !
Félicitations pour le nouveau studio !!! – On attend de photos !
Je prends train – metro – bus tous les jours – en Région Parisienne. Je mets de vêtements confortables (pas de jupes trop courtes ou serres – pas pratique).Toujours des jolis talons mais, j’évite de prendre mes talons préférés -pour ne pas les abimer – (pluie, gens trop pressés qui te marche dessous, etc ). J’ai toujours un énorme sac, souvent trop lourd– bouquin, trousse, Ipod , casques , parapluie etc
http://rockartfashion.wordpress.com/
J’ai tenté les talons étant donné que je suis petite, mais j’ai vite renoncé. Pas pratique du tout pour courir dans le métro, dans les escaliers… Du coup ce sera boots ultra plates pour cet hiver !
Love your blog ;)
almu
http://www.mavieenroseblog.com/
quand j’habitais à NYC, j’habitais sur la 23rd et 2nd et je travaillais sur la 5eme et 17th donc j’y allais à pied, beaucoup plus rapide et confortable mais il est vrai que l’option talon était plus souvent dans mon sac que à mes pieds. quel courage d’aller au travail en stilettos!
I bike to the train. However, I wear a helmet. It keeps the rain off and my head safe. People who bike with no helmets in NYC are daredevils, I would never attempt it!
I would love to bike now and again… sadly I am afraid to ride in the city….. I live between London and LA… currently I am in LA and I hate that I cant walk! I am a walker! a true city chick!… I am originally from NY and being in a city is where I feel comfortable…. in London I walk EVERYWHERE! when I go home to NY I walk everywhere…. but in LA everybody drives!…. I loved Rebecca’s post…. she made me laugh out loud!, …. congrats on the new office space in NY.
http://www.myclayexperience.com/
Alors moi c’est vélo vélo vélo, tous les jours (sauf quand il y a trop de neige, alors là, non c’est trop dangereux).
Je vis et travaille à Bruxelles, le vélo c’est l’idéal, plus rapide qu’en transport en commun et qu’en voiture. Plus agréable aussi, je connais les petites rues et les chemins consacrés!
Mais je ne m’habille pas tout à fait comme je veux. Surtout s’il pleut et surtout s’il fait un peu chaud (le pire car on s’habille il ne fait pas si chaud, mais dès qu’on pédale, trop chaud). La pluie c’est le pire aussi je trouve, je dois prendre tout un attirail (cape, chaussures de rechanges, pantalon de pluie, bonnet, gants). Le panier et les bonnes fontes sont indispensables!
Les grandes jupes et les trop courtes, les pantalons larges aussi, c’est niet. Les semelles en cuir s’abiment très vite en vélo aussi. Les cheveux, c’est pas évident non plus, je les attache le temps de rouler pour pas qu’ils deviennent un vrai bush.
Mais quand même, je ne changerais de moyen de transport pour rien au monde. Le matin un trajet en vélo, ça active le corps et l’esprit, ça fait vraiment du bien.
GARAAAAAAAANCE !!!! Il FAUT que tu nous fasses un post Career sur Rebecca! Devenir scénariste pour des séries télé = mon rêve. J”aimerais beaucoup connaître son parcours et ce qu’elle a à dire sur ce métier. Je t’adulerai jusqu’à la fin de mes jours si tu faisais ce post haha
Bonne journée!
Coucou. à Florence, qu’il pleuve, vente, neige ou fasse un soleil éclatant, je prends mon vélo. C’est une sorte de décision totalement débile que j’ai prise pour moi même. Je reconnais bien dans l’article les problèmes de jupe crayon ou jupe longue sur le vélo. Encore une fois rien ne m’arrête même si je suis à l’article de la mort en traversant les ponts avec la jupe longue hippie à souhait prête à se coincer dans la roue avant. Autre avantage italien: on fait tout sans les mains. Donc sur le vélo c’est main gauche au téléphone et main droite qui tient le parapluie. Légèrement dangereux j’en conviens. Baci le studio ! Ali
http://www.alidifirenze.fr
i go with a bus to my school about 20 minutes.it is so.boring.But i read something and listen music.i don’t like waste my time.
pastelizyum.blogspot.com
Quand j’ai monté mon bureau il était essentiel que je travaille pas chez moi pour éviter le pyjamas en permanence. Depuis que je suis à Paris, j’ai le même genre de vie que toi … (heureusement que mon frigo est toujours vide) je le savais…
Ceci dit habiter le 4ème c’est le luxe de tout pouvoir faire à pied et quand c’est un peut plus loin, je vélib (avoir avec les journées plus fraiches et pluvieuses qui arrivent).
