New TE Blog Post - Business Casual

[Susan Otcenas]

I just put up a new post on the TE blog featuring some of my favorites for the season. Check out MY version of "Business Casual" :)

http://blog.teamestrogen.com/

[ttaylor508]

Soooo cute. You look like a teenager!

[Adventure Girl]

Totally cute!!! You should be a model for your own site!!!

[SadieKate]

Wow! You're looking so trim and fit. Congratulations on the hard work.

[Susan Otcenas]

Soooo cute. You look like a teenager!

Ha! Seeing as how I'm going to be 40 this year, I'll take that as a compliment. :D

[redrhodie]

I'd wear that! Totally cute. What kind of bike were you riding? Was it with a sloping or straight top tube?

[ttaylor508]

I'd wear that! Totally cute. What kind of bike were you riding? Was it with a sloping or straight top tube?

This is the bike she should ride with that outfit http://justbicycles.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/bc-106l-0220black20with20pink20wheels.jpg

9201

[Susan Otcenas]

I'd wear that! Totally cute. What kind of bike were you riding? Was it with a sloping or straight top tube?


I have a Bianchi Volpe that I set up as my commuter/town bike. Straight top tube. That works though, because the dress isn't all that long once you're on the saddle.

ttaylor - LOVE that bike! I'd ride that even without the dress. What is it?

[ttaylor508]

I have a Bianchi Volpe that I set up as my commuter/town bike. Straight top tube. That works though, because the dress isn't all that long once you're on the saddle.

ttaylor - LOVE that bike! I'd ride that even without the dress. What is it?

I guess its made by GreenLine bikes (never heard of them, but love the paint design).

[Biciclista]

The outfit is cute but no way is that business casual where I work.
(and you're cute in it)

[Susan Otcenas]

... no way is that business casual where I work...

I used to be in banking, and no, it wouldn't have passed there, either.

It's great being in the bike business. :D In my world, that's downright dressed up!

[sundial]

You look darling in your outfits and you are so slim and sporty!:D I really like the Sheila Moon outfit. :cool:

[Biciclista]

I honestly think this is an important consideration "business casual cycling wear".
Sometimes I go to work in my knickers and wear a sweater/blouse on top.
This means I have NO POCKETS all day at work. Maybe for some of you this is not a problem, but it drives me to distraction. My normal work attire includes dockers/type slacks (4 pockets) or blue jeans (4 pockets) so when i want to wear my knickers, i am handicapped.
in the summer time, i would be wearing a teeshirt (also no pockets) so you can see the problem.

[Zen]

Mimi, this skirt has two small pockets in the back
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb14/zencentury/DSC_0130-1.jpg
or there's this from Terry (http://www.terrybicycles.com/product/detail/5521/current/la-rambla-skirt)

[Biciclista]

that would work here.. But i don't wear skirts! I am expected to climb ladders without notice, there's no way in HECK that i'm going to start wearing skirts.

[Zen]

It has shorts attached :o

[Susan Otcenas]

I honestly think this is an important consideration "business casual cycling wear".
Sometimes I go to work in my knickers and wear a sweater/blouse on top.
This means I have NO POCKETS all day at work. Maybe for some of you this is not a problem, but it drives me to distraction. My normal work attire includes dockers/type slacks (4 pockets) or blue jeans (4 pockets) so when i want to wear my knickers, i am handicapped.
in the summer time, i would be wearing a teeshirt (also no pockets) so you can see the problem.

Mimi, I assume you're talking about loose-fit knickers.

Are you trying to find something like this?
http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodSU_47360F_0.html
Two front pockets, one zip back pocket. 4 way stretch for total freedom of momement while riding to work. You wear your favorite shorts or liner underneath, then shed at work if you want. Beautiful drape means they actually look fairly dressy.

Susan

[Biciclista]

hm, yeah, that might work!

[Susan Otcenas]

You might look at these too:
http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodSB_2576.html

They are a little "sportier" because the top stitch is white, instead of black. I don't know if that would work for you or not. But the fit is dynamite, they come with a liner of their own (not connected, so you can wear with or without) and they have 4 pockets - 2 front, 2 rear. 4 way stretch, articulated knees, and a slightly more athletic fit than the Sugoi capri.

VERY popular, with very few returns for fit issues. This is the type of bottom I wear when I need to go into town, take transit with my bike, run errands, etc. I get all the performance features I need without the spandex look. :)

[papaver]

@ susan: do you ship to europe too?

[Susan Otcenas]

@ susan: do you ship to europe too?

Yes. We ship all over the world (with the exception of a couple of countries that are notorious for credit card fraud.)

[kacie tri-ing]

:pI LOVE that outfit....tempting....

[Grog]

Hey Susan, do you have something to say about the Sugoi Heidi capri? I like the pockets (although I'm not sure about the colour).

[GLC1968]

Susan - you look great and I love that outfit!

My work is also casual (not even business casual if you go by what most of my coworkers wear!) but I have trouble finding good casual clothing that doesn't look to weekend wear-ish. I love skirts, but pants are tough because everything I own (even my jeans) require some type of heel to fit right. I can't wear heels. And I can't wear open toe shoes, either. It's a pain!

I think I need to redo my entire work wardrobe. Perhaps I should work harder at losing this weight before I do, so that I don't have to rework it twice! :rolleyes:

[Blueberry]

I love skirts, but pants are tough because everything I own (even my jeans) require some type of heel to fit right.

