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Pre-Westminster doggie fashion show flaunts fun and 'overdressing' your dog
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Dr. David and his dog, Elvis, pose with Dr. Ruth on the red carpet. (Photos: Helena Sung)
It was party pandemonium at the Hotel Pennsylvania's Penn Top Ballroom last night in New York City. Transformed for the evening into a pet-friendly Skybark lounge, flashbulbs were popping as extravagantly dressed dogs poured out of the elevators with their humans in tow.
As their purebred compatriots rested in hotel rooms below in anticipation of competing at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on Monday and Tuesday, these dogs strutted across the red carpet, posed for photographers, and cavorted with equally well-dressed canines inside the festive ballroom.
Organized as a benefit to raise money for Animal Haven shelter, the event included a fashion show by local pet fashion designer, Ada Nieves, and a live auction courtesy of FIDO Friendly magazine.
Coco Chanel, a three year-old Chihuahua, channeled Nicole Kidman from "Moulin Rouge" in a deep purple satin gown with frilly black lace and feathered hat.
"Who's she wearing?" I asked owner, Blanche Montgomery. "Ada Nieves, of course!" she said.
Coco Chanel, the Chihuahua, wearing Ada Nieves.
Ms. Nieves, a local pet fashion designer, staged a fashion show featuring celebrities from the pet world, including Laurie and her Maltese, Andrew, from CBS' "Greatest American Dog" challenge, Andrea Arden and Ali McLennan from Animal Planet's "Underdog to Wonderdog," Jorge Bendersky from "Groomer Has It," and top dog model, Eli the Chihuahua and his owner, Karen Biehl.
Dr. Ruth (the famed sex therapist from the 1980's) also came to support her friend, Dr. David and his Parson Russell Terrier, Elvis, who were also part of the "Greatest American Dog" reality television show.
Bambi the Chihahua shines in a white Ada Nieves gown.
Ms. Nieves is known for her intricate work and couture designs. Her clients pay between $10 and $75 for her pret-a-porter designs, and $100 to $500 for haute couture.
Asked what she thought of England's Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals' (RSPCA) recent threat to prosecute people who "over dress" their dogs, Ms. Nieves said she disagreed with it.
"I can understand the concern of maybe some people taking the extremes... I don't know the details of the law, however I feel it's unfair. There are factors that have to be taken into consideration, such as weather temperatures and breeds," she says, pointing out that small dogs often need a dog coat or sweater to maintain higher body temperatures in freezing cold weather.
As for dressing up her tiny Chihuahuas in frilly dresses and top hats?
"Your dog reflects you as a person and who you are. They're our companions and we tend to look at them in a more human way, and one of these human attributes is dressing them up," Ms. Nieves says. "For me, it's a personal enjoyment as well because you get to show their personalities more.
She insists her dogs enjoy the smiles and attention they get when they are dressed up, especially when they go on therapy visits to see ailing senior citizens. "They bring smiles and motivate the seniors to move and eat," Ms. Nieves says.
Gladys Delgado-Garced and her Maltese, Pierre.
In another corner of the ballroom, it was hard to miss Pierre, a five year-old Maltese who appeared to be dressed as a wildly colorful clown.
"It's a party hat and bone bib," explained his owner, Gladys Delgado-Garced, who had driven in from Philadelphia. Turns out Ms. Delgado-Garced is a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology's Pet Product Design certificate program and runs her own business, "Doggone Couture."
Ms. Delgado-Garced had not heard of the RSPCA's position on prosecuting owners of over-dressed dogs. "They would put me in jail because I've been dressing him since he was six weeks old," she said.
Why dress your pet?
He's a reflection of me. I love fashion. I love getting dressed up, so I gotta dress up my boy, too!
--Gladys Delgado-Garced of her dog, Pierre
Watch video highlights of the fashion show...
Jilly the Yorkshire terrier...
Fashion show finale starting with Ada Nieves...
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