I’ve often been asked where I get my biking wardrobe. Now I don't like to reveal my fashion secrets, but I have to admit that a lot of it comes from the Ferioli collection. Eric Ferioli ranks right up there with Oleg Cassini as a god of the fashion industry. I have to admit, each year I breathlessly anticipate Eric's fall collection.
Last year Eric looked mahvelous in white cotton overalls. Of course, the bike clothing designers adopted this concept with their bib shorts, skin suits, etc, but we all know who's responsible for that look. I've even seen some rock stars try to achieve this, but they can't seem to duplicate Eric's panache.
It was Eric who popularized the shirt on backwards look. Aside from being a stunning fashion statement it serves the purpose of keeping the wind off your front without making your back, which is generally much warmer, sweat. The bicycle clothing manufacturers have copied this idea with their "wind-front" jackets, but Eric's solution can be assembled at any Goodwill store.
I got involved in the baggy shorts look, popular with mountain bikers, quite innocently. There was a catalog sale of shorts for $5 each, but only in extra large. I can't claim to be a trendsetter here, merely a slavish follower of fashion.
Mike Hanauer was a fashion idol for a period with his dashing plaid shorts, but I'm afraid he's gone more mainstream -- I've actually seen him with store bought biking shorts. One particularly striking pair, tastefully accessorized with staples where the pockets had worn through, became a CRW relic. The "passing of the plaid" was a proud tradition among CRW presidents for years. Unfortunately, during the reign of Mrs. D. the shorts went to their final resting place.
I don't like to brag, but I believed I pioneered the ankle length tights look. Longer than knickers (another shameless ripoff) but shorter than conventional tights so as to reveal a bit of shapely (or in my case hairy) leg. My first entry in this ensemble was a pair of tights given to me by a friend who is about six inches shorter than me. They ended up mid-calf, but the price was right. Just have to get some long socks.
The next entry was purchased at the Big Event from Paul Corriveau. Snake oil salesman that he is, he convinced me what a good buy they were. Paul is also considerably shorter than I, and they ended up leaving a provocative gap between tights and my socks. On the plus side, they don't get caught in the chain.
"Every girl's crazy 'bout a sharp dressed man." -- ZZ Top
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