NY1.com

  29º

03/31/2009 02:30 PM

Chelsea Wears Kilts With Pride

By: George Whipple

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New Yorkers got a chance to see what Scotsmen wear under their kilts in the recent Chelsea fashion event "Dressed To Kilt." NY1's George Whipple girdled his loins and filed the following report.

"Dressed To Kilt", an annual Scottish fashion show which benefits the Friends of Scotland, was recently held in Chelsea, and led by returning host Sean Connery.

Comedic genius Mike Myers opened the show in a Canadian-inspired number. Gossip Girl's Ed Westwick also sported plaid.

Chelsea Wears Kilts With Pride
Andie MacDowell also strutted the runway with her two daughters, Rainey and Margaret Qualley.

Whipple: Do you have Scottish ancestry?

MacDowell: We're descendants of -

Rainey Qualley: The ancient lords of Galloway.

MacDowell: That's correct. What is the name, our heritage, the name?

Rainey Qualley: MacDougal!

Margaret Qualley: MacDougal - we are indeed MacDougals.

Lindsay Campbell was one of the stylists for the show.

Whipple: What is the tradition behind the kilt?

Campbell: The kilt was worn in battle and it was also worn in everyday wear in Scotland. They used to wrap it around their bodies and sleep in it as well as traveling over the Highlands to keep themselves warm.

Whipple: Do Scotsman wear underwear under their kilts?

Campbell: No!

Chelsea Wears Kilts With Pride
Even I was sent down the runway in a kilt, alongside the beautiful Fox News correspondent Courtney Friel.

But to my surprise, host Sean Connery arrived sans kilt!

Athletes were well-represented, including New York Yankees' Bernie Williams, New York Giant and Super Bowl champion Lawrence Tynes and New York Jets' center Damien Woody.

Whipple: These kilts were worn in battle. That's where they started, in battle. Do you think that we ought to have kilts on the football field?

Woody: No! I need to protect the family jewels.

Ben Wilson, better know as the GEICO Caveman, wore a kilt over his prehistoric package.

Whipple: Is this your first time going down the runway?

Wilson: This is the first time going down the runway ever, other than in an airplane.

Toronto band Bowfire also fiddled their way down the runway.

I do have a little bit of Scottish blood, and at home I have a family tartan that was made in Scotland. But the tartan is from Ireland - something I didn't reveal to my fellow kilt enthusiasts.