Safety and style meet head-on with Crashwear

Yes, we're marching inexorably toward the blink-and-you'll-miss-it daylight of fall and winter. But no self-respecting Seattleite wants to abandon an outdoor exercise routine just because the light's gone south. Of course, dashing around the traffic-clogged city in the dark can be a risky undertaking.

Enter Crashwear's reflective vests, a wearable intersection of safety and style rendered in a rainbow of ripstop nylon. Robin Freedman, the founder of the Seattle company, created the vests to make herself more visible while jetting around our dark and rainy city on her scooter, but they're equally handy for nighttime or early-morning joggers, walkers and cyclists.

The simple vests come in pink, orange, yellow or black, and in two styles: the Mod, which bears one reflective, daisy-shaped patch on the chest and another on the back; and the Rocker, which is embellished front and back with a simple reflective circle. Available at Vespa Seattle, Scooter Gallery Seattle and www.crashwear.net for $39.99, Crashwear is an affordable safety investment for almost anyone who has to take to the streets on foot or on two wheels.