The CycleChat Style Thread

[Flying_Monkey]

I've noticed that there's a widespread aversion to 'style' or 'fashion' amongst members here (or at least the ones who've mentioned it). Lusting over £3000 carbon bikes and the latest gearing or handmade steel frames and Brooks saddles, does not seem to translate to feeling the same way about bespoke suits or designer shoes, or even caring that much about what we wear off the bike. Liking clothes or taking care over your appearance almost seems to be a guilty secret, occasionally revealed by a few.

So who here is interested in style or fashion*? And if you are, what do you wear and what is your style? Are you a full-on Dandy or just take a passing interest? From trainers to hand-made shoes, from fast-fashion to catwalk glamour, from leather and denim to tweed and cashmere, let's talk about it here... no piss-taking or mockery please - although questions and constructive suggestions for improvement purposes are always a good thing.

*not quite the same things of course, but we can talk about that too...

 

[vernon]

Here's three thousand words' worth of my viewpoint on style.

 

[rbreid]

Fashion is a face saver (or not?????) for those with no sense of style

 

[vernon]

Fashion is a face saver (or not?????) for those with no sense of style

Aphorisms are a face saver for those with no sense of both style and fashion.

 

[inkd]

TBH I wear what i feel comfortable in, normally jeans and a t-shirt/Hoody. If I have to dress up then I might wear jeans and a shirt. I am a skinflint when it comes to buying clothes and refuse to blow good money just for a name or certain style. Do you know how hard it is to buy a pair of jeans these days that are`nt hanging round my arse or look like they have been used to clean the shop floor first? or is it that im just getting old?

 

[threebikesmcginty]

The only 'brand loyalty' I go for is with shoes, I like Loakes, they're not the most expensive but they are well made and last if looked after. I know they're not all UK bench made any more but they still craft a handsome brogue!

 

[Keith Oates]

Apart from my Cycling clothes (gear) I don't actually choose any clothes as my wife does it for me. Which is, I suppose, another way of saying that I'm not in the slightest bit fashion conscious !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Archie_tect]

I would no sooner buy anything expensive to wear than I would an extravagant piece of cycling kit- perfectly happy in my M+S comfort.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

The only 'brand loyalty' I go for is with shoes, I like Loakes, they're not the most expensive but they are well made and last if looked after. I know they're not all UK bench made any more but they still craft a handsome brogue!

The top end (1880) are still bench-made in the UK. I have a very nice pair of their brogue boots that are every bit as good as Tricker's.

 

[martint235]

38" inside leg means I have to buy whatever is available regardless of style.

I do like Loakes shoes though and have 3 pairs currently. A decent cobbler (one of the few decent things left in Welling) means that a pair can easily last me 10 years as work shoes.

 

[swansonj]

The lustability factor of bikes and components is, at least in principle, justifiable in terms of improved functionality. Is there any comparable element of improved functionality when it comes to clothing style?

 

[Venod]

The lustability factor of bikes and components is, at least in principle, justifiable in terms of improved functionality. Is there any comparable element of improved functionality when it comes to clothing style?

I have been a long time fan of Rohan Clothing lasts forever and usually technical materials and practicality but not cheap, they do have offers occasionally and I have had some bargains of eBay.

http://www.rohan.co.uk/?gclid=CIi_yJ7myroCFQ7LtAodx0AAig

 

[BigonaBianchi]

Each to their own, personally I'm happy in a pair of faded torn jeans and a T-shirt that says my Jeans are real.

 

[Puddles]

Scummy Mummy style anything that hides the dubious stains gets a from me, I sometimes adopt the dragged through a hedge backwards look for a bit of variation.

Jeans must have stretch in them for comfortable cycling, the world is not ready for me in lycra (and I seriously doubt it will ever be ready)

 

[Archie_tect]

38" inside leg means I have to buy whatever is available regardless of style.

I do like Loakes shoes though and have 3 pairs currently. A decent cobbler (one of the few decent things left in Welling) means that a pair can easily last me 10 years as work shoes.

Over 10 years though, how much in total will you have spent keeping your feet warm and comfortable c.f say a couple of pairs of Clarkes shoes?