Dog fashions kept pace with many interiors trends, as well as human-apparel trends, at the recent Global Pet Expo. To begin with, the emerging mid-century style that is tracking throughout décor was also incoming for pets. At I See Spot, that translated into a swirling pink mod dress. At Hip Doggie, the Coco dress, evocative of Chanel’s famous styling, was new.
We instantly recognized our “Khaki and Pearls” trend in Hip Doggies’ topstitched camisole and camo skirt combo with its regal crown insignia, which seemed a tribute to England’s upcoming Royal wedding. And whether your dog is about to marry or just be a part of a wedding party, silk-flower-accented collars were adorable in a variety of white and pastel roses, hydrangeas and mums.
Formal apparel ranged from dressy bows and long neckties in trend-right Tartan plaids to tailored solid-colored wool dresses with full-breasted brass-button trims. Dressy, notched collars showed up too often to ignore. And mock strings of pearls were appliquéd onto a ruffled doggie sweater to capture the returning preppy-puppy trend. Regal insignias, argyles and plaids made male apparel more formal.
On the casual-canine front were denim overalls and jazzy jean skirts and jumpers, with flower, butterfly and heart accents adding splashes of color. And summery Red, White and Blue sleeveless shirts stood ready to walk trend-right dogs right through to Independence Day with such slogans as “All American Dog” and “Patriotic Pooch.”
For inclement weather, a broad selection of hooded raincoats confirmed that rainwear for dogs in on-trend. Top types: glossy vinyls in bright pastels, packable rain ponchos, and New York Dog’s 3-step portable rain slicker that doubles as a dog collar until needed. There was even a belted button-down-collar trench coat for sleuth work during spring showers.
But, no matter what the weather or the occasion, there was an ensemble suitable for almost every pooch. See more in this photo gallery, from incoming-trend harnesses to hooded sweaters to winter parkas:
(“The Story Continues…” is supplemental information and images from The Trend Curve. This post is a supplement to the April 2011 issue)