Thursday, October 24, 2013

How to Dress for Cycling, 1896

"Modesty is becoming at all times, and especially upon a bicycle... A prominent physician advises women cyclists to wear woolen clothing, the head covering light, low shoes, leggings, and no corsets... The Alpine hat is considered the proper head-gear for women. Men should wear a short loose-fitting sack coat of some light woolen material, with knickerbockers to match, woolen stockings, cap, low shoes and a negligee shirt, or if the day is cold, a sweater." 
John Wesley Hanson, Etiquette and Bicycling for 1896 (1896)
Ladies, grab your Alpine hats! Men, don your negligee shirts! Your next cycling adventure is sure to be modest thanks to this physician-approved costume advice.

3 comments:

  1. Thank goodness I read this instructions before heading out to get on my bike to go home from work. Unfortunately, I don't have my alpine hat or my low shoes with me today, but thank goodness I neglected to wear a corset!

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  2. Good: http://www.thesartorialist.com/photos/on-the-street-via-san-paolo-milan/
    Bad: http://www.thesartorialist.com/photos/on-the-street-camilla-barcelona/
    Bad-ass: http://www.thesartorialist.com/photos/on-the-street-via-giacomo-puccini/

    ReplyDelete
  3. Alpine hats are for squares. http://www.harkavagrant.com/index.php?id=331

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