Scotland’s most famous fashion show, Dressed to Kilt (DTK), celebrated its 20th anniversary with a massive sold-out show in Washington with over 65 looks. The show took place on Saturday, April 1, 2023 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, DC, exactly 20 years to the day of the first show in New York City on April 1, 2003. This year’s theme is “Country Cool- Fashion for the Outdoors” highlighting looks inspired by hunting, shooting, fishing, camping, riding, hiking, and other outdoor activities.
A number of Scotland’s top designers participated in this show including Calzeat, Glenisla Kilts, Harris Tweed Hebrides, House of Cheviot, Kinalba Scottish Cashmere, Lorna Gillies, Strathmore Woolen Mills, Slanj, Totty Rocks and Walker Slater. Several American designers that utilize traditional Scottish fabrics that are not only suited for the catwalk but also the outdoor country lifestyle were also included in the show. The big winner here was Scottish cashmere, tweed, and tartan.
The show featured fabulous kilts and tartan looks worn by notable, celebrities and acclaimed professionals from Scotland, the United States, and various parts of the globe. Models who graced the runway included Edward Beyers, SEAL Team Six and US Congressional Medal of Honor recipient; Taylor Winyard, Scottish rower who holds a record for rowing across the Atlantic; Lesley Paterson, Scotland’s latest heroine and 2023 Oscar winner for All Quiet on the Western Front; and Lucy Sophia Thompson, current Miss Scotland. And for the first time ever, the show included a member of the clergy. The Rev. Canon Dana Corsello, the Vicar of the National Cathedral in Washington D.C., made her runway debut wearing the World Peace Tartan kilt. Other models included former Navy SEALs, high-profile athletes from both sides of the Atlantic, news anchors, politicians, several fearless female veterans, and a few furry friends including a Scottish terrier and a live falcon and a former Navy SEAL carrying a huge Scottish salmon down the runway.
The largest and most prestigious Scottish fashion event in the world
Mid-show the attendees were treated to a special performance by Scottish singer and Tik Tok sensation, Nati Dredd. This year’s show also remembered three of Scotland’s greatest supporters, Queen Elizabeth II, Sir Sean Connery, co-founder of Dressed to Kilt, and Dame Vivienne Westwood, a huger supporter of Dressed to Kilt. Proceeds from the evening will benefit the Navy SEAL Foundation. During the after-party the founders of the event received a serious invitation to hold the next Dressed to Kilt outside of the United States for the first time ever.
From its genesis in 2003, DTK is now the largest and most prestigious Scottish fashion event in the world, and one of the highest profile fashion shows in the United States. They believe that fashion, without the enrichment of diverse cultures, becomes hollow. The show is produced by the Friends of Scotland charity which was co-founded by Sir Sean Connery in 2002.
In addition to supermodels, this show highlights very accomplished men and women on the runway and it is also filled with A-List celebrities and athletes from both sides of the Atlantic. In recent shows Sir Sean Connery, Gerard Butler, Alan Cumming, Kiefer Sutherland, Kyle MacLachlan, Chris “Mr. Big” Noth, Mike Myers, Brian Cox and Craig Ferguson have all walked the runway. The charity has raised significant sums for the families of wounded veterans.
For more information, please visit www.dressedtokilt.com
Main photo: Miss Scotland, Lucy Sophia Thompson.