Mais en suisse j’ai (avais) une voiture fourre tout :) ce qui me fais penser que mes 8 ans à la Chaux-de-Fonds bâtis sur un plans façon L.A. me dit que, c’est les villes quadrillé qui font ça :) bien que ce soit tout l’opposé climatique de L.A (j’ai jamais acheté de shorts quand j’y habitais, il y a 2 soirées par année ou tu peux sortir en t-shirts sans prendre de quoi te réchauffer)
J’ai trouvé cet article hilarant! je me reconnais parfaitement dans tout ce qui est dit, vu qu’en fonction des saisons je change de moyen de transport: à vélo quand il fait encore bon, a pied puis en bus quand il pleut, en voiture quand il neige et que les températures avoisinnent le -15°! Merci pour ce post!
Cécile
http://www.maxcebycecilej.com
Mon trajet quotidien c’est 5,5 m: de mon lit au bureau en passant par la salle de bain et la cuisine.
Le vélo comme à Paris me manque mais à Madrid – dans la rue comme dans mon appart – c’est suicidaire…
Je suis désolée, tu as oublié un moyen de commute essentiel: le skate, ou le longboard. Je me demande si c’est pas jouable en pencil skirt.
Après 15 jours passés en Californie en plus, tu es impardonnable.
Sinon si j’avais une voiture, elle serait comme celle de Rebecca. D’ailleurs, j’ai déjà eu des voitures, elles étaient toutes comme celles de Rebecca. Ce qui me sauve maintenant c’est d’habiter à 500m du boulot.
En bus et en bus et je marche et j’attends dehors du coup c’est à plat que ça se fait, en yéti l’hiver en freestyle l’été le seul moment où ça ne me dérange pas que mon bus soit en retard
I keep telling myself that I should bike to work. But it’s pretty dangerous here in Brussels. It might be an excuse though… So I’m going to work by metro. It’s crowded. But I’m used to.
Anyway I enjoy the post a lot ! Thanks for sharing your experiences with us !
C’est vrai, c’est chiant ces contingences de transport….déjà que souvent je reste 20mn à regarder ma penderie d’un air niais en me demandant quoi mettre, mais quand en plus je dois penser “alors auj je prends le métro, non je vais marcher, non je vais monter avec mon mari en scoot, non je prends ma voiture” ouh là là prise de tête, chaussures, vêtements suffisamment chauds, blabla, RV, pas Rv, alors là je suis bonne pour rester 1h00 dans mon dressing. Et je déteste les contraintes liées à ce genre de chose, j’ai juste envie de laisser mon esprit créatif :-) s’exprimer et m’habiller comme je veux !!! (je suis un peu ado attardé moi encore) Alors pour ça…rien de mieux que la voiture malheureusement (ou chauffeur, t’as pas dit, chauffeur ! je plaisante). En tout cas, c’est sur tu ne vas plus zoner en tenue de yoga toute la journée, ce qui est mieux pour l’ego avant d’être mieux pour les autres !
http://www.mode9.fr
Walking seems like a good excuse to wear crazy sneakers… I love the tailored work look combined with platform neon sneakers. And it doesn’t look like you are trying too hard because the sneakers are actually a necessity.
I love my bike, and I bike to work almost every day, and for most of my errands. However, to Delphine: please, PLEASE wear a helmet. Without one, you don’t look chic–you look careless. San Francisco is more bike-friendly than NYC, but accidents still happen everyday, even if you follow traffic laws (if you don’t believe me, maybe the two permanent screws in my pelvis will convince you).
It’s also been illegal not to wear a helmet in San Francisco wince Willie Brown signed it into law.
Re: D’s comment–In SF the helmet law is for people under the age of 18. Adults can still go helmet-less. But not naked.
I like to ride bike as often as possible!
http://www.FashionSnag.com
Biking in Brussels is still a very dangerous, certainly the infrastructure but also the political will is lacking. More here: http://www.lambyk.com/english/
I have:
– 8-minute walk to my office in flats,
– 12-minute walk in mid heels or wedges
– 16-minute walk in sky-high stilletos or heeled sandals
or a 3-minute bike ride (not counting 5 minutes of dragging my 22 kilogram bike down the four-storey building from my apartment, and then another 5 minutes of stuffing it under the free space under my office’s staircase due to lack of bike rack)
Je vais au boulot à vélib’ par n’importe quel temps, même sous le blizzard. Je reviens souvent en métro ou en vélib’. Pratique. Par contre je ne suis plus très souvent en jupe ou robe. Et on oublie les trucs trop chics. Vélo = casual… enfin pour moi.
haha j’adore voir ces tranches de vie, toutes humoristiques et si vraies.
Alors moi j’habite un hameau sur un coteau qui domine une vallée entourée des Alpes, la vue est MAGNIFIQUE. Pour aller au travail, j’ai le choix entre prendre le train qui est à 6 min à pied avec une station dans la foret (oui je suis en Suisse, ca ne pourrait pas exister en France) (je suis française j’ai le droit de critiquer du coup), dont la route est partiellement enneigée l’hiver, ou encore prendre mon VTT et me lancer à fond en descente sur une route qui traverse la foret. (pour monter je peux mettre le VTT dans le train si j’ai la flemme ;)) ). Je n’ai pas de voiture.
