With haute couture featuring eye-catching custom hats, couture has come to dogs

Susan Godwin can’t believe her Morkie, Tasha Bella, was the only naked dog at her first dog encounter in New York City. That was many years ago, and times have changed.

“When I took Tasha to her first doggy gathering, all the dogs were dressed, except her,” Godwin recounts. “I knew I was going to have to up my game as a dog mom.”

She took a leap and entered the dog fashion field.

Form and Constan

“I started getting Tasha to wear sweaters to get her used to the clothes,” Godwin recalls. “I quickly learned that New York dogs don’t buy ‘cheap’, so I contacted the dog designer, Ada Nievesso my dog ​​can dress to impress. “

Godwin proudly admits Tasha never bothered to get dressed. She wore sunglasses and even the most elaborate hat on her tiny head with pride. Goodwin knows some dogs don’t like dressing up, but Tasha says that Tasha loves it.

“I feel like most dogs are dressed with their heads held high, love the more attention they receive and know that they are hanging out with humans, included in the plan for night when haute couture comes out.”

“If there’s ever been a dog that wears clothes with its tail down and doesn’t want to walk, then of course, I wouldn’t force them. But that’s not my dog. Tasha would love to be a fashionista! “Courtesy Susan Godwin

Tasha has become a fashion diva in her world, recognized as the Top Dog Model and Most Photogenic at Miss Dog Contest. The little dog even performed his community service as the national leader of Godwin’s PupScout organization, a non-profit, yes, an army of dog scouts: Dogs wear adorable uniforms and earn badges as obedient dog assistants to their parents who organize fundraisers and other events to benefit pet charities.

Tasha in a Pupscout uniform. polite Susan Godwin

In Godwin’s experience, people like her who dress their pets up to the age of nine are often active in advocacy for animals in need. While this is a fun way to show off their pets, the main focus of Pupscouts is raising money for animals in need.

Other designers and pet parents, such as those you’ll meet below, also participate in the fund and raise awareness, and volunteer their time to shelters or rescue groups local.

Dexter Bryant wearing Janice Craig. Alice G Patterson’s photo for Carol Bryant

Personal Notes

Full disclosure: I am one of the pet parents. Before the pandemic, my wife and I hosted annual pet-friendly gala events to benefit many dog ​​rescue groups. We found tickets sold faster and more people were willing to attend because they wanted to see the dogs dressed up. Those same people were more willing to help promote the event and share photos on social media.

As a result, we sold out every event and helped raise thousands of dollars for homeless pets. My beloved dog, Dexter, has worn these stylish and warm designs by many of these designers. I personally know the designers and fashions mentioned in this section. They all really love what they do, and it shows in their dog’s active lifestyle.

Ada Nieves, dog fashion designer and more. Courteous photo

Bark is the new black

Ada Nieves is an icon in the pet fashion industry who splits her time between New York and Florida. She has been designing dog clothes since 2004 and earned a degree in Pet Products and Marketing from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City in 2008.

The average price of a custom daffodil set can range from $150 to $900.

Nieves says: “Clothing my pets means a lot to me. “Consider an owner who loves luxury pet accessories; a dressed pet will not be abandoned, will not receive medical attention and will be well fed. Owners will take care of their pets and want to show them off.”

Fashion design by Ada Nieves. Courteous photo

The designer says pet fashion has become very popular over the past 10 years with the proliferation of non-traditional families – including those who treat pets like their own children. People see their pets as part of the family and want to pamper them. Often, pets are a reflection of who we are, including our social status, and clothing is one way to express these traits.

“As we get closer to our pets, we find ways to help them live longer with us,” says Nieves. “This includes things like dog shoes to protect their paws on the sidewalk, fabric to warm or cool body temperature, and tracking devices in the collar if they’re loitering – it really is unlimited.”

Photo: Ada Nieves

Nieves shares her life with Chihuahua and Chihuahua paired with her cat, Martini Beethoven, whose latter cat acts more like a dog than a cat — and yes, they model her designs, too.

