Riding in cars with kilts

[James]

I do not think there is any really effective answer to the question: for sitting be it in a car or chair will tend to rumple the pleats. Too one's own natural movements will disturb any arrangement over a period of time.

By the same token getting in and out of a car-a chair offers the alert observer the chance of a quick glance: but only the alert observer.

So I take a different view, and having taken reasonable precautions as to exposure and being comfortable: think enough is enough-lets get on with life.

Thinking that everything in this world has both advantages and disadvantages: and in the long run the advantages of the kilt far outweight any slight disadvantages.

Too whilst I cannot comment in respect of the various faux kilts: a traditional kilt will even after the longst journey appear smart, and any crumpling fall away after a few minutes of wear.

James

[Randy]

I just do sweep under the kilt to get fabric level. Its easier with the F150 and Expedition, the cars having less room require more care but mostly I do not worry about the wrinkles but my comfort. The SWK will hold a wrinkle, the tank tends to lose the wrinkles. No long term testing on wrinkles on the motorcycles

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

The sweep works best for me (2 hands) as well, and I also have a large truck, Chevy Avalanche. For me the the ticket is to step up on he running board, then sewwp as I drop down into the seat. Workd pretty well, and to be honest, I don't worry over much. How many women do you see worrying about how there pleats are positioned when they get into a car wearing a skirt? Assuming of course you can find many women wearing a skirt!

[Eric T]

I saw a man in a kilt at jury duty selection last month, and the back of his UK looked like it had been chewed on by a brontosaurus. Pretty much no pleats and all crumples. Granted we may want to shy away from "fashion statement" mentality and too much self consciousness, but one does want to look relatively decent, pleat wise. Perhaps for some driving situations the answer would be in selecting a kilt of a material that will release or not take wrinkles and keep pleats. Does anyone know how well poly-viscose and other fabrics hold up against such wrinkling? One could also make one's own kilts of "wrinkle free, no-iron" fabric.

I suppose when the kilt was invented people didn't do much driving..... hmmm.

[Scottish Chi]

...I am aware of for the "sweep" is to flip it back in much the same manner that a pianist does when wearing tails and going to sit on a bench. It may not prevent wrinkles but it would be more confortable than being bunched up below. This, however, might not be advisable if the seat has been in the sun or it is in the middle of winter.

I did read in a previous post that using a rope or string behind the kilt when gettin in the car (much like the towel but easier to remove once seated) could be another possibility.

Cheers! Bill

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

And don't forget that UK's have the pleats going both directions. So for them, it is more of a sweep straight down instead with a tendency to sweep to your right to make the pleats close.

[pdcorlis]

Ok so each vehicle probably requires a different approach - here's what I've worked out for my Jeep. Open the door - sweep and sit **** first about half on the seat (knees pointed out the door) - the its a "slide - glide - turn" to get knees to the front and **** to the back of the seat. As others have pointed out - mind the pleats as you shut the door.

[morrison]

How do you guys keep from wrinkling the pleats while sitting in a vehicle? I have a truck, so I can't really just drop into the seat.

Typically, with one hand-the right-I deftly slide it down the backside and to the edge of the seat while flopping into the seat. Then I reach across to make sure the left side pleats are inside the threshold and not on the step plate so they won't get caught in the door, and from there I grab the seat belt, fasten it and close the door with left hand in usually an easy flow of motions.

[Pleater]

My DPM material kilt is very prone to creasing, so I wear a khaki and black scarf with it, and when getting into a car I hold the scarf to keep the pleats in place and to act as a skid, so I can sit and swivel.

other kilts which are less prone to creasing can be smoothed down as I sit - one foot in, smooth and lite down on one cheek, then bring in the other foot, smooth the other side and return to upright.

I wear a reverse Kinguisse style pleating which means I can do the same when traveling as a passenger or driving.

Some fabric is far more crease resistant than others. I have a poly cotton kilt which is made from a fabric intended for bed linen and it might get slightly rumpled if sat on on a hot day for an hour's drive, but it soon smooths out and looks none the worse.

I hope to do some reserch and find a material which is crease resistant for use making lightewight but smart kilts for sale one of these days. As it is at the moment I am having too much fun making them for myself.

I do feel that there is a real need for a non creasing, or at least crease resistant fabric for kilts so they stay smart when seated, but not because they are rigid denim type cloth.

[Hamish]

I have a padded 'turntable' cushion permanently on my car seat. It was designed for the elderly (which I am - sort of!) and the handicapped to make it easier for them to get into cars. I simply sweep as I drop back into the car seat then lift my feet and swing round into the driving position. The pleats stay perfectly in place as a rule but, if I fidget to get more comfortable, I may have to raise my bottom, leaning against the back of the seat, and give another quick sweep before settling down.

Aircraft passenger seats are far worse than car seats to get into whilst pleated - there is simply insufficient room for sweeping or any other form of pleat arranging. Answer: wear an unpleated kilt!!!!!