On The Scene: “Dressed to Kilt” Tartan Week Fashion Show

by Hilary Weissman April 10, 2025

by Hilary Weissman April 10, 2025 0 comments

The Knockturnal attended the “Dressed to Kilt” Scottish fashion show benefitting the Navy Seal Foundation at the Church of Heavenly Rest on the Upper East Side during Tartan Week.

The Dressed to Kilt fashion show made its long-awaited return to New York City last weekend, draping Manhattan in “Country Couture: From the Scottish Highlands to Fifth Avenue” on World Tartan Day. The fashion show was hosted by Scottish actor and film producer James Robinson and Dressed to Kilt co-founder Dr. Geoffrey Scott Carroll. Dr. Carroll founded the event in 2003 with the late Sir Sean Connery to benefit the Navy Seal Foundation (which debuted its own signature tartan on the runway).

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 05: James Robinson speaks onstage during Dressed to Kilt benefitting the Navy Seal Foundation at Church of the Heavenly Rest on April 05, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by JP Yim/Getty Images for Dressed to Kilt)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 05: Dr. Geoffrey Scott Carroll speaks onstage during Dressed to Kilt benefitting the Navy Seal Foundation at Church of the Heavenly Rest on April 05, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by JP Yim/Getty Images for Dressed to Kilt)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 05: Nicole Noonan walks the runway during Dressed to Kilt benefitting the Navy Seal Foundation at Church of the Heavenly Rest on April 05, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by JP Yim/Getty Images for Dressed to Kilt)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 05: Howie Nicholsby walks the runway wearing 21st Century Kilts during Dressed to Kilt benefitting the Navy Seal Foundation at Church of the Heavenly Rest on April 05, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by JP Yim/Getty Images for Dressed to Kilt)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 05: Amy Scott walks the runway wearing Spencer Railton Designs during Dressed to Kilt benefitting the Navy Seal Foundation at Church of the Heavenly Rest on April 05, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by JP Yim/Getty Images for Dressed to Kilt)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 05: Amanda Mayhew walks the runway during Dressed to Kilt benefitting the Navy Seal Foundation at Church of the Heavenly Rest on April 05, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by JP Yim/Getty Images for Dressed to Kilt)

The Scottish, Celtic, and Manx designers and ateliers that presented ranged from outdoor activewear and traditional kilts to haute couture that exalts and transforms tartan and tweed. There was also a preview of select emerging fashion designers from the upcoming The Fife Arms Festival of Fashion. Robinson impressed upon the crowd that “Made in Scotland” is a “benchmark of the very best in the world.”

Of course, the hosts and models wore a wide range of kilts from artisans like Red Label Kilts Inc., Geoffrey Tailor Kilts, and 21st Century Kilts by Howie Nicholsby, who walked the runway. Miss Scotland 2024 Amy Scott made her New York City runway debut in a Spencer Railton bespoke gown, and plans to showcase her own designs at the Miss World competition. Designer and Just Hunt owner Amanda Mayhew also rocked a fashionable sporting-inspired ensemble, complete with an ornate hunting bow. Celebrated sustainable U.S.-based designer Jeff Garner of Prophetik, a label leading in ethical design in the U.K., also showcased his eco-friendly creations celebrating nature, in line with the “country couture” theme.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 05: Jeff Garner walks the runway wearing Prophetik during Dressed to Kilt benefitting the Navy Seal Foundation at Church of the Heavenly Rest on April 05, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by JP Yim/Getty Images for Dressed to Kilt)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 05: Andy Donaldson walks the runway during Dressed to Kilt benefitting the Navy Seal Foundation at Church of the Heavenly Rest on April 05, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by JP Yim/Getty Images for Dressed to Kilt)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 05: Nicole Yeargin walks the runway during Dressed to Kilt benefitting the Navy Seal Foundation at Church of the Heavenly Rest on April 05, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by JP Yim/Getty Images for Dressed to Kilt)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 05: Kirsty Mack walks the runway during Dressed to Kilt benefitting the Navy Seal Foundation at Church of the Heavenly Rest on April 05, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by JP Yim/Getty Images for Dressed to Kilt)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 05: Taylor Winyard walks the runway during Dressed to Kilt benefitting the Navy Seal Foundation at Church of the Heavenly Rest on April 05, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by JP Yim/Getty Images for Dressed to Kilt)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 05: The Savannah Bananas walk the runway during Dressed to Kilt benefitting the Navy Seal Foundation at Church of the Heavenly Rest on April 05, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by JP Yim/Getty Images for Dressed to Kilt)

“Our event is no ordinary fashion show — ours is a show with heart and soul. Great fashion, yes, but even better stories,” Dr. Carroll told the crowd. “Ordinary people doing extraordinary things, inspirational people making a difference,” joined the models on the runway. Among them were Olympic swimmer Andy Donaldson and runner Nicole Yeargin, and world-class athletes like mountaineer Kirsty Mack and ocean-rower Taylor Winyard, plus players from the only baseball team to play in kilts, the Savannah Bananas.

Several well-known NYC personalities were represented on the runway, like TV anchor Shannan Ferry, artist Timothy Goodman, and FDNY Deputy Chief Michele Fitzsimmons. West Wilson of Bravo’s Summer House traded swim trunks in the Hamptons for Celtic furs and tweed. By day, Caleb Simpson takes his followers through iconic NYC residential real estate, but by night, he walked us through the neo-gothic, nearly a-century-old Church of Heavenly Rest cathedral (their rector The Rev. Kate Malin modeled too).

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 05: Shannan Ferry walks the runway during Dressed to Kilt benefitting the Navy Seal Foundation at Church of the Heavenly Rest on April 05, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by JP Yim/Getty Images for Dressed to Kilt)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 05: Timothy Goodman walks the runway during Dressed to Kilt benefitting the Navy Seal Foundation at Church of the Heavenly Rest on April 05, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by JP Yim/Getty Images for Dressed to Kilt)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 05: Michele Fitzsimmons walks the runway during Dressed to Kilt benefitting the Navy Seal Foundation at Church of the Heavenly Rest on April 05, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by JP Yim/Getty Images for Dressed to Kilt)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 05: West Wilson walks the runway during Dressed to Kilt benefitting the Navy Seal Foundation at Church of the Heavenly Rest on April 05, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by JP Yim/Getty Images for Dressed to Kilt)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 05: Caleb Simpson walks the runway during Dressed to Kilt benefitting the Navy Seal Foundation at Church of the Heavenly Rest on April 05, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by JP Yim/Getty Images for Dressed to Kilt)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 05: The Reverend Kate Malin (L) walks the runway during Dressed to Kilt benefitting the Navy Seal Foundation at Church of the Heavenly Rest on April 05, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by JP Yim/Getty Images for Dressed to Kilt)

Attendees were greeted with a set by North American Celtic rock band The Devil’s Brigade. During the show, piper Craig Weir and Scottish singer/songwriters Jai McDowall and Nati took the stage to pay tribute to Scottish musical tradition. DJ Johnny Stuart emceed the runway’s setlist of prominent Scottish artists like James Blunt and Calvin Harris.

Learn more about all the featured designers and the philanthropic mission at DressedtoKilt.com.

Photos Courtesy: Getty Images