Local women’s bike fashion company launches ‘Dress to Ride’ project

Quick Study Clothing makes dresses
that are comfortable while bicycling.
(Photos: Shola Lawson)

Local fashion designer Caitlin McCall is the owner of Quick Study, a women’s apparel company that focuses bike-friendly dresses made in Portland. To help with the launch of her website next month she wants to interview and photograph 16 local women who, “fearlessly adapt their wardrobes to the demands of going by bike.”

‘Dress to Ride’ is the name of the project and all the women who participate in the interviews will be featured in a permanent photo gallery on QuickStudyClothing.com (shot by photographer Shola Lawson) and will be used in McCall’s social media efforts.

This is the first we’ve heard of Quick Study and somehow we missed the profile on the company in the Portland Mercury’s Bike Issue back in May. Here’s more from Mercury fashion writer Marjorie Skinner:

“… The real field of innovation is going to be in bicycle-appropriate attire for the feminine set, who sometimes eschew that mode of transport simply because it involves too much luggage, too many wardrobe changes, or an outright exchange of style for practicality—to say nothing of trying to support local, independent design. Enter Caitlin McCall, who recently graduated from a program at Portland Sewing with her line Quick Study —designed to specifically addresses these issues.”

McCall’s designs look really good and they’ve got some great features that make them comfortable for bicycling. Skinner points out things like odor resistant wick fabrics, curved hem lines for increased mobility, easy packability, and wrinkle-resistance.

If you’d like to be considered for this project, check out the details below…

Project Description

To celebrate the online shop’s grand opening, Quick Study is proud to introduce “Dress to Ride,” an intimate portrait of Portland bike style and the women who shape it. Led by local photographer Shola Lawson, “Dress to Ride” profiles sixteen women who fearlessly adapt their wardrobes to the demands of going by bike. Some are persistent daily commuters, others mount their trusty steeds in fair weather only, a few just lug their ride out of the basement for occasional bar trips. Regardless of where they fall on the frequency continuum, these ladies have the chops to ride in style. Starting in 2014, they’ll open the door to their living spaces and show the rest of us how we can too.

Call for Entries

QUICK STUDY SEEKS STYLISH BIKE LADIES FOR “DRESS TO RIDE!”

Do you know someone with awesome bike style? Tell us about them! Or maybe it’s you?

Quick Study is currently looking for 10 more ladies who ride in style to round out a photo interview series showcasing Portland’s fashion on two wheels.

Requirements:

1.Female or female identified
2.Own a bike and use it *somewhat* regularly
3.Currently live in Portland
4.Creative approach to bike-friendly dressing

To enter, send a pic and 3-5 sentences to bike@quickstudyclothing.com about why you or your pal should be featured in “Dress to Ride” this winter! Deadline for submissions is Friday 12/13/13 at 5pm.

If chosen, we will contact them/you to schedule an interview date and time with the photographer. They/you must agree to be photographed in their/your living space and with their/your bike in an outfit or their/your choosing as well as one Quick Study piece. Participant will also agree to a short interview that will later be posted on Quick Study’s website along with selected photos.

Similar to the tech, beer, and food scenes, Portland’s booming fashion scene is yet another part of our local culture where there’s a lot of love for bicycling.

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Founder of BikePortland (in 2005). Father of three. North Portlander. Basketball lover. Car owner and driver. If you have questions or feedback about this site or my work, feel free to contact me at @jonathan_maus on Twitter, via email at maus.jonathan@gmail.com, or phone/text at 503-706-8804. Also, if you read and appreciate this site, please become a supporter.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

12 Comments
oldest
newest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Bill Walters
Bill Walters
10 years ago

Thought I’d drop by and somehow work in “lifestyle columnist,” “cycling fashion” and “arrogant,” but it’s just too fish-in-a-barrel.

Schrauf
Schrauf
10 years ago

Pretty outfits. Classy!

Tnash
Tnash
10 years ago

Well, ok then. Lifestyle columnists and creative approaches to bike dresses. The editors obviously Don’t want readers like myself, so, seeya

Kristen
Kristen
10 years ago
Reply to  Tnash

There’s still a variety of content here. You’re going to snub them because they’ve chosen to expand their range of offerings? Rather than scrolling past the posts that don’t interest you?

Anne Hawley
Anne Hawley
10 years ago
Reply to  Tnash

I could say the same about posts on cyclocross, racing and custom frame-builders. But I don’t.

John Liu
John Liu
10 years ago

If cycling is going to become a majority choice, more people need to be able to fit cycling into their lifestyles. Obvious, right? Well, for many women, dressing well and looking good is a prerequisite to the lifestyle. I think that’s great, personally. If someone can find a stylish and practical style of cycling wear other than the Lycra and Goretex stuff, that would help.

(I have nothing against cycling kit. On the weekends I’m usually in pseudo racer kit, and a Gabba or other Castelli outerwear. But I know many won’t wear those.)

shirtsoff
shirtsoff
10 years ago
Reply to  John Liu

+1

Absolutely. If cycling is a viable mode of transportation from which the demands upon the environment can actually be lessened through its usage, then clothing that is marketable to the masses is essential. Radical? Probably not. Pragmatic? You bet.

MaxD
MaxD
10 years ago

I have been struggling to find cycling clothes that I can commute in that suit my fashion predilections, and more performance gear for longer rides that are are not garish and emblazoned with logos. I know cycling has a long history of jerseys etc, but I don’t like it. I applaud efforts to expand the diversity of clothes one can wear cycling.

Andrew K
Andrew K
10 years ago

Love the designs. Really great work on that front. Classy and stylish and yet innovative. I’m impressed.

Just a word to the wise for the designer though, you’ve have GOT to do better than Instagram style photos if you want people to pay attention. Photography and fashion go hand in hand and the instagram “look” is a worn out trend that will only make the clothes look dated. Yes yes, I know lots of people still use Instagram for pictures of their daily lunch, but to people shopping for clothes it just looks cheap.

mh
mh
10 years ago

Neither of those pictures seems to show a year-round commuter. Hard to put a helmet over a bun. How do you wear rain pants over a skirt? Would I rather be fashionable (I’ve never been) or functional?

Having taken a couple of days off for mostly fictitious slippery weather, I want to get back on the bike. I’d rather look good than look bad, but I mostly want to be warm. That probably means the $200+ Outlier pants under a sloppy layer or several of raingear. All I care about, I guess, is that I look decent when I’m in the office. Outside? Just don’t run me over.

deb
10 years ago

Wish I could help but Im UK based, I plan to start a similar (but not the same-so I wont be any competition) when I graduate in May. Im really excited to see your stuff….all the very best of luck to you, you’re doing something really great 🙂

Leah
Leah
10 years ago

SO excited about this! Love your work Caitlin.