Doggie fashion extravaganzas raise funds for animal rescue and other pet charities
Ralph Lauren may have gone for a rugged look during New York’s just-concluded Fashion Week, but the dogs that strutted the runways of the world’s biggest canine fashion shows this month pawraded in flamboyant flowing gowns, feathered boas, top hats and, of course, tails.
The New York Pet Fashion Show, touted as the world’s biggest pet fashion show, serves as an exciting walk-up to the Westminster Dog Show and was held in a ballroom at the historic Hotel Pennsylvania. The 10th anniversary “Diamond Celebration” was hosted by Ada Nieves, a pet fashion designer, pet stylist, and Chihuahua and cat talent manager. Who knew there were such specialists in the wide world of dog lovers?
The next night, the NYC Doggies and Tiaras Pageant, hosted by pet fashion designer Roberto Negrin, of Hec-lin Couture for Dogs, raised funds for the Inky Blue Sea Animal Rescue. Dogs competed for crowns as fashion queens and kings in active wear, talent, and glamour categories. They all looked fabulous, dahling!
Floridian Terry St. Angelo’s dog, Aspen, grabbed glamour honors. Terry made a dazzling entrance, too! Champ the English Bulldog, steals hearts everywhere he goes and won for active wear this year. Rescued from an abusive life forced to fight other dogs, he is now the sweet mascot for the nonprofit “Bullies Against Bullying.” Rose the Pug, “daughter” of Lisa Coplin Kerner, of York, Pennsylvania, was the Grand Prize winner.
The pet fashion weekend concluded with Celebrity Catwalk’s 2nd Annual Couture “Paws For a Cause” Brunch, at SPOT, a full-service dog care spot in Chelsea, Manhattan. Organized by Jennifer Bartok, it featured a “Glitz & Glamour” costume contest with Hollywood red-carpet looks in honor of the upcoming Academy Awards. Guests wrapped their paws around cocktails and dined on gourmet grub.
Notable attendees included the high-end dog fashion designer Mario Laliberte, of Toronto, and his partner Colin Balinger and their two dogs, Vienna and Mia. Laliberte and Balinger’s La Maison Vienna Couture Canine clothed many of the sequined strutters. His designs are sturdy, made with quality fashions and expertly sewn.
“People in Canada may buy their dog a sweater, but it’s nothing like it is here in America with all of the dresses and bows and loads of over-the-top stuff,” said Laliberte, whose pet fashion career skyrocketed when he began helping U.S. charities with fashion events.
