Recent months have seen the unveiling of new spring and summer collections at pet couture shows in cities around the world. Getting things rolling at the top end of the market was London’s famous department store Harrods, which held its fifth annual Pet-à-Porter dog fashion show in November. The theme of the show was ‘Diamond Dogs’ and one of the highlights was a spectacular diamond dog collar and precious jewelery by Stephen Webster valued at over half a million pounds. Other designs incorporated pearls, sapphires, and rubies. Hundreds of people turned out to sip champagne and nibble on canapés at Harrods as they watched well-bred canine models (and their human companions) strut down the runway in outfits by top designers, including Ben de Lisi and Vivienne Westwood. After two hours of dazzling dog fashion, guests walked away with an exclusive doggy bag full of treats for those furry friends who couldn’t make it to the show.
Tokyo is another emerging hub of canine fashion where canine haute couture is particularly popular. Walking through city parks, you’ll rarely see a dog that isn’t dressed to the nines and perfectly accessorized, and some Tokyo owners have been known to have several dozen different outfits for their dogs. Tokyo also hosted Japan’s first New Year’s Dog Party in January. The event featured activities such as dog yoga, photo shoots, gourmet dog food bars and fashion shows with human and canine models strutting down the runway in matching outfits from top international designers. Highlights of the show included a $20,000 diamond-encrusted leather dog jacket modeled after a dachshund and a $5,000 gold and silver colored jacket with Swarovski crystals. Other canine supermodels included shih-tzus in biker jackets, poodles in polka dot dresses, bulldogs in sailor suits, a poodle dressed as Audrey Hepburn, greyhounds in rasta hats, a Maltese in a denim suit and yellow boots, and even a dog in a neon green wig. The two-day event drew crowds of up to 20,000 people who had almost as much fun as all the dogs who welcomed the opportunity to socialize, enjoy aromatherapy spas, sniff, do a little yoga, maybe compete in a fast food and of course, show off your latest outfit.
New York is naturally at the forefront of canine fashion and is the site of New York Pet Fashion Week, an annual event since 2006. In addition to the shows, this event features a lifestyle trade show, a black tie fundraiser for charity and award ceremonies. The show takes place in August and last summer some of the most outrageous fashions were provided by the Isle of Dogs, whose canine and human models ranged from visions of metallic silver and purple post-apocalyptic robots to a chiffon-pink Mary Poppins accompanied by a teacup poodle with pink highlights and a sparkly princess crown. Other designers showcased leopard print and denim combos, frilly dresses and even a Yorkie in a white angel outfit with feathers and wings.
So what fashion trends emerged from these shows? Well, here’s a roundup of what’s hot for pets this spring.
Pink is as on-trend as ever this spring season, but with a new twist of pretty floral prints, ruffles, lace and appliqué details, polka dots, metallic fabrics and accessories. For a fresh spring look and feel, soft sheer fabrics paired with cotton and linen will be featured, and yellow will be popular alongside contrasting black and white, colors that suit dogs of all shapes and sizes. Shades of green will also be popular as more environmentally friendly hemp will make an impact with more environmentally conscious homeowners in the coming months.
White will also be a standout feature this spring/summer season for both male and female dogs, with ruching details and puff sleeves also making an appearance. Soft and cozy pajamas are making a comeback this season, and they’re not just for casual wear at home: Pet parents wearing matching pajamas are predicted to be a new streetwear trend that combines style with comfort. For cooler days, cotton hoodies, soft knit jumpers and ponchos in pastel shades of pink and green will provide stylish warmth.
Dog t-shirts with slogans are always popular. This spring, leopard-trimmed t-shirts are predicted to be a big hit along with chiffon-trimmed t-shirts for girls and skull and heart designs for boys. And finally, owners of large dogs will find it easier to dress their dogs in the latest funky trends this year, as more and more pet fashion designers include large dog sizes in their lines.