Si j’y vais à pied et ou train, je mets mon sac à main dans un charriot à grosses roulettes tout terrain pour ne pas me faire mal au dos (un Macbook ca pèse sa mère) et surtout ramener des courses (pain, croquettes etc) sans avoir 36 sacs à trimballer. Je peux mettre n’importe quel vêtement exceptés des talons fins (mais je sais pas les porter en vrai donc ca ne me gêne pas), ou des chaussures en joli cuir lorsque je dois marcher dans la neige. Je pense toujours aux Parisiennes qui seraient effrayées de descendre dans le noir de la foret :D
Si j’y vais en VTT (sur la route), j’ai des sacoches à l’arrière pour glisser mon sac, parfois des chaussures (toutes les chaussures n’agrippent pas forcément assez bien pour une descente à 40 ou 50 km/h), parfois un blaser (parce que la veste soft shell technique c’est chouette là ou j’habite mais moins en séance business) (quoi que ca se fait bien ici). L’important est de bien vérifier le radar météo prévisionnel pour savoir s’il va pleuvoir et le cas échéant prévoir une capuche (genre je mets la veste technique sous le manteau qui lui n’a pas de capuche) et ne pas oublier les gants s’il fait froid.
Tu sais ce dont je rêve ? Des super manteaux ou trench ceinturés et un peu militaire genre Burberry ou McQ, chic ET avec capuche !
Je suis ravie de ce post ! Un de mes plus grands tracas du quotidien, c’est celui-là !
Ici, à Paris, je prends mon scooter pour aller travailler la plupart du temps. Je dis bien la plupart, parce que depuis que je bosse en free-lance, il m’arrive aussi de dessiner chez moi, auquel cas, je partage cette affection pour le survet-pyjama, qui, dans mon cas, est plus noir que gris.
Sinon, lorsque je me déplace, le scooter influence évidemment ma façon de m’habiller. Les 3/4 du temps, j’opte pour un simple jean/bottines à petits talons / veste en cuir. Une tenue de “motarde” simple, stylée, et qui a l’avantage d’être pratique pour le 2 roues. Une fois, au tout début, j’ai mis une jupe courte un peu évasée. Une accélération, et hop, je me suis retrouvée en culotte, la jupe relevée sur mon ventre, sur le scooter. Du coup, soit j’évite les jupes, soit je les choisi plutôt près du corps (assez pour ne pas se relever en cas d’accélération, mais pas trop, histoire de pouvoir écarter les jambes un minimum, et passer les pieds des deux côtés du scooter.) C’est vrai qu’on ne penserait pas, mais c’est super technique en fait tout ça.
Si je n’avais pas cette passion du scooter, je serais surement une autre personne, en terme de style vestimentaire !
Bonne soirée !
pour les trajets en vélo dans les villes agitées par les voitures-qui-se-foutent-des-trucs-sans-carcasse-metallique et sans mettre de casque-qui-décoiffe, regarde cette innovation, le casque invisible, créé par 2 suédoises, c’est absolument génial !! http://www.travelinggreener.com/cycling/invisible-bike-helmet-from-sweden/ (mais juste cher)
Je prends le train plusieurs fois la semaine , alors c’est chaussures plates pour marcher sans trébucher
Cette année je mets des chaussures de motardes , hyper confort , bon pas sexy en diable mais comment font les femmes qui portent des talons pour marcher , descendre les escaliers , courir?? Dans Paris je marche , je prends bus et taxis , donc je garde mes bottes !
Salut,
Parfait :o
See you !
Laëti
Hello Garance !
Moi je fais du vélo chaque matin du 17ème au 18ème sur mon joli Mercier vintage, la tenue idéale mine de rien c’est un long manteau, des collants en laine et une robe fluide !
En plus tu peux narguer les voitures coincées dans leurs bouchons matinaux…
Moi, à Paris, je prends mon vélo pour aller au bureau (15-20 mn). La seule chose vraiment impossible ce sont les jupes crayon et la seule indispensable : un déodorant super efficace. L’hiver : gants en peau lainée, bonnet et doudoune ultra light d’Uniqlo en “sous couche”. Quand il pleut, je prends ma vieille voiture pourrie, so chic, je m’en fiche, au moins elle ne risque rien et alimente les conversations. Même si il y a des bouchons, je m’y sens bien, j’écoute de la musique, je rêvasse et je fume (MAAAAAL!)
