Dressed to Kilt, the internationally recognized celebration of Scottish fashion, culture, and philanthropy, returned to New York City on April 11 at the New York Academy of Medicine for an evening that brought together standout talent from across Scotland, the UK, and the U.S. Co-founded by Sir Sean Connery and Dr. Geoffrey Scott Carroll, the event once again delivered a dynamic runway experience in support of the Navy SEAL Foundation.
Hosted by Dr. Carroll alongside Scottish television personality Danni Menzies, the show highlighted this year’s theme, Scotland Cool: Braveheart to Outlander, with a mix of heritage tartans and contemporary design.
A standout moment included the appearance of Miss Scotland 2026, Eilidh MacDonald, who walked in a bespoke Gwen Russell gown representing the next generation of Scottish cultural ambassadors. Scottish football legend John Collins also took to the runway, marking Scotland’s highly anticipated return to the global football stage.
Fashion and performance
The evening featured a dynamic mix of fashion and performance, including a U.S. debut by award-winning Scottish jazz vocalist Georgia Cecile and a high-energy appearance by rising boy band Just The Brave. Designers from across Scotland and beyond showcased collections that blended craftsmanship with innovation, including Carolyn Baxter, Prophetik by Jeff Garner, Calzeat, Strathmore Woollen Company, Lorna Gillies, Sandra Murray, and Red Label Kilts of Canada, led by designer Deana Lloy, whose presence added an international dimension to the runway.
The evening was further elevated by support from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, which offered guests exclusive access to its global whisky program and introduced a custom event label, “Kilty Pleasures.”
This year’s show also marked two significant commercial announcements. The first was the launch of a new bespoke women’s design brand, Redmond Harvey of Scotland, founded by designer Holly Harvey. Known for one-of-a-kind dresses and gowns, the brand debuted a series of striking long tartan gowns on the runway, signaling a fresh and elevated direction in Scottish womenswear.
The second announcement introduced a landmark collaboration between Strathmore Woollen Company and the Navy SEAL Foundation. Strathmore will curate a range of products in the official Navy SEAL Foundation tartan, designed primarily for the women of the Navy SEAL community—including wives, mothers, daughters, and supporters. Following the show, these pieces will be available via the Navy SEAL Foundation’s e-commerce platform. This partnership represents the first collaboration of its kind between the Foundation and a Scottish company, celebrating both Scottish craftsmanship and the legacy of the SEAL community with a distinctive Highland influence.
True to its mission, Dressed to Kilt continues to serve as a platform for philanthropy, with proceeds benefiting the Navy SEAL Foundation and several former Navy SEALs participating in the show. Blending culture, fashion, and purpose, the 2026 edition reinforced the event’s place as a distinctive and enduring highlight of New York’s cultural calendar.
All images courtesy of JP Yim/Getty Images for Dressed To Kilt.
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