HELP How do you get in a car?

[Ordway]

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. You must be more careful boarding from the other side.

[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.

[BCAC]

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???

Hey, it's not the Brits that drive on the wrong side of the road, but you lot!

[OC Richard]

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

Interesting point!

This entire thread is offering yet another reason why pipers around here usually change into their uniform after they arrive at the event. Or, drive to the event wearing their hose, ghillies, band shirt, and board shorts and pop on the kilt and sporran after they arrive.

There's a general dislike of wearing the uniform amongst pipe band people and they'll delay putting it on as long as possible.

Plus, when they do put on the kilt the pleats are perfect! Yes the heavyweight wool kilts favoured by pipe bands can look fine after being worn in the car, but even better if always kept perfectly straight and never worn whilst riding in a car or coach.

If my gig is close, or if I know beforehand that there's no place to change at the gig, I will drive in my kilt. I just sweep my hand under the pleats as I sit but the pleats are always all ahoo and I have to straighten myself in the seat and do a two handed sweep to fix it.

BTW not having a place to change doesn't stop most pipers around here! A common sight is to see an entire band putting on their kilts in the car park... we're quite good at doing this without ever exposing anything.

[WillowEstate]

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???

Fighting talk, Good Sir, or rather quite the contrary! Since the British had been riding horses and driving carts on the left for centuries before modern day America existed, I would suggest that it was the USA that was out of step. I don't know which side of the trail the Native Americans rode, I can't comment on times before the invasion!

There is actually a reason for riding on the left. Since most people in the northern hemisphere are right handed, by riding on the left, approaching riders would pass sword arm to sword arm and thus better able to defend themselves. Just tradition, you say but isn't our attraction to the kilt "Just tradition"?

[Sammac]

Since I have leather seats the only time I use the towel trick is when I am wearing a lightweight kilt. They seem move about under me easier, never a problem with a heavyweight wool kilt. I keep a bath towel in my truck just in case.

[Chas]

Although I agree totally with Orionson, I also appreciate that we are entering the car from the other side. North American drivers will be sweeping then swivelling against the flow of the pleats. Also many fabric carseats don't allow for a swivel as they seem to grip cloth.

There is an other option. Obtain a new plastic carrier bag. Cut down both sides, to give you a large rectangle with a handle at both ends. Sweep your pleats using the bag. Depending on the size of the bag and the size of your aft end, you might be able to transfer both handles to one hand. (This is the ideal as it gives you a spare hand for balancing, adjusting or what ever as you sit.) Sit and swivel. Ease the bag out from underneath yourself, pulling in the direction of the pleats. A final wiggle for comfort and you are done. Stow the bag in side pocket of door or glove box, for the next time.

If it works for you, then it would be advisable to look round for a heavy-duty piece of plastic - preferably in manly black. Garden waste bags are usually made of heavy duty plastic.

[tpa]

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.

[Father Bill]

There's one other manoeuvre that helps too: when you sit on any chair with a kilt, sit at the front edge and then slide back. It has a similar effect to the "sweep" to which we're referring.