Passer de la banlieue à Paris s’est toute une histoire le tout en 45 minutes… Alors je m’adapte en fonction de mon humeur, du temps et de mon emploi du temps ! Mais je l’avoue, j’aime être à l’aise pour arpentée tout Paris et surtout être à plat quand je dois courir pour attraper le dernier métro …. :)
Super article! Pour ma part, après avoir passé un mois à Londres à voyager en métro (pendant l’été) toute dégoulinante avec des gens qui nous fixent, nous poussent,… je choisirais une autre méthode. Je préfère l’autobus, mais ça ne va pas partout. L’auto serait plus efficace, mais un jour! (surtout l’hiver)
Sandrine x
http://www.iamsandrine.com
I’m the same as Delphine. I bike and if I can’t bike (in the winter and sometimes just because), I walk. Biking is better, because then I can wear heels, which I don’t wear otherwise, because my walk is 25-30 minutes. In the summer biking is easy, because I don’t have to go so fast that I’d get sweaty, the breeze is even cooling. But in the colder times I have to make sure I have gloves, a scarf and something covering my head, even if just the hood of my parka, which is not the safest when it comes to vision. Although I can wear anything, I automatically choose lighter fabrics and sometimes go past wool, because in the occasion that I need to get somewhere fast and start getting myself sweaty, wool is not cool.
All things considered, I love my commutes. I love biking and I love the snowy walks in the winter, when my parka hood even protects my face from blizzards, so when everyone else is hunching and squinting their eyes, I just enjoy the snow and the fresh air.
En voiture, difficilement de faire autrement à Bordeaux … et c’est bien dommage car je préfére largement circuler en bus ou tram et utiliser ainsi le temps de trajet pour lire , écouter des podcast ou de la musique. Bref, faire quelque chose de plus interessant que juste conduire !
La parenthèse Enchantée.fr
I miss my subway commute. Now that I live in Michigan again, I drive everywhere. I miss the days when I could just get on a subway train and listen to music, read a book or journal while I was heading to work or back home or to see friends. There is something about the energy of being surrounded by all of those people that I enjoyed as much as being able to zone out. Also, it’s a great time to people watch. Though you have to be subtle about it if you don’t want the interesting, middle aged Jamaican guy you’re fascinated by to ask you out when you walk off the train because he noticed you were looking at him. (Yes, that happened to me).
I did the subway (from Brooklyn) for 22 years. Then, this spring I discovered the East River ferry and will not go back to the subway ever if I can help it. I don’t live right by the river, so it also entails a 20-minute walk home, which is great in the summer/fall, but will get challenging in winter. Shoes are important. I bit the bullet and bought my first running shoes this summer after doing something hurtful to my knee by running on the gravel in my dress shoes to catch the boat. I don’t wear heels, so that’s not an issue, but super flat shoes can also hurt, so having some spring in the sole is essential. Other than that, I make sure I always have a hat and scarf/shawl as the sun and wind are much stronger on the shore, and since my phone is never long out of my hands, chunky wrist warmers are now essential.
Like Alex, I take the tube (in London) to work, plus then walk 15 minutes. At the moment I melt in the tube and I freeze outside…summer was the opposite!! I try to avoid it by layering up like an onion but the tube is usually so packed I don’t have space to take any of my clothes off…
so nice pic!!!!!
i love the architecture of the building but also i love that amazing scarf…!!!
DECOlife
xxXx
I walk for about 20 minutes twice a day in NYC and I enjoy it very much. The only tough part is doing the umbrella sword fight routine or dodging giant potholes and puddles. Otherwise, it is a nice low cardio routine if you have music. Sometimes it feels like a life soundtrack when walking… If you walk you will usually be a slave to the weatherman and doing lots of shoe planning.
J’ai la chance de pouvoir partir à mon bureau “en bateau” et je marche peu mais avec des chaussures plates, j’enfile des escarpins au bureau si j’en ai envie.
Dans le bateau je peux prendre un second café, me maquiller, lire les nouvelles, ou travailler…
Je perds le moins de temps possible pour choisir ma tenue quotidienne puisque j’ai déjà tout planifié au cours du weekend : mes tenues sont déjà prêtes avec chaussures et accessoires pour chaque jour de la semaine et selon la météo je prends un manteau ou un trench avec un chapeau s’il pleut pour ne pas m’embarrasser d’un parapluie.
Pour ne plus me casser la tête je m’habille avec des tenues de couleur basique souvent blazer/pantalon – les couleurs des 5 jours de la semaine sont en ce moment : noir, gris, bleu marine, taupe, blanc, et je leur donne du peps avec des chaussures, accessoires, ou grands foulards / écharpes originaux et de couleur vive. (je ne choisis qu’un seul accessoire de couleur vive sinon c’est moche) –
Et ainsi je suis tranquille ! je n’achète pas beaucoup de vêtements mais je les veux bien coupés avec un tissu de très bonne qualité – je peux donc les remettre d’une année sur l’autre et au final je dépense moins que beaucoup de femmes qui changent souvent avec des vêtements de qualité médiocre.
