Unexpectedly windy... Uh oh!

**Guinness>water** · 27th February 12, 06:47 AM

I guess there aint no way around it. Its going to happen, sooner or later. No telling how many people I've flashed.

The wind blows 40mph here more often than not and while helping put the kids in the car, loading groceries, ect. its happened numerous times to me. I dont even look around to see who's seen anymore. Ha!

I think getting a button hole sewn into the outer, inner apron and then another in the middle back pleat would make it easy and un-destructive to put your kilt pin through. That should keep most of it from flying up.

**Pleater** · 27th February 12, 07:14 AM

This is why the plaid should be reintroduced as a standard accessory for a kilt.

When bad weater hits I can take my long plaid, tuck one corner into my waistband or belt, wrap around the pleats then up diagonally to the shoulders - and in a real storm over my head.

The extra layer of wool really makes a difference to just how cold and wet I get, and the pleats are going nowhere.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

**McFarkus** · 27th February 12, 07:25 AM

16 oz wool and a substantial kilt pin help.

**Riverkilt** · 27th February 12, 07:26 AM

A lot like sailing - takes practice. I've adopted the ladies method of arms at the side in very high winds. In lower winds there's little to worry about since if the wind blows from the left it holds the apron closed, if it blows from the right it may blow the apron but it will hold the underapron. Pleats - depending on fabric and how your kilt is pleated - will dance in the wind. The least bit of dancing freaks us guys out until we're used to it. Once you get used to it its fun to let your pleats dance in the wind.

And, we learn the for sure danger areas...the Venturri effect under a parked car, steping out from the protection of a building, entering a building where positive air pressure inside and outside collide, and of course them grates in the sidewalk that spew air straight up.

Sometimes, all you can do is act like nothing happened and keep on walking.

**Nighthawk** · 27th February 12, 07:35 AM

Originally Posted by Riverkilt

...of course them grates in the sidewalk that spew air straight up.

Sometimes, all you can do is act like nothing happened and keep on walking.

I got caught by surprise by one of those once. Luckily, it was on a day that was already windy, so I had boxers on. I heard a lady behind me yell "Sponge Bob? Really?" I have several pairs of Sponge Bob boxers to help me deal with the wind. I figure that if I'm going to flash someone, it may as well give them a laugh.

**Richard** · 27th February 12, 07:38 AM

underwear come to mind.....

**Dale Seago** · 27th February 12, 08:04 AM

I wear 16-oz wool kilts pretty exclusively, so there's almost never any problem. If it happens anyway as on this savagely windy day last month, I just grin and bare it:

**Tobus** · 27th February 12, 08:33 AM

The least bit of dancing freaks us guys out until we're used to it. Once you get used to it its fun to let your pleats dance in the wind.

Well stated, Ron. I think it's the kind of thing that comes with experience. At first, every little breeze that moves the pleats feels like it's exposing everything. But after a while, you get used to it, and you get more of a comfort level.

At the Salado Highland Games last fall, the wind was blowing up to 40 miles an hour. Dead grass and dust were flying everywhere, it was knocking over tables and tents, and made for a generally interesting time. But I was wearing my 16-oz 8-yard kilt (knife pleated). And not once did I feel in danger of exposing anyone. In fact, it was interesting to feel the wind ripple across the pleats. They would get a swaying motion going, and it was kinda fun to feel them dancing back there. The deep overlap of the pleats just won't let them fly all the way up unless they have a sustained blast from underneath (like the grated air vents in cities).

The front, as you said, is really not a concern. The double (and opposing) wraps of the aprons, coupled with a large loaded sporran, gave me no worries. The only place that would tend to fly up was the sides - right behind the reverse pleat area. And even though they would fly up pretty high, I didn't worry about it. So what if someone sees the side of my thigh? They may get a good view of the osprey tattooed on my leg, but that's about it. My front and rear felt safe from exposure.

*edited to add:

A 4-yard box pleat, though, would be all over the place. Whilst box pleated kilts are great for hot summer days when the air is calm, I think high winds are their Achilles Heel. The shape of the pleats tends to catch the wind and billow out.

**tundramanq** · 27th February 12, 08:45 AM

This morning Albuquerque is running 40MPH gusts - I know now - LOL - I went out to roll the trash out to the curb for pickup. I was playing "one armed paper hanger" - pushing with one hand and "attempting" to avoid the full Monroe with the other.

Twas a light flannel SK comfy house kilt - no pin.

**NeightRG** · 27th February 12, 09:27 AM

Originally Posted by Tobus

A 4-yard box pleat, though, would be all over the place. Whilst box pleated kilts are great for hot summer days when the air is calm, I think high winds are their Achilles Heel. The shape of the pleats tends to catch the wind and billow out.

And that's exactly what I was wearing. Even the heavy wool it's made from couldn't have saved me.

And I was wearing underwear (it was cold) - but even seeing that under a lifted kilt can freak out some people. I like to be a good ambassador for the kilt.