Tuesday, July 22, 2003
Charm Tip
Sometime back in high school, already well on my way to collecting obscure books that nobody else wanted, I found this one: Secrets of Charm, copyright 1954, by John Robert Powers (of the Powers School) and Mary Sue Miller. I love this book. I have gathered more tips that have actual utility from this book than from any other source. I'm about to offer to you, Vintage Reader's readers, some absolutely invaluable information gleaned from its yellowed pages: how to get in and out of a car in a skirt.
"Never attempt to stand up and go through the door of a car headfirst. Slide over instead to the end of the seat and reach out sidewise with the foot nearest the door until your foot touches the ground.
"So far, so easy! But the next move takes the kind of confident grace that only practice gains. To carry on, give a slight push with the foot that remains in the car and use the momentum gathered to lift your body up and out of the car in a sidewise position. Let your head and shoulder cap lead; trust your hips to follow.
"Next bring the foot still within the car to rest beside the one on the ground and do a quick, graceful rightabout-face. You're set--and charmingly!"
[n.b.: I suggest visualizing this one before actually attempting it. --ed.]
And now for getting back into the car:
"Entering a car without cost to appearances is also governed by a set of modern regulations that cannot be matched by simply reversing the getting-out procedures.
"To achieve grace and ease, you must begin by facing the front of the car. This means that one side, from top to toe, is turned toward the door you aim to enter. Establishing this position is the crux of the entire operation, since you must remain in it until safely seated. At no time twist your hips or shoulders so that they slightly face the side of the car.
"This much arranged, raise the foot nearest the door with a relaxed knee action until you can place it six inches inside hte car, flat on the floor and pointing straight ahead. Now give a slight push-off iwth the foot still on the ground and slide yor head and shoulders into the car. With split-second timing, shift all your weight to the foot already inside the car and slide your hips sidewise until they rest on the edge of the seat. Allow the grounded foot to follow at once. With a sliding (not bucking) motion, move to the space allotted you. Again, you're all set!"
Seriously, this is much easier than it sounds once you've done it a couple of times. I recommend practicing with a pickup or an SUV, preferably one with leather seats, until you get the hang of it; the height and the slick seats make it easier. Soon you'll be jumping in and out of cars like a real Mulholland Molly (I find no reference to this term in Google; I heard it in an episode of Gidget, and by context--Gidget proclaiming "I'm no Mulholland Molly!" to a boy she thought was getting fresh--it sounds like an M.M. would be in and out of cars a lot).
Backing off the Mulholland Molly image, just think of yourself as Tippi Hedren, getting out of that lovely little green car (an Aston-Martin DB2/4 drop-head coupe) in The Birds in her stylish suit and fawn-colored gloves. That's what we aspire to with this move.
"Never attempt to stand up and go through the door of a car headfirst. Slide over instead to the end of the seat and reach out sidewise with the foot nearest the door until your foot touches the ground."So far, so easy! But the next move takes the kind of confident grace that only practice gains. To carry on, give a slight push with the foot that remains in the car and use the momentum gathered to lift your body up and out of the car in a sidewise position. Let your head and shoulder cap lead; trust your hips to follow.
"Next bring the foot still within the car to rest beside the one on the ground and do a quick, graceful rightabout-face. You're set--and charmingly!"
[n.b.: I suggest visualizing this one before actually attempting it. --ed.]
And now for getting back into the car:
"Entering a car without cost to appearances is also governed by a set of modern regulations that cannot be matched by simply reversing the getting-out procedures.
"To achieve grace and ease, you must begin by facing the front of the car. This means that one side, from top to toe, is turned toward the door you aim to enter. Establishing this position is the crux of the entire operation, since you must remain in it until safely seated. At no time twist your hips or shoulders so that they slightly face the side of the car.
"This much arranged, raise the foot nearest the door with a relaxed knee action until you can place it six inches inside hte car, flat on the floor and pointing straight ahead. Now give a slight push-off iwth the foot still on the ground and slide yor head and shoulders into the car. With split-second timing, shift all your weight to the foot already inside the car and slide your hips sidewise until they rest on the edge of the seat. Allow the grounded foot to follow at once. With a sliding (not bucking) motion, move to the space allotted you. Again, you're all set!"
Seriously, this is much easier than it sounds once you've done it a couple of times. I recommend practicing with a pickup or an SUV, preferably one with leather seats, until you get the hang of it; the height and the slick seats make it easier. Soon you'll be jumping in and out of cars like a real Mulholland Molly (I find no reference to this term in Google; I heard it in an episode of Gidget, and by context--Gidget proclaiming "I'm no Mulholland Molly!" to a boy she thought was getting fresh--it sounds like an M.M. would be in and out of cars a lot).
Backing off the Mulholland Molly image, just think of yourself as Tippi Hedren, getting out of that lovely little green car (an Aston-Martin DB2/4 drop-head coupe) in The Birds in her stylish suit and fawn-colored gloves. That's what we aspire to with this move.
Labels: tips
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