Jack told he was skirting with disaster

Published on Wednesday 30 March 2005 14:00

THE kilt designer who created Jack McConnell’s infamous pinstripe "skirt" today revealed that he had warned the First Minister against wearing the outfit which led to him being widely ridiculed.

Edinburgh-based Howie Nicholsby said he advised Mr McConnell against wearing a white Jacobite shirt with the modern kilt when he appeared at Tartan Day celebrations in New York last year.

In hindsight, he said he also thought it was a mistake for Mr McConnell to abandon the traditional sporran.

Critics ridiculed the First Minister for the way he looked in the tight kilt, saying it looked as though he was wearing a mini skirt.

But today Mr Nicholsby, renowned for creating kilts in PVC and leather, said he thought Mr McConnell would have looked great if he had chosen a different outfit to go with his kilt.

He said: "Personally, I would have worn a black shirt with that kilt. Looking back at the photographs now the white shirt didn’t look right. I did try to warn Jack, but he felt more comfortable in the white shirt. I also think a sporran would have looked good with that kilt.

"Although I would have made changes, I think the criticism he received from the public was shocking and quite unfair. At the end of the day, Jack suits a kilt - he is just the right height and has good legs for it.

"He proved he was a good sport and felt comfortable in the outfit how he chose to wear it."

Mr Nicholsby spoke as it emerged he is to star as part of this year’s Tartan Week event in New York. He is one of three Scottish fashion designers taking part in the Big Apple event.

He will join forces with Glasgow-based Jilli Blackwood and the Lochcarron company to present daily fashion shows at the city’s showcase Scottish village.

The shows will be held at VisitScotland’s village, which will take over Grand Central Station’s Vanderbilt Hall. They will feature the specially commissioned "Deconstructed" collection by Heriot-Watt University textile students.

Each of the designers - including the students’ collection - will also feature at this year’s Dressed To Kilt fashion show at New York’s Copacabana Club.

The annual event starts this Saturday and will be attended by a range of Scottish and US celebrities, including Sir Sean Connery.

Visitors to the Tartan Week exhibition will be able to walk through a recreation of a medieval Scottish village, sample haggis and win holidays in Scotland.

Mr Nicholsby, of 21st Century Kilts in the Royal Mile, jets out to New York tomorrow.

His company holds annual shows in the city to cope with an increased demand for kilts from the Scottish-American market.

He said: "This is going to be a massive celebration of Scotland and will show that it is not just about shortbread and bagpipes."