HELP How do you get in a car?

[tripleblessed]

Orionson and Father Bill have all the necessary moves covered. I usually only need the final arched back sweep when wearing one of my cheap acrylic kilts, the wool seems to manage much better. I can only agree that traveling in a kilt is definitely the way to go, the occasional extra sweep is a small price to pay for not having to continually extricate trousers from where they are least comfortable, particularly if, like me, you have a protuberant bum.

While I don't think of mine as protuberant , the differential between waist and seat is enough (8-9 inches) to have Rocky call
me to double check before cutting fabric _ "Is there some reason you have such a big a$$?". No, just, for a guy, a small waist.
As a result, kilts seem to hang differently. Similar to Chas, and on advice garnered here, I keep a towel in the car. Standing facing away from the seat, I stretch the towel across behind me, sit and swivel. I typically do not attempt to extricate the towel,as it
sits flat beneath, and would disturb pleats on the way out. Feels a bit silly, but functions well.

[1oldsarge]

I read about the beach towel on here some time back, and it works fine.

[RockyR]

While I don't think of mine as protuberant , the differential between waist and seat is enough (8-9 inches) to have Rocky call
me to double check before cutting fabric _ "Is there some reason you have such a big a$$?".

For those who haven't figured it out, he's taking a bit of liberty with his paraphrasing.

To the OP: If it's a big issue for you, try taking a bath towel and wrapping it around your waist OVER the kilt and hold it snug as you sit down in the car and swivel your feet in. The towel will hold the pleats in place and keep them looking neat. Then when you exit the car, leave the towel on the front seat for your return.

[Michael Flemming]

Entering a car is somewhat easier on the kilt in Australia and Great Britian than in most of the rest of the world. Using the instructions offered above, you turn your legs in the opposite direction of knife pleats when you swing them into the vehicle thereby smoothing the pleats rather than creasing them.

I knew there had to be a reason why Brits drive on the wrong side of the road!!!

Does that mean that in the US we should be pleating in the other direction???

[cck]

This subject has been well covered, but do check to be sure none of the kilt has slipped down to get caught when you close the door.

[creagdhubh]

I'm fairly sure this dilemma has been discussed here before, and I bow to the experts before adding my tuppence...

After 50 years of regular kilt wearing this is how I address the matter. I begin by standing with my back to the open car door and the backs of my calves touching door sill. I sweep the pleats down from bum to knee on both sides simultaneously whilst lowering said bum down onto the seat. Once down I pivot and swing my legs up into the car. The pleats usually hold their flattened position under said bum during this maneuver. Settle and adjust, as necessary once a comfortable forward position is achieved.

I have always found the kilt to be an exceptionally comfortable garment to drive in. Especially on hot summer days with the AC on full blast and directed to it's most advantageous location.

Well said, John!

[HippieLee]

...Also many fabric carseats don't allow for a swivel as they seem to grip cloth...

And this is why my next car will have leather seats.


(I was planning on getting them anyway before I even thought of the kilt applications - but it's a nice bonus!)

[CDNSushi]

The suggestions above work well. I add one manoeuvre to the others: after I'm facing the right way behind the wheel, I arch my back to lift my backside and do one more sweep to straighten everything out before settling in.

Yep. Exactly. I do this especially if I'll be traveling any good distance. For a short hop I may not fuss about it, but if it's going to be an hour-long trip or more, I try to get as comfortable as I can, and ensure that the pleats will stay in good condition when i get there.

[Riverkilt]

Somewhere Ham had a thread. He does the back in move only sits on a padded lazy susan type thing that's on top of the seat, then he just swivels around on that.

I've developed a technique of smoothing my pleats and sort of falling into the seat (sedan). After I'm in place I lift my tail end of the seat and sweep the pleats into place.

With a 16 ounce wool kilt its a matter of comfort only. Can drive six hours and the pleats will not crease even if they're folded under there.

[Liam]

To the OP: If it's a big issue for you, try taking a bath towel and wrapping it around your waist OVER the kilt and hold it snug as you sit down in the car and swivel your feet in. The towel will hold the pleats in place and keep them looking neat. Then when you exit the car, leave the towel on the front seat for your return.

My method exactly!