Je réserve mes excentricités ;-) pour le weekend.
Je vis à Bruxelles mais je travaille à l’extérieur, à 20km environ. J’y vais en voiture, ce n’est pas mon moyen de transport préféré à la base mais pour ce trajet c’est la meilleure option, et au fur et à mesure, j’y ai pris goût (écouter la radio le matin, partir quand je veux, m’arrêter pour mes courses, etc) et c’est vrai qu’il n’y a pas vraiment de contraintes vestimentaires :D et qu’on peut transporter pleins de trucs et aller partout.
Yep! Los Angeles makes every car an apartment…Mine often contains….water….cashmere sweaters…sweatshirts….scarves…alternate shoes….sun hats….car chargers!….Handcream….Lipstick (1,2 & 3)….napkins….
Never as dirty as Rebecca’s — but I agree — you are only pretending if you think you can really be chic getting out of a dirty car! One trick? When I go to my haircutter — they have an awesome handwash they can do while I’m being worked on….(Prive on Beverly! Best Stylist? Carla! Bestest EVER color? Tats!)
Interesting read for this morning, as I was earlier trying on my long (for me) Nanna/Nonna/Grandma/just-below-calf length suede A-line skirt, and wondering if I could make it through my day without ripping it off and climbing back into my harem pants/loose jeans.
My work entails a nice variety of scenarios, so I wear relatively relaxed clothing:
(1) from home, where I’ll always change into something that I can answer the door in, as I sit right beside a ground floor, full-length window that people walking along the street can look right into
(2) driving to various locations and
(3) always – always – at least a twenty minute walk somewhere (because I am terrible at parallel parking, can almost never find my car in those multi-level car parks, and try not to pay for parking)so I’d rather park twenty minutes walk away from my detonation, in a distant street).
So, I’ll always be in flat shoes (Converse lo-tops, lace up brogues, loafers, ankle boots, combat boots, Birkenstocks in summer – arghh my feet feel so happy in them); and always in loose or skinny jeans/loose pants/long, full skirts that allow me to walk fast and easily (and run, if I run late). Same goes for evening – flat shoes and easy clothes all the way. At the back of my mind, I always have this recurring thought that mumbles, “What if you have to run away – or to – some place, really fast?”
It’s now three hours into wearing this A-line Grandma skirt of mine, and I have to take much smaller steps than I am comfortable with. I felt so self-conscious, I checked my walking refection in a full-length window as I walked by – not mincing, fortunately, but I feel like a snail … but I’m going to stick it out, as my slowed walking pace this morning made me notice a whole lot more around me.
I became so sidetracked by what we wear, I forgot to include that I carry in a medium sized bag the usual – wallet, phone, keys small make-up pouch with “girl” things and 3 lip tints and one blush,; as well as a large silk scarf to wrap around me when it cools down, a smaller silk scarf to thread through my jeans when they get bit loose in the afternoon; a “real” reading book made with paper; half a litre of water, and either a sweater or jacket/coat (depending on the weather that day).
Depending where I live, I have biked to work, about an hour. I drove….took about 1 to 2 hours. Now I live even further (suburbia) so I take my car to the train and then walk 15 minutes to the office. I leave home at 7:10 am to get to the office by 8:45 am. I wish to move into the city one day :). I dream of walking to work.
I bike hard and fast, so I have to have a change of clothes – generally leaving freshening up items in my office and changing in the bathroom….not fun, but it is worth it. Love the ride.
I have tried working from home occasionally but I end up playing around the house. I just can’t concentrate on work when I get inspired to rearrange the book shelf, clean out the fridge or start dinner. I envy your work ethic Garance!
:D
The past year I’ve been working freelance and at the clients’ site. Recently I had a client whose office was 2.7 miles (as the crow flies) away from home. I biked. Loved it. I’m in LA, this doesn’t happen very often. My wardrobe changed from my usual casual LA gear to running and yoga wear to the office. I tried carrying a backpack a couple of times but it felt geeky and not at all chic. I like the idea of my bike being outfitted with a basket like Delphine. Think I’ll try it.
I’ve never ever gone to work by car. I took subways, busses, trams and nowadays I’m walking or if I’m really late, I’ll take the bus (only 2 short stops).
The only thing that’s different in what I wear, is my bag. I have a collection of large totes – perfect to keep my maps or laptop dry when the weather is humid. The totes are my work gear ; as soon as I’m off duty, I change my bags into something more elegant.
The other good thing about taking a bus, is you get to see the immediate reaction of people towards your outfits. My bus is my catwalk (I like to sit in the back :-)
If they smile (and luckily they often do) you know you did it right !