Clogs? That's how short pants manage to fit me without alteration:) Sanita has open and closed back versions (they used to make the footbeds for Dansko before Dansko off shored their production).

I have to wear suits - it sucks:(

CA

[Susan Otcenas]

Hey Susan, do you have something to say about the Sugoi Heidi capri? I like the pockets (although I'm not sure about the colour).

You know we have it in TWO colors, yes? Black & chocolate.
Black: http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodSU_36902F.html (only M left)
Chocolate: http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodSU_36902F_0.html (M&L left)

The Heidi for 2008 (and it's successor for 2009, the Greta http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodSU_36904F.html - black & vicuna, which is an olive brown sort of color) is the most "technical" knicker we have, in my opinion. The fabric is rugged enough for mountain biking (hardy, abrasion resistant fabric), but snazzy enough for urban wear. The Greta has one of the nicest chamois available in knickers. Sometimes vendors dumb down the chamois in loosefit knickers and shorts, but this chamois is excellent. It's the same one they use in their Evolution Shorts/Shortys, which is one of our best selling road shorts on the site. The Heidi has the Presta chamois in it. Not my favorite chamois, truth be told, but adequate. It's less flexible than the RC Pro Chamois in the Greta. Which is no problem if it fits your shape. The RC Pro is more flexible, and thus fits more shapes.

Susan

[Jones]

Susan,
I love that outfit. When I went to play with the wardrobe builder tool that is the outfit I put together, minus the bolero, it's way too warm here for a bolero. Seeing you in it really makes me want it but also is keeping me motivated to lose weight, you look awesome. I don't know about it being business casual though, for bike business it could be considered down right formal:D.

On a totally different subject- how much has your run times improved with your weight loss? Or should I start a new thread and ask? Thanks, Jones

[Susan Otcenas]

Jones,

The thing I like about boleros is that they are perfect for those days when it's chilly in the morning, but you KNOW it's going to be warm & sunny in the afternoon. Armwarmers look a little goofy with tank tops and don't keep your shoulders warm. Boleros solve that problem. Plus you can't lose a sleeve. :D

Thread hijack: my run times have gone from 13 minute miles to right around 10 minutes. But it's not just the weight loss. I'm running 15-20 miles a week, which is way more than I've ever done.

[Jones]

I like the idea of the bolero and I think they are adorable but the low today is going to be 72 degress and the high 101 and I work nights so chilly mornings are not my worry but over heating sure is.
Thanks for the run time info I have heard that losing weight is one of the best thinks to do to improve your time that and of course running lots. You are so going to smoke your first skinny tri. Have fun. Jones

[GLC1968]

Clogs? That's how short pants manage to fit me without alteration:) Sanita has open and closed back versions (they used to make the footbeds for Dansko before Dansko off shored their production).

I have to wear suits - it sucks:(

CA

Oooh, good idea! I have open backed clogs, and those don't work but closed back ones probably would. Thanks! I'm excited!!

Hey - weren't you the one who recommended Chaco sandals for my wide feet, too? I think next time I have a shoe issue, I'm just gonna contact you! :D

[Blueberry]

Oooh, good idea! I have open backed clogs, and those don't work but closed back ones probably would. Thanks! I'm excited!!

Hey - weren't you the one who recommended Chaco sandals for my wide feet, too? I think next time I have a shoe issue, I'm just gonna contact you! :D

Erm....probably guilty as charged:)

Glad to be of service - at least it's only comfy shoes I enable:)

CA

[Grog]

Thanks for the info Susan! I'm pretty much a S in Sugoi so that's why I didn't think of the black as a possibility. I'll look at Greta then! Thank you!

[Crankin]

Ack, I shouldn't have kept reading this thread. I just ordered the loose fit knickers w/out the chamois. They seem perfect for the times I am meeting someone for lunch or an appt. and I don't want to wear a skort. I have 2 pair of the board shorts, in the shorts length and I love them and now I have 2 extra liners that came with them. I also liked the looks of capri length board shorts, but I do not *need* them.

[Selkie]

Erm....probably guilty as charged:)

Glad to be of service - at least it's only comfy shoes I enable:)

CA

three words for you, CA --- FRYE HARNESS BOOTS!!

Signed, your fellow Frye Harness Boot Lover!!

[Crankin]

My Bravo knickers just arrived and they fit perfectly, both with and without liner shorts. I will try them out on the bike tomorrow, while commuting to an appointment.
I now am thinking about selling my Terry Scooter capris. They are cool looking, but the x smalls are huge on me. They definitely would fit someone who normally wears a small. Great styling and pockets, but for some reason, these are huge, even though every other piece I have from Terry fits me perfectly.

[Susan Otcenas]

Crankin - glad to hear the Bravo Capri worked so well for you!

[Crankin]

I am happy to report that the Bravos passed the cycling test. It was only 12 miles round trip, but they stretched and moved well and didn't get too sweaty. Best of all, the liner shorts did not peek out of the waistband.
I wanted to look snazzier, with my bolero, but it was only 53 when I left, so ended up wearing an Ibex short sleeved t shirt with a Hind hoodie that I have had for years. It is cycling specific, has grease all over the arms, but is perfect for temperatures in the fifties. The way home was about 10 degrees warmer, but, until I climbed the hill to my house, I was not too warm.