October 20, 2011

The Go Go Dirndle

Founder/Designer, Sarah Canner’s need to ‘be seen’ sparked the idea for Vespertine Haute Réflecteur.

While living in Paris, Sarah fell in love with city cycling - a form of transportation that renews the body, soul and planet- but a close encounter with a Parisian bus made it clear that her de rigueur black overcoat was dangerously inconspicuous on busy streets. A vision of diaphanous nymphs illuminating Paris on bicycles proved to Sarah that high-visibility and fashion didn’t have to be mutually exclusive and transformed into her first collection. Previously a screenwriter and actress, Sarah’s passion for spectacle and drama infuses her designs, as do the spirits of butterflies and other bright creatures that careen through space, and the sensibilities of the places she’s been fortunate to inhabit: Paris, Buenos Aires, Los Angeles and NYC- a city that embodies metamorphosis and the one she currently calls home.

When I asked Sarah how she came to adopt the bike lifestyle she told me this: "I used to be a total scaredy cat when it came to biking in the city and was often seen seated on my French X's luggage rack as he biked us around. Now I can't think of a better way to get around town and am totally addicted to the freedom, fun and convenience of speeding around on my own two wheels. My transformation came literally because of the Velib bike share system. I was living in Paris when it first started (having ignored my X's pleas to buy my own bike) and only first tried biking because there was a station right across from our apartment. I had discovered that the city had been transformed into a bikers' haven. We even had our own traffic lights! As a pedestrian I hadn't noticed these changes at all. After one ride I was hooked and I got to know the city in a way I hadn't before. I am confident this will happen in NYC, too and look forward to being here for the metamorphosis when the 10,000 bike share system arrives.

That said- Biking next to cars, vans and buses, I became keenly aware of a 6th sense which is "People can see me" - or alternatively, they can't. I do believe we can make city cycling more safe (thus more fun) by taking simple measures and that's where the idea for the vests and accessories comes from."

Visit vespertinenyc.com

VESPERTINE

adjective

1. opening or blossoming in the evening

2. active or flying in the evening

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October 20, 2011

Latest Comments

  • Ugly

    No, no, no. Never. This will never work. Okay, the cover pictures (yes, the one, that (un)covers that wonderful rear side) is nicke. But the rest? Just ugly. Nobody wants to wear that.

    Posted by Harterbrocken November 22, 2011 19:45:48

  • Hyper-illumination and Narcissism

    YES, this is certifiably a case of Cycle Chic gone too far! The only things these garments provide is subjective safety -- that is that they make you feel safe. That is good, but cycling is objectively safe to begin with.

    The bad news is that there is no proof that hi-viz increases safety. My view is that everything a cyclist does to significantly increase their illumination above the minimum legal requirement both 1 - Makes other cyclists - and pedestrians - less visible in comparison, and 2- Gets motor vehicle operators used to this level of illumination to the point where they don't look for less lit up - but still legal - cyclists. (Please note that pedestrians do not have to wear anything reflective, etc. by law, and I am glad you do not market to pedestrians... BUT of course people who cycle with your stuff will also walk with it, at least a short distance.) In sum, wearing this makes others less safe.

    The cheapest full garment is about 100 bucks... wow... imagine buying standard lights for four friends and strangers instead of spending it on oneself. Can you imagine not being narcissistic about safety?

    This cult of high lux is a disease and a distraction from really solutions for safety.

    Posted by Todd Edelman October 21, 2011 12:53:30

  • Fashionable reflection!

    Finally! Lighting up in style. Riding out in the evening all dressed up in a - construction safety vest - just nixes the vibe of chic cycling. At last someone has moved to fill the void. Leave it to the Parisians to get it right. You know what's on my Christmas list.

    Posted by Robin Randels October 21, 2011 10:03:02

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