“Once a pet enjoys dressing up for fun, there’s nothing to worry about. My pets run up to me, waiting for me to pick them up and see what the next adventure is,” Nieves said.

Canine Couture shakes the runway

doggy designer Anthony Rubio grew up in New York City, surrounded by influences from his Puerto Rican heritage — everything from the culture’s music and food to its colorful fashions.

Anthony Rubio with his dogs, Bogie and Kimba, and a model. Photo courtesy of Anthony Rubio

He attended the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York specializing in womenswear and was a designer in the late 80s and mid 90s. He considers his upbringing at the heart of the fashion world. and grew up during one of the most rebellious and expressive periods in fashion history influencing his artistic vision.

Rubio stumbled into the profession of sewing fangs. After rescuing a dog, Bandit, in 2002, he set out on a quest to create clothes and costumes for it.

The rich dog loved it and when more people saw Bandit’s fashion, they wanted Rubio to design for their dogs. In 2003, Bandit Rubio Designs was founded. The rest, as he said, is the history of dogs.

After Bandit’s death in 2011, the company name was changed to Anthony Rubio Designs. Since that time, Rubio has done major production runway shows, with his first New York Fashion Week runway in 2012.

Today, he’s a proud dog dad to Chihuahua twins, Bogey and Kimba, whom he adopted when he was two months old. The creations of the boys and Rubio were featured in Vogue magazines in different countries, Harper’s Bazaar, People, The glamor Rubio said.

Polite Anthony Rubio

Dogs dominate the catwalk

Like Rubio, dog mom, Anne Maria Tafoya of Albuquerque, New Mexico, happens to be involved in dog fashion. She adopted a rescue Pomeranian and named her Sophia Loren. Poor Sophia is afraid of everything.

Tafoya recalls: “I put on a little T-shirt for her the other day. “And I saw her bloom right before my eyes; everyday dressing has become our ritual”.

After having Sophia enter a Halloween costume contest, people from New York contacted each other. Sophia is asked to model canine in fashion shows. Companies like Petco have invited her to be brand ambassadors.

Left: Betty White with Sophia Loren. Right: Greyshoes model a designer’s creativity. Photo courtesy of Anne Maria Tafoya

“I met Anthony Rubio at one of these shows and got to know him and his amazing designs,” says Tafoya. “Sophia modeled for him at Los Angeles Fashion Week in 2017, and it was the most magical thing I’ve ever seen.”

When Sophia died, Tafoya adopted a Pomsky named Gray shoes, who has huge shoes to fill. Tafoya was convinced that Sophia was looking down from the sky to guide the Greyshoes towards the runway.

When he was just a few months old, the Greyshoes went on his first fashion show, and Rubio called him the world’s first runway Pomsky. He and his canine sister, Daffodil, love to dress up as they both strut the runway with fashion models at the ends of their laces.

Daffodil walks on the runway. Photo courtesy of Anne Maria Tafoya

T-shirt fashion — What’s next

Canine couture is here to stay, from booties to Swarovski crystal necklace.

A simple Google search for “dog clothes“Creating Millions of Results, Every Way” pet halloween costume to the latest collection from premium designers like Louis Vuitton, Versaceand other. Dogs (and cats!) On the runway? Test. Dogs as guests at fashion shows? Test. Can the dogs have a better wardrobe than you? Um, check.

While pet clothes are often about fashion, they can also be about function. Many small dogs and some cats feel warmer and more secure in the outer layer. When my Cocker Spaniel, Dexter, injured his leg (twice) and broke it anterior cruciate ligament, he required surgery. I chose one human-like post-surgery suit for dogs during post-surgery recovery (from people in Tulane’s Closet), and Dexter never struggled with the cone of shame to stop him from licking or chewing his stitches.

With one The new generation chooses to keep pets over peopleand with more pets in more houses and closer relationship with them than everYou can expect pet couture to be more creative, more customized, and more specific to your pet’s needs, along with their doting parents.

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