Even the occasional questions like “Where did you get that ? or .. I love your shoes !” are a good barometer to get a proper image of what you are wearing and if people like it or not.
How I commute really affects my clothes. For example, I love high-heeled shoes but most of the time, because I have to rush all day, I cannot wear them. If you live in such a big city like Istanbul, you have to travel all day to reach the place where you are going to…
http://ipekdenizcent.blogspot.com
I think biking is the best way to move around! If there’s too much snow or ice I take the bus or walk. I haven’t changed my wardrobe because of biking. I still wear miniskirts and shorts, because if it’s rainy, tights or bare legs dry quicker than jeans (and I’m from Northern Europe so no one cares)! If you go for biking, I suggest to get a raincoat which is easy to carry around in your bag (not too thick or heavy). Mine is big enough to fit my vintage Adidas bagback inside. Have fun commuting!
Ma daily routine c’est bus, train, tram
1. Tu deviens experte en météo
2. Tu deviens experte en layering “oh, tiens, il fait chaud mais on se les gelait ce matin!”
3. Ton bureau se transforme en mini closet (baskets, ballerines, tongs, parapluie, écharpe)
4. Tu apprends à rester Zen… “Repeat after me…mon voisin de tram sent la rose, mon voisin de tram…” “Oh mais oui, bouscule-moi, t’es en retard pour le G8??!!”
Mais j’y ai presque pris goùt :))
Je vais au boulot en vélo, et je me retrouve bien dans ce que dit Delphine. En effet, j’ai dû bannir jupes serrées et trop courtes, particulièrement l’été, où l’absence de collants est un attentat à la pudeur ! Mais aussi les flare, qui se prennent dans les pédales, et je refuse la pince à pantalon, c’est lé début du casque et gilet à bandes fluo !! Par contre j’ai trouvé la parade des jupes longues, je les remonte et je m’assois dessus :-). Dit comme ça c’est pas top, mais en vrai ça passe très bien !!
Mais combien d’ecriture! Tu, chère Garance, parles tant quant tu écrit? Tu es vraiment extraordinaire! E ton livre sera un gros volume, ah! Bisou par Bari! No B(P)aris ma presque, avec la mer!
Mariateresa
Definitely I will go with driving… In my country is way too difficult to pick the walking or riding a bike part since there are not enough organized streets for that. So we are down to subway or driving but in my case the subway is a little bit far from home sooo here we are driving :) Also I am in love doing it since I have time to think about stuff, seeing interesting people and places and of course getting ready for work – the best place to put on mascara :)
Ladies, thank you I was just last week searching the internet for a coat that will withstand the windy walk to the tram sometimes in sideways rain, while trying to keep my hair in some sort of respectable condition. For some reason I thought it was only me that had these trouble so I laughed when I read your stories … Especially the “bag” lady :) thank you
Bike! Definitely. I live in Amsterdam and it’s the only way of transport that gets you somewhere quick and is also an exersice (yeah!) . In the rain I usually ride my bike holding an umbrella (little bit tricky, definitely takes a little practice). Would be easier to wear a raincoat, but I usually forget mine. As for dressing, the only thing is nothing to short. But that’s not my style anyway. Love the blog! x from Amsterdam
Hello,
I drive my scooter to work. So, like delphine: no pencil skirts and from September on a parka and sometimes a jacket underneath for walking around during lunchtime – no stylish boyfriend coats for me…) When it’s raining boots or booties. But apart from this constraints it’s a fantastic means of transportation. Fast, flexible and fun.
A
Personne ne roule en moto? Moi je rêve d’une jolie petite vespa!
I live in Italy and I walk to work :) It takes about 20 minutes and I have done it in heels (add another 5 minutes) I love to walk, see people, window shops and the sky. The only bad part is sometimes I get a little sweaty after walking so much and when I am running late I literally RUN to work. But for the most part I enjoy my mornings walking and taking in the surroundings.
As a Dutchie the bike is the most convenient and budget-friendly alternative for me. Just like Lenneke mentioned a long coat can be very practical. I wear almost everything I want to, which often results in a fight between me and my skirts/dresses while moving through town… However wearing a long coat is the perfect cover-up. When your skirt is actually way too short there will be no one who notices.
Also a must, waterproof mascara and a proper rain coat. The raincoat you can also wear underneath your coat if you want to stay fashionable both outside and inside. The wet dog look most of the times is not a real succes…
Although it happens quite frequently I start cursing before leaving home when I need to go into the cold or the rain again, I still love it because of the freedom it gives you. And an extra plus: it is a free hair-blower, saves you time to take a coffee in the morning!
Je fais tout à vélo. Je suis ancienne cycliste sur route (niveau semi professionnel) du coup je me suis achetée un Scott modèle SUB 40, en gros un vélo léger, performant et joli (il est bleu). Avec je porte tout, des jupes, robes, pantalon. L’hiver c’est un peu plus réfléchis, une couche Heattech, la tenue, si robe collant FALKE (super méga chaud) et doudoune North face (une qui est compressible).
