Kilt and kin: New York Scots party in all their tartan glory

Published on Tuesday 31 March 2009 23:10

NEW York's Chelsea district was swathed in tartan as Scots and American celebrities descended on the M2 nightclub to celebrate the charity fashion event, Dressed to Kilt.

Hosts Sir Sean Connery and his wife, Micheline, were greeted with loud cheers and applause when they made an impromptu appearance on the red carpet.

Other celebrities at Monday night's event, part of Tartan Week, included Shrek and Austin Powers star Mike Myers; Hollywood actress Andie MacDowell, who took to the catwalk with her daughters; singer Sandi Thom; the band Glasvegas; motor-racing's Dario Franchitti; X Factor winner Leon Jackson; Gossip Girl star Ed Westwick; Linlithgow-born model Lauren Tempany; and Miss Scotland Stephanie Willemse.

Clutching a dog wearing a kilt and tartan ribbons, Sir Sean told reporters the event was particularly important during the Year of Homecoming.

"We've got more Scots and celebrity friends of Scotland participating in Dressed to Kilt this year than ever before," he said. "I'm delighted to be celebrating Homecoming here in New York at Dressed to Kilt and to be doing so again this summer in Scotland."

The Connerys watched from a private balcony as a host of Scottish, Scots-American and American celebrities paraded down the catwalk in tartan of various lengths, styles, cuts and colours. Confusion surrounded Sir Sean's advertised role as a model at the event. It had been reported a special 5,000 kilt of Mongolian cashmere had been made to his measurements by 1st Kilts, a specialist kiltmaker in Gifford, East Lothian.

On the night, however, it appeared the garment was worn by Geoff Day, a Mercedes Benz executive who was helping to sponsor the event.

MacDowell and her daughters Rainey, 18, and Margaret, 14, made their first public appearance together and were a huge hit with the crowd.

The actress, whose grandmother was a Scot, said: "It's nice to put on tartan again after Four Weddings and a Funeral. It's such a worthwhile charity event and on a personal level it's nice to do this together with my kids. It's our first time doing something like this, the three of us."

Asked about her Scottish heritage, MacDowell said: "I have an aunt who has done a lot of genealogy research and I have Scottish relatives on my grandmother's side."

She added: "I love my oats. I could make – and eat – porridge for Scotland."

Singer Sandi Thom, in America hoping to sign with a major record label, said: "It's great to be here in New York and to be part of this event."

One of the biggest cheers of the night went to Mike Myers. The Canadian, who provided the voice for Scottish ogre Shrek in the hit films, modelled a Canadian hockey shirt, fur hat, kilt and trainers. Famously proud of his Scottish heritage, Myers pouted and teased the audiences by lifting his kilt up – though not high enough to prove whether he was a true Scotsman.

Proceeds went to Paralysed Veterans of America, the Wounded Warriors organisation and the Erskine Hospital in Scotland.