It’s pretty inconvenient to be a woman who cares about fashion and rides a motorcycle — but I can’t help being a lover of great design — from the bikes I ride to the clothes I wear. Motorcycle gear for women has always been slim pickings, if available at all. I used to scour shops across London and usually found one or two jackets, in random sizes, with a pink logo slapped on it — as if that alone made it “women’s.” Sigh.
Before I bought my own motorcycle, I convinced an ex to get his license so I could ride pillion. I loved it. But I had nothing to wear. Just a vintage biker jacket, skinny jeans, and black ankle boots — which, to be honest, was my entire wardrobe back in the 2010’s. And a huge, ill-fitting spare helmet that rattled around every time we hit a bump or picked up speed. (I have an extremely small head.)
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I remember one trip from London to my mum’s in Bristol. She was horrified by my lack of protection and went rummaging through the house — the kind of place where random gear, hand-me-downs, and junk shop gems tend to accumulate.
She unearthed an old Dainese leather suit she’d bought as a joke for my brother Rafe when he was about 12. He’d outgrown it, but weirdly it fit me perfectly. It was from 1986, and made in Italy, in blinding orange and clashing purple — hideous in theory, but time had faded it into something oddly perfect. Muted, dusty, and kind of beautiful. I wonder who owned it before, and how it came to a junk shop in Bristol.
At first, I wore it on the back of the bike just for protection — slightly embarrassed by how ridiculous I looked — but knowing I was safe made it worth it. Then I started wearing the jacket to fashion parties and got so many compliments. It’s still one of my wardrobe staples. I plan to keep it forever. It was made the year I was born. I’ve already had the zipper replaced once and I’ll probably repair it a hundred times — it’ll age with me, gathering character and stories along the way.
When it’s too hot for leather
The Dainese suit did a good job for longer commutes, but not when it was hot, raining OR running errands around the city. I would generally ditch the pants and then wear the jacket with a pair of jeans and boots. The other great solution to a moto jacket is to buy a light underlayer that has pads built in so you can throw any jacket over the top and still be protected.
(Side note: I made my own perforated cotton jacket with pad pockets, because everything else on the market was made of horrible synthetic material that ended up reeking of sweat.)
I tried so many women’s moto jeans and couldn’t find a pair I liked. Too tight. Too synthetic. Too itchy. I ended up defaulting to vintage Levi’s or B-Sides. Not technically protective, but more breathable and stylish. B Sides actually made me a custom double-layer pair for my round-the-world trip — I wore them to death. They were supposed to go into production, but COVID stopped that in its tracks.
Truthfully, most people agree that wearing regular jeans is fine for short city rides. Most men I know barely think about what they wear on the bike — in the summer my husband cruises around in a T-shirt and slacks. But women tend to be more safety-conscious. Maybe it’s instinctual — to be more protective. There’s also the argument that in city riding, the bigger risk is impact, not abrasion — which means pads are more important than Kevlar anyway.
Designing gear that makes sense
In 2021, after returning from my travels, I moved to LA and met Maria Dora of workwear brand Georgia. We started with one jacket and ended up designing a full collection — inspired by motorcycles, workwear, and military styles. The question we kept asking was:
Can you make something that functions well on a bike, looks great off the bike, and works across genders?
We made both — pieces with D3O pads using tightly woven cottons and perforated linings for breathability, and others just for fun — like a bomber jacket in grosgrain paper silk. (FYI: These pieces are intended for city riding and haven’t been CE-certified. That said, I do know the Twin Zipper Jacket survived a friend’s 60mph crash… and so did he. So there’s that.)
We also made trousers — my favorite riding pants. They’re a loose, breathable fit (finally!) and have a vibe somewhere between moto and Carhartt Workmans pant. Made from heavy-duty canvas with reinforced seat and knees, D3O pad pockets that don’t bulge, a small knife pocket, mother-of-pearl buttons for a subtle feminine touch, and a drawstring waist so you can tuck in layers. Ideal for city riding. And yes, they look good on both men and women!
Want a pair? There might still be a few floating around LA. [Archived collection here.]
The rest: boots, gloves, and wishlists
I recently scored a vintage pair of Lewis Leathers on Poshmark. They came with a handwritten note from the original owner, who bought them in London in the ’70s and only wore them once, and wanted to pass them onto someone who’ll love and wear them. I love when garments carry stories like that.
I’ve liked them ever since I saw Kate Moss wearing them in a Corinne Day photoshoot from 2001.
Other boots I’ve worn: Redwings and Blundstones. But I’m hunting for something new — something like a MM6, Proenza, or Ann Demeulemeester lace-up boot. I believe something lace up with ankle protection is safer than a slip on, I’ve seen the aftermath of motorcycle crashes and their shoes strewn off into the middle of the road. (Yikes).
Gloves: I wear a pair from Aether (these in men’s small). But I am dreaming about the Prada pocket gloves. Totally impractical, but totally amazing.
Would love your summer glove recs — what are you wearing for city rides?
P.S. City riding is the trickiest to dress for. I want to feel safe, but I don’t want to look like a transformer just to bop around Brooklyn. International travel is a different beast entirely — and no, I don’t wear any of the above when I’m crossing borders or dirt tracks. That’s another story.
I have a LOT to say about that too so stay tooooned!
Jess x
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