Dans mes sacoches de vélo il y a une polaire ou un pull en plus car au repos j’ai froid.
Après je n’ai aucune jupe crayon ou de talons dans ma garde robe. Elle est adaptée a mon mode de vie. Je souhaite que tout soit fonctionnel et agréable a porter. La plus part du temps je suis en jupe ou robe et ça ne me dérange jamais pour pédaler. Je pense aussi que ce mode de vie permet de limiter les achats, une robe à 100€? NO WAY, si je la tache avec de la graisse ou autre je m’en voudrais et le prix serait déjà un mois d’économie pour l’avoir. Bref bouger à vélo = simplicité dans tout. Qui dit simplicité ne veut pas dire look moche, je pense même que c’est la perfection.
Franchement c’est le moment le plus agréable car on est seul susr son velo, cela vide la tête.
je marche tout les jours …. la chance de vivre à côté du boulot :) la marche à pied ca fait du bien, le vélo à Paris très peu pour moi.
Je viens de comprendre pourquoi ma belle-mère met des talons de 12 pour aller au travail : elle a 5minutes en voiture.
Et pourquoi je ne mettais plus de talons (après avoir essayé, m’être acharnée)
Habitant en banlieue parisienne, j’ai 45minutes de transport pour aller à la fac. 15min de marche, 20 de train, et 10 de rer. 2fois par jour. Alors, les talons, on oublie, et on met des chaussures plates. Confortables. Et belles !
Par contre, les fringues, rien ne m’empêche de mettre une mini-jupe (et à éviter de s’asseoir sur les strapontins), une maxi robe (à remonter dans les escaliers), une grosse écharpe (quand il fait froid dehors, mais 3000C dans le métro). Les transports ne conditionneront jamais ma façon de m’habiller, et puis quoi encore ! (et les gens dans les transports en commun parisiens, non plus, même les plus bizarre (voire vicelard))
A l’inverse de beaucoup de gens, j’habite Paris et vais travailler en banlieue. Pour moi, c’est 10 minutes de marche pour rejoindre le RER, j’ai la chance de traverser la Seine et voir la Tour Eiffel par soleil, brouillard ou temps gris… chaque jour est différent. Puis 30 minutes de RER, toujours assise, pas trop de dérangement, l’occasion d’écrire le plus souvent. Avant de marcher à nouveau 15 minutes, pour rejoindre mon entreprise à deux pas de la base de loisirs de St Quentin en yvelines. C’est loin, mais à l’automne on voit lapins, hérons et autres chevreuils quand on arrive tôt. Je pourrais prendre le bus, mais déjà dépendre du RER peut être vraiment galère donc dès que je peux marcher je le fais.
D’où un vrai problème de chaussures… déjà c’est une galère atroce pour trouver quelque chose qui me plaise, mais alors qui me plaise, soit confortable, résiste à la pluie, au vent, à la boue du parc… mission quasi impossible. Voilà pourquoi aujourd’hui je porte mes vieilles ballerines informes mais si confortables.
I mix all of the above depending on time, the weather & my mood. I enjoyed reading all the different perspectives
I Holland, where I live it is all about bikes. So, indeed no pencil skirts, wrap dresses, or anything that cannot take a little wind or rain… But still my favorite form of transportation by far!
I gave up on pencil skirts too, until I found a convertible one by this company called Iva Jean. For now it only comes in black, but it has a fabric insert that you zip closed when you want the fitted look.
When it’s time to ride, you just unzip it and the skirt becomes a comfortable A-line.
Quel article hilarant! Je trouve ça génial d’avoir répertorié les habitudes de trajet qui vous entourent quotidiennement!
Où j’habite, dans une ville de province aux pieds des montagnes, il fait souvent très froid l’hiver avec neige, trottoirs gelés, vent cinglant et caniculairement chaud l’été. J’ai opté pour marcher à pieds jusqu’à mon bureau avec parapluie en permanence dans le sac à main. Je me convains que je m’entretiens physiquement en faisant ce trajet de 20 minutes au moins 2 fois par jour (illusion on est d’accord).
Mode bibundum activé donc et presque tous les jours bidundumtranspiranttoutrouge parce qu’étant lente je n’arrive pas à être à ponctuelle et dois donc rattraper mes hésitations vestimentaires/capillaires par une marche très cadencée à la limite du trot! Pour éviter de me trimballer avec plein de sacs, j’ai laissé à mon bureau des “vêtements tout terrain” (gilet, ballerines, echarpe, collant, tee-shirt) au cas où il arriverait un imprévu ou une nouille qui aurait sauté de ma bouche !!
