Summer Date Night, originally uploaded by academichic.
Sources:
- Earrings: Honolulu swap meet
- Tank: Target
- Skirt: Target
- Sandals: Jeffrey Campbell via Rue La La
End Notes:
I’ve had family in town for the past week, so I have to play a bit of outfit catch-up over the next few days. Happily, this post can also double as an entry for the third part of the LGRAB summer games, “New Territory.” When my now-husband and I were dating, one of our favorite things to do together was to explore the mountain on which our undergrad institution was perched. We hiked powerline trails, we found hidden waterfalls, and we discovered new bluffs and overlooks.
In our current city, bike riding has opened up a new way to explore. So for our date night last week, we dressed up, hopped on our bikes, and rode 8.5 miles through the city to a little microbrewery. While my husband regularly bikes 7 or so miles to work, I have hitherto capped out around 5 miles and my normal commute to campus is only about a mile and a half one way. So, as this category of the Let’s Go Ride a Bike Summer Games implies, this was definitely new territory for me. Although navigating through a not-always-bike-friendly city can be a little nerve-wracking at times, I was delighted to explore some different neighborhoods and take my time ogling gorgeous homes that we always drive by too quickly.
Dressing “cute” or at least in non-workout clothes when biking a mile and a half to campus is not that big a deal. The ride is short, I know exactly where I’m going, and I can run quickly into the very, very air conditioned building and into the restroom to freshen up if need be. Riding 8 miles for a date in your date clothes seemed a little daunting if I thought about it too hard…so I just stopped overanalyzing and went with an outfit that had plenty of give and breath-ability.
Cotton tank? Check. Lightweight skirt that still has some structure? Check. Sandals that secure onto my feet? Check. Other than some skirt flapping — that I fixed with the handy clothespin I always keep on my bike basket — it worked quite well and I cooled off quickly once we arrived at our destination.
Summer Date Night, originally uploaded by academichic.
On the way home that evening, we followed a bike path that wended its way through a tall grass field in the corner of a park. Fireflies were out in full force, making the field glitter all around us. It was beautiful, and it was something I would not have seen on our date had we taken a car. I felt very empowered and accomplished once we returned home — proud of myself for having ridden so far through unfamiliar territory and for keeping up with my husband — and delighted that I’m finding more ways that this mode of transportation can fit seamlessly into my life and my wardrobe.
This is a really great outfit. Even though it’s two bright main colors, they aren’t overpowering. Lovely!
Gorgeous outfit and background!
Your date sounds so perfect. Makes me wish I could ride a bike, unfortunately we’re in icy suburbs with lots of hills…someday!
I love this outfit, and I may copy it soon :D
Perfect outfit for a bike ride – love those colors together also! I’m not sure I’d have reached the destination all calm and cool if it was 8 miles away! My husband and I just rode about 5 miles to have lunch yesterday and with all the hills, I was a bit hot upon arrival :) I can ride forever if it’s flat, but a few hills seem to do me in! Unfortunately avoiding hills in our area is basically impossible, so I suppose I’m just going to have to increase my endurance for them!
This is a great post. I tried to learn how to ride again this weekend and ended up with bike shorts, a skirt and tank top.
Where, exactly, does the clothespin go?!
I love this outfit! The color combination is so great, and I looooveee those sandals!
That skirt is fantastic. I love how you pull colors together.
Traci,
I can promise you that the more hills you ride the less you seem to notice them. In other words, it just keeps getting easier!
I love this outfit. If I was wearing it, I would have probably put on more accessories. But as I look at it, I realize that it looks great because the accessories are simple and they let the details in the shoes and clothes speak for themselves.
I miss biking! As an undergrad doing a year in Oxford and then later as a grad student in Austin, I biked everywhere…in all kinds of clothing. Sometimes I wish I lived someplace where I could commute on a bike – but 35 miles is too far! (And it is winter 8 months a year here…)
First photo is nicely done. Love the colors and composition :)
Great outfit! (And it complements the background so nicely!) I wish I trusted myself enough to bike around my town, but since I’m prone to clumsiness and have an uncanny knack for involuntarily tuning out the world around me, I think such an attempt might prove disastrous.
what a fabulous date night outfit! that’s a long ride for a date, but sounds perfect for a summer night.
Beautiful! A lightweight skirt with some structure is the best for bicycling. And keeping a clothespin in your basket is a smart idea – I should start doing that. I’m so happy to hear that your new territory exploring went well :)
This outfit and photos are stunning! Beautiful! :)
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