Tartan Week: From curling to catwalk as ice star heads for New York

Published on Tuesday 9 March 2010 21:50

TEENAGE Olympic curler Eve Muirhead is set to swap the ice rink for the catwalk after being named as one of the models at this year's Dressed to Kilt event in New York.

• Star turns, from left, Scottish curler Eve Muirhead, actors Alan Cumming and Gerard Butler, singer Joan Jett and comic Mike Myers, are set to take part in Dressed to Kilt

The 19-year-old is expected to rub shoulders with stars such as actors Gerard Butler, Alan Cumming and Brendan Fraser, comic Mike Myers, and rocker Joan Jett at Sir Sean Connery's annual charity bash.

Ms Muirhead's fellow Scots Olympic hopefuls, brother and sister skating duo John and Sinead Kerr, have also been unveiled in the line-up along with Scotland's rugby captain, Chris Cusiter.

Dressed to Kilt, organised from New York by businessman Geoffrey Scott-Carroll, is one of the centrepiece events of the Scotland Week celebrations, which have been extended to cities across North America and Canada.

It was confirmed yesterday that Alex Fergusson, Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament, will be leading the traditional parade along Sixth Avenue on 10 April, while other events include a fun run through Central Park and a major whisky festival.

Mr Scott-Carroll pledged yesterday that the event would be the "biggest and best yet". His line-up is also expected to include New York Yankees legend Bernie Williams, Sex and the City star Kyle McLachlan and supermodel Brooklyn Decker, girlfriend of tennis ace Andy Roddick.

Three American war heroes – veterans of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan and all amputees – will also take to the stage. Proceeds from the event are going to veterans charities.

Mr Scott-Carroll told The Scotsman: "We had huge publicity for the show last year after Andie McDowell and Mike Myers took part, but I think it's really going to kick off this year.

"Our theme has been partly inspired by Alice in Wonderland, we didn't want to set any kind of rules for any of the designers. It really is anything goes."

A spokeswoman for the event added: "This year's show will celebrate mad style, eccentric style, individuality and the mix and match of colours and styles.

"The catwalk will come alive as a visual feast of eccentric elegance, surreal ensembles, stunning fabrics and 'mad hatters.'"

The Scottish Government, VisitScotland and Scottish Development International are all expected to host events in New York for Scotland Week, but are keeping their involvement under wraps.

A spokeswoman for the Scottish Government, which stages Scotland Week events across North America, said: "Our plans for Scotland Week in North America are currently being finalised.

"Details of the Scotland Week programme will be announced shortly and will celebrate Scotland, its heritage and its culture with international markets throughout the United States and Canada."