I drive a scooter, so can you imagine during winter how fashion I am!
motorbike jacket, gloves, helmet…let not talk about my hair
:(
so, definitely, my commuting influnces my outfits
:(
In Brooklyn it’s all about bikes, and I have to say that I feel frustrated during winter !
The style of the girl on the picture is very inspiring…
Discover an other great style : Laura Vela and her amazing handbags, perfect for winter ;)
http://goo.gl/MExUgx
http://www.lauravela.com
Xx
combine them all! walk, bike, subway your way to the studio…alternate the days
Because I live in L.A. where basically it’s season-less, meaning hot and smoggy year round, I, drive everywhere. Even down to the local store, 2 blocks away. And it’s wayyy to crowded everywhere. If I biked, I’d probably be killed by some teen driver within a month, and when and if I do walk, I get tons of stares of windows, cuz no one walks here.
If I lived in a slightly smaller city, I’d probably bike, because I love it, or take the subway if I lived in N.Y.
It’s 88 degrees F here today yes, STILL. WHY is it I gravitate towards buying coats and sweaters? Because I love the cold and hate the heat. You guys are lucky to live in N.Y., and/or Europe. I’d give my eye teeth to get the h___ out of this hell whole L.A. I don’t know how anyone can stand living here! But I’m stuck here for now, marriage and kids….
I take the bus to work, and the drivers have been known to accelerate and then brake out of the sudden.
So no heels, definitely only flats/sneakers.
In London, commuting is serious business, and there is a huge bike culture here. I’m not a very confident biker, and I’m a bit too lazy to get up in time to walk 30-40 minutes to school. My new favorite mode of transport is the bus. It lets me look out the window at the city, always have a seat, and avoid the crush of the tube. I know NYC buses are a bit different, but you should think about it! Plus, minimal worries about my clothing or shoe choices!
Je vis sur Lille mais je travaille à l’extérieur de la métropole:
– 10 minutes à pied pour aller au métro
– 10 minutes de métro
– 45 minutes de train
– 10 minutés pour arriver au boulot
Je passe du chaud au froid donc je superpose les couches vestimentaires fonctionnelles (blazer, écharpe, gilet) qui peuvent être retirées facilement. Surtout qu’entre Lille et la ville où je trouve, il y à 2-3 degré de différence!
Je mets souvent des chaussures plates pour le confort (basket adidas, vans, derbies, boots)! J’avoue que je ne sais pas marcher avec des talons…
Mais mon meilleur ami c’est un sac fourre-tout. Il comporte tout ce bric à brac!
Thankfully I am able to work remotely, from anywhere in NYC really, so mostly coffee shops around the city are my office. A commute I look forward to every morning.
AstuteAttire.com
I live in Brooklyn and I commute in most mentioned above except driving! I’ve recently purchased a Ross 3-speed few weeks ago as I’ve been job-hunting and the weather is fairly mild for biking, so I have been riding it like a crazy bike lady! The reason why, I live in South Brooklyn, where I’d have to carry my bike on the Subway if I wanted to bike in the city (I try to avoid rush hours). I have yet gotten my bike a basket or rack, but I can’t wait until I do! And thanks for the picture, I’d have thought wearing my long coat would be weird on a bike!
Alex!! Story of my life!! Haha I have officially accepted that my internal thermometer is off. At least I’m not alone! :)
15 minutes de scooter tous les matins … Et travaillant dans un studio de création j’ai décidé que le scooter ne serait pas un ” frein” à mon “style” … Je vous laisse imaginer les situations cocasses , entre le manteau en fausse fourrure par jour de pluie qui me fait ressembler à un lapin sdf , la jupe crayon que je suis obligée de remonter entièrement pour pouvoir conduire tranquille ( regards lubriques des voisins du feu rouge ) etc …. Un jour j’ai même cramé mes collants au contact du pot d’échappement d’un scooter voisin , et ça à été dur de justifier ce nouveau style ” grunge” en arrivant au bureau !!!
Le pire restant bien entendu la coiffure de cocker américain incontournable de toute conductrice de scooter !!!
How exciting to be moving your office! I would spend hours thinking about the lay-out, lighting, nice wallpapers etc… I hope you’ve enjoyed the process.
My commute is relatively long, over an hour, and involves biking, metro, train and walking. I don’t think I wear anything special; living in a bike country, all my clothes are more or less bike friendly :). When I know I have to walk a lot during the day, I may wear flat shoes and bring heels if needed. And I bring an umbrella when it rains, but that’s quite obvious…
Absolutely LOVE this post. I always wonder what real women really wear for various occasions.
I love reading missed connections but I haven’t checked up on it recently to see if people are still writing. I tend to drive here in Australia. During winter the rain rains sideways and the heat gets unbearable during summer. I’ll learn to embrace the heat one of these days.
bisous xo