This cute article about how to cycle to work in style was in the Sunday Times  yesterday.

Ruby Warrington clearly understands the predicament of green fashionistas who are now breaking out the bikes for their morning commute:

The dilemmas! Squeeze your handbag into a rucksack and risk a sweaty back, or put it in a wobbly wicker basket on your front handlebars and risk having it stolen? Dress normally and hope your nice trenchcoat doesn’t get caught in the spokes, or brave cycling shorts… Then there’s the whole faff of showering at work, and the challenge of turning hair that’s been under a helmet into something approaching a style.

Full disclosure, I walk to work and M.J. works from home. So it was pretty entertaining to read the accounts of the three experts Warrington consulted.

All three of them, like Nahid De Belgeonne here, went into remarkable detail about their bike-to-work systems:

I have a core uniform to cycle in – an American Apparel unitard, or leggings and a vest, which I can throw things over the top of, maybe a Phillip Lim shirt with a Lara Bohinc belt. Often, I’ll wear a tunic on top, then swap my leggings for tights, add a great pair of shoes and I’m done. I always wear boots on the bike to protect my ankles. Mine are by Anna Sui – they’re like biker boots, but more elaborate. I’ve stopped cycling in heels as I was ruining them all. You put the pedal in the instep, which pushes against the heel and loosens it…

She goes on and on! (Makeup bag and pedaling slowly are also recommended.)

But let’s not forget about safety, ladies. What is missing from the Spring 2009 Marc Jacobs looks above? (February Vogue)

Shelly from RidingPretty has got the right idea here with her Sherlock Holmes ensemble. Check out her website for info on how to order your own fabulous helmet cover.