NEW York was painted tartan as Scottish fashion took to the catwalk once again at the annual Dressed to Kilt event.

The celebrity show, which took place at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York, saw famous Scottish faces such as Billy Connolly and actress Louise Linton turn models for the evening.

American stars Kiefer Sutherland and Chris Noth, alongside Scottish actor Brian Cox, also took to the catwalk in traditional kilts, before baring their backsides in front of the shocked audience.

The theme for the Scottish gala this year was country chic, and guests invited to the Dressed to Kilt event were asked to dress in “something Scottish or something country”.

Dressed to Kilt, which is part of Scotland Week in New York, is regarded as the largest Scottish fashion charity event in the world outside of Scotland.

This year the guest list included names such as Paolo Nutini, who turned up wearing a tartan suit, and rugby players Richie Gray and Thom Evans, who also modelled outfits.

Sir Sean Connery had been due to attend Tuesday night’s show but pulled out a few days before.

As well as celebrity guests, Dressed to Kilt is renowned for showcasing the best of Scottish fashion talent.

Scottish womenswear designer Judy Clark was one of the designers who managed to secure a place in the high-profile event, after impressing the organisers with her clothing last year.

Ms Clark showcased her latest range of Harris tweed frock coats, which celebrate the centenary year of the Harris tweed orb, the emblem used to authenticate each piece of tweed.

Her designs featured sumptuous velvets and vintage lace as well as head-pieces made by Edinburgh-based milliner Fawns Reid.

Before leaving for New York, Ms Clark said: “It certainly has been a busy couple of weeks.

“I am really enjoying the workload and looking forward to showcasing my Scottish wares in New York.

“I’m hoping this year will be more successful than ever. I have an exciting project lined up with Urban Outfitters in Glasgow when I return.”

Designs created by students at Glasgow School of Art also made it into the show.

A women’s tartan suit along with a traditional kilt, made from fabric produced by Scottish label Toshie Mackintosh, were designed by students at the art school and shown on the Dressed to Kilt catwalk.

This year the Dressed to Kilt event also launched its first-ever fashion showroom, where buyers and retailers were invited to see Scottish fashion designers’ work.

The showroom promoted the work of up-and-coming designers Henrietta Ludgate and Iona Crawford. The shop also displayed art and photography.

Earlier this week, The Herald reported how the official delegation to this year’s Scotland Week had been forced to cut its budget by £40,000 – or 10% – in the face of austerity measures and the Holyrood election campaign.