2025
Theme
The theme of the 2025 DTK fashion show will be “Country Couture – From the Scottish Highlands to Fifth Avenue” . This will be a tribute to the fashion of the countryside and the great outdoors. There will of course also be elegant evening wear for the gentlemen and ladies of Edinburgh and Glasgow. Our runway becomes a stage for outdoor lifestyle fashion that encompasses hunting, shooting, hiking, climbing, riding, sailing and of course that sport that the Scots invented, golf. There will also be a number of medal winning Olympic athletes from Paris from both the US Team and Team GB. Creativity meets innovation on the DTK platform. There is a Country Chic look that is emerging, and this movement is bringing nature back into urban environments. This influence of the countryside in urban style (tweeds, tailoring, plaid, cashmere, leather and suede) is adding warmth and softness to the city silhouettes and attitudes.
For those of you who are new to Dressed to Kilt, it is the largest, most prestigious and exciting Scottish fashion show in the world. It was co-founded in 2003 by Sir Sean Connery and Dr. Geoffrey Scott Carroll. It is also one of the highest profile fashion shows in the United States in terms of press & media generation. Though the fashion runways of New York City are the home of Dressed to Kilt, this annual celebrity show has recently performed to sold-out standing room only audiences in a castle, a cathedral, Washington DC, an airplane hangar in Houston and most recently in Toronto, Canada. The Toronto show was by far the largest DTK fashion show ever in terms of audience size and in terms of media impressions. The Toronto show generated between 8-9 million media impressions.
The upcoming April 2025 show will be the first show in NYC since before the pandemic. In light of this it is our intention to make this show an exceptional over-the-top evening with many old friends joining us on the runway, in the audience and as runway judges. Should you wish to be involved in the next show as a runway model, a contributing designer, or a sponsor, please contact us at (FriendsofScotland@igc.org).
The
Venue
The Church of the Heavenly Rest
1085 Fifth Avenue/at 90th Street
New York, NY 10128
As the 2025 DTK show will be the first time the show will be held in NYC since before the pandemic, we want to make this event a particularly memorable one. Our choice of venue was the first big step in this direction. The fashion show will be held at the Church of the Heavenly Rest. This beautiful cathedral is an art deco landmark at the corner of Fifth Avenue and 90th Street directly in front of Central Park. It is located on the Museum Mile of Fifth Avenue and it is next to the Andrew Carnegie Mansion. There are glorious stained-glass windows created by the famous English glassworks Whitefriars Ltd. The windows highlight the principal events of the Christian year.
This congregation was founded in 1865 at the close of the Civil War. Three years later the Church of the Heavenly Rest was formally established, its name a memorial to soldiers felled in that recent conflict. Early on Heavenly Rest earned a reputation for benevolence, providing meals, shelter and support to the needy. As midtown turned commercial the church purchased land at Fifth Avenue and 90th Street from the widow of industrial/philanthropist Andrew Carnegie – whose adjacent mansion still exists as Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. The final design of the building (often referred to as “Gothic Décor”) fell to architect Hardie Phillip. Construction began on All Saints Day 1926 and was completed in time to be dedicated on Easter Day, March 31, 1929. Thanks to engineering innovations every part of the church is visible to all who enter.
Supporting the Arts is an important mission for the Church and supporting artistic creativity of many forms is valued as a spiritual practice and force for reconciliation. The Church aims to nurture artists , deepen the shared experience of their work and invite the greater community to explore our shared humanity through art. Music is also an important part of the Church. At Heavenly Rest music centers around worship life, music educators and creative partnerships. Their instrument collection includes an 8000-pipe Austin Organ (one of the largest in NYC) and several Steinway pianos. They honor their Anglican heritage while bringing excellence in a variety of styles from jazz to new music featuring guest artists and composers. We are thankful that the Church is welcoming the unique art, creativity and music of the Dressed to Kilt show.
The
Charity
The pulsating rhythm of fashion runways usually reverberate with cutthroat competition, rapid trend evolution and insatiable hunger for novelty. Amidst this dazzling, ever-changing spectacle, Dressed to Kilt has etched a distinctive identity that goes beyond merely showcasing celebrity models in traditional kilts or stunning professional models in the latest fashion-forward attire. At the heart of this show is charity and philanthropy. The charity facet of the show is well-recognized within industry corridors. DTK has raised significant sums for Veteran’s causes throughout the years, earning acclaim and extensive recognition. Our partnership with the Navy SEAL Foundation has drawn renewed attention and admiration for our endeavors. In every recent show there have been several former Navy SEALs doing their best to imitate Fifth Avenue runway models.
The Navy SEALS are considered the most elite warriors in the world, and their Navy SEAL Foundation (NSF) focuses on helping the families of the SEALS and they stand at the forefront of crucial care for this unique community. They are there to help the SEAL families every step of the way. The Navy SEALS operate with deliberate stealth beyond the reach of conventional forces, engaging in direct action, hostage rescue and many other specialized mission sets. Through these clandestine missions the SEALS continue to sacrifice for our nation, maintaining their global presence and always at the ready.
Like the special warfare community that they serve, the Navy SEAL Foundation is also a very high-performing organization. Charity Navigator has awarded the NSF a 4-star rating since 2009 and a prfect score of “100” since 2014 for their financial health, accountability and transparency. The NSF ranks higher than 99.9% of charities nationwide and importantly, ninety-four cents of every dollar donated directly funds their programs.
THE DRESSED TO KILT
WHAT PEOPLE SAY
“I wanted to personally thank you and your Dressed to Kilt colleagues for your significant financial contribution. Your generous partnership with the Navy SEAL Foundation makes a difference for these brave warriors, their Naval Special Warfare teammates and to their families”
Robin King , Chief Executive Officer
Navy SEAL Foundation