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THE GLENLIVET^® PRESENTS DRESSED TO KILT

Sir Sean and Lady Connery Serve as Honorary Chairs for Evening of Scottish Fashion and Fun 

to Benefit Wounded Warriors Project and Paralyzed Veterans of America

New York, NY (March 22, 2011) – Hot Scots and bold-faced names take Manhattan by storm and get “Dressed to Kilt” at the ninth annual charity event, this year taking place on Tuesday April 5, 2011. Sir Sean and Lady Connery again serve as Honorary Chairmen and introduce to Dressed to Kilt their granddaughter Saskia Connery, who will make her runway debut at this year’s show.

The highly-anticipated event will be held at the Hammerstein Ballroom (311 West 34th Street, between 8^th and 9^th Avenues), beginning with a cocktail reception at 7:30 p.m. followed by the runway fashion presentation at 9:00 p.m.

The theme of the 2011 show, “Country Chic,” draws its inspiration from the world of country music, particularly noting its Scottish roots and origins. Watch this year’s catwalk “rock with country chic,” as designers blur the lines between Haute and Highland, rustic and urban while incorporating modern knits, refined tweeds and classic Tartans with a stylish and western glam.

This unique show celebrates all aspects of Caledonian culture including fabric, art, music, whisky and most notably, fashion. The Dressed to Kilt presentation showcases a range of styles from traditional Highland kilts and cutting-edge looks from young Scottish talent to world-renowned designer fashions and haute couture.

This year's show features looks by celebrated designers, from world-renowned fashion houses like Alexander McQueen and Vivienne Westwood, to top British talent like House of Holland and Lochcarron of Scotland. Designer labels known for their celebrity patrons also hit the catwalk, including looks from Katherine Hooker, a long-time favorite designer of soon-to-be Princess Kate Middleton, Kerry Nixon, a go-to of actress Keira Knightley, and Rachael Barrett, known to work closely with Lady Gaga. Keeping in the Country Chic theme, this show will for the first time feature looks from top award-winning U.S. based country western designers, including Montana Dreamwear, Pat Dahnke, IOTA, Prophetik and Manuel Cuevas.

Recognized as the most prestigious and highest profile Scottish fashion event in the world, this year’s Dressed to Kilt proves to be no exception with celebrity participants including Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter Amy Grant, country music sensations Kix Brooks of Brooks & Dunn,  “Big” Kenny Alphin of Big and Rich, Kellie Pickler, Gary Allan and country music trio Stealing Angels. They will be joined by New York's own Donald Trump and wife Melania Trump, actors Matt Bomer (White Collar), Matthew Settle (Gossip Girl) and Kyle Maclachlan, Canadian electric fiddle group Bowfire, former Victoria’s Secret model and actress Selita Ebanks, Bravo’s Bethenny Frankel of Bethenny Ever After, Broadway actor Matthew Modine, among many, many more.

Through Friends of Scotland (www.friendsofscotland.org), a non-profit organization founded by Sir Sean Connery and dedicated to advancing contemporary Scottish interests in the United States, proceeds from Dressed to Kilt will benefit the Paralyzed Veterans of America and the Wounded Warrior Project, which provides assistance to injured veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan, specifically.

In addition to this year’s fashion show, Friends of Scotland will once again open a pop-up shop to share with the public some of Scotland’s finest textiles and designs. The shop, directly adjacent to the Whitney Museum at 939 Madison Ave, will be open from Thursday, March 17 – Sunday, April 10.

The pop-up shop, in partnership with Isabella Garrucho Fine Art, will also play host to the first “Dressed to Kilt Fine Art Show,” which will run from Friday, March 18 to Friday, April 8. Featuring works from famed photographers Terry O’Neill and Roberto Dutesco, the pop-up shop will be outfitted in iconic images, including original stills from O’Neill of Sir Sean Connery on the set of “James Bond”, and are available for sale both in-store and online at http://www.dressedtokiltartshow.com. Proceeds from the sale of the art will further support the fundraising efforts of Friends of Scotland and its various charities.

The 2011 Dressed to Kilt show is proudly supported by title sponsor The Glenlivet^® and presented together with the Scottish Textiles industry.