Friday, July 11, 2008

Fashion & Dogs

There's so much negativity about the use of real fur and the people that wear it in the industry, but what about making pets, such as dogs, wear clothes? As an owner of a beautiful Australian Shepard Mix, I am against forcing my dog to wear clothes (1. Because she's too big, 2. She hates clothes.) So what's all the hype in dressing puppies these days? Even the big brands such as Chanel, Burberry, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and etc. make clothes for dogs! Let me just say one thing, if I can't get myself a Gucci dress, there's nooo way my dog is.

No, really, what is the huge craze these days in dressing dogs? I have to admit, some of them look really cute with clothes on, but they also look adorable without any garments on. Didn't the majority used to say that dressing dogs was cruel and mean, or was that my imagination?

From what I know, most dogs, besides the extremely small ones, don't need any clothes to keep warm at all. I mean, it's just not normal for an animal to wear clothes. It's a fact - they know how to take care of themselves.


A dog model wearing a wedding
dress on the runway at
Pet Fashion Week.
Dog clothes seem to have gotten so popular that there's even a Pet Fashion Week. Pet Fashion Week?! Are you kidding me? I guess I'm the boring, old-fashioned pet owner, and sometimes I don't know why the fashion industry goes this far. It's funny in a way, but very disturbing in another.

As you can tell, I'm not a fan of doggy clothes at all, but hey, who am I to talk about animal cruelty? Maybe dogs do like being fashionable. You'd have to ask one to know for sure.

32 comments:

Rebecca, A Clothes Horse said...

I'm not a fan of doggy clothes either! I mean, animals have dignity as well. All of our pets growing up looked hugely betrayed when we forced ribbons or hats on them...

zaiii said...

this was interesting to read : ) i dont get why people make dogs wear clothes either...surely it must also be a little uncomfortable for a dog cos they arent used to it?! ahh the fashion industry never ceases to amaze :P

Anonymous said...

don't get me wrong, i'm an avid animal lover, but i think dogs need to be separated from fashion altogether. this includes the hordes of girls that bring their dogs to the mall that i inevitably trip over every time i'm looking through clothes!

Tricia said...

i'm firmly against putting dogs in wedding dresses, sheesh.

LBIC said...

I have a black lab/pointer mix and she used to hate wearing clothes. I know, I know, I'm horrible for even trying but I think she looks so adorable in them. I stopped putting anything on her because she hated it so much but my mom recently bought her a t-shirt and she actually likes wearing this one so I put it on her every now and then. My old dog used to love dressing up. He was small, though, so maybe that's why? shrugs

Elizabeth said...

Dressing dogs in clothes seems like owner-indulgence to me, but then again, a sweater on a cold day might be helpful.

Hunters Glory said...

I dont get it either but if the owner wants to doll'em up .... well ... I say adorn until your lil heart is satisfied.

I agree w/ above comment. it does indicate owner-indulgence to me as well.

sleepyhead said...

my puppy thumper, is a mini doxie and she has short hair. in the winter it gets so cold that if i don't put a sweater on her she shivers and cries.

:(

diana said...

OH!!! the dog looks lovely but I dont think that my dog will like it!!!!

ADIOS

Anonymous said...

Just tagged you in a post. Have a great weekend! http://budgetlexicon.wordpress.com/2008/07/11/my-fav-bloggers/

Secretista said...

This just makes me want a dog even more!!!

Anonymous said...

I agree. I am not a fan of the dog clothes either. Except in the winter when my poor little Beagle has to go outside in the snow. Then I will throw a sweater on her. But that is for sheer practicality. Otherwise I think its unecessary.

Stitches & Threads said...

I totally agree with you and HATE the concept of dog-dressing. Fair enough to stick on one of those traditional little rain coats, but jumpers, hats and dresses? My main beef is that it restricts their leg movements which can't be comfortable. Being a cat owner myself, I think if I went anywhere near one of mine with an item of clothing I'd soon be nursing some rather sore scratches...

1234 said...

i HATE seeing people dress up their dogs. the poor dogs always look so uncomfortable.

jenn said...

Omg, I totally agree! Although I will admit I tried dressing up my (male) cat in a pink dress, needless to say he hated it and I never tried again. Haha. Great post

Human Racing said...

doggy clothes seem so unnatural! It doesn't seem like the dogs enjoy it anyway...

a.strange.girl said...

Personally, I don't think dressing up a dog in a sweater comes close to equaling skinning an animal to use their fur as a scarf or hat. But maybe that's just me I don't see them as being the same thing :/...

T said...

I totally agree! PET FASHION WEEK?! There's no way my dog is going to get a Chanel outfit before me! And it's not even natural for them to have clothes. Haha, great post.

Lydia O'Connor said...

Dressing big dogs is simply ridiculous! You're totally right. I'm sort of back and forth on dressing the little ones. Aren't they bred to be little lap and purse dogs? I can't imagine they can handle much weather. If I lived somewhere with harsh winters, I'd probably give in and get a cute little pom pom sweater for a little lap dog like the one pictured, haha.

♥ Marta ♥ said...

I hate doggy clothes, although it looks stupidly cute... I would never make my Cocker Spaniel wear it, plus my dad would freak... I think that it's the stupidest idea designers could ever come up with...And I am totally against wearing fur,it freaks me out to wear a dead animal.

STYLE DU MONDE said...

I agree that fashion goes too far with the clothes for pets. xx

Cheryl Lynn Pastor Romance Author said...

Please help me, I totally agree with you. A very informative post. I love your writing style. Great to read someone who does her homework. Hi marks for subject matter.

Love ya, sweetie.

Anthea said...

OMG Ridiculous!! In downtown Vancouver people are especially all over dogs and dressing them. In yale town alone their are probably at least 5 dog clothing stores. Dogs are cute..they don't need to wear clothes !

michelle said...

Dog clothes are pretty pointless, but I don't think it's as bad as skinning animals alive for their fur lol. Nonetheless, I agree that dressing animals in designer clothes is a little ridiculous.

alana said...

hi! sooo sorry my reply to your comment on my last post is so tardy... i've been incredibly slack with the blogging lately, but after reading yours i'd love to link you back!

ps clothes on dogs = the most ridiculous thing i've ever seen. NOT a fan at all, haha

Darling Deer said...

tho it looks cute,im agaist it too.i dont see the point in it at allxxgreat postxx

Blonde hair, Blue jeans said...

i never liked pets clothes...and the brand ones....that it is far too much!

Toni Alexis said...

I have three little ones and sweaters are a must in the winter. i dont have a problem with animal clothing as long as it is used for the right reasons and not taken tooo far! Not a fan of making an animal dress up for human excitement :(

xoxo

Bluukbob said...

oh my Dog!!!

XOXO

Rhamier Auguste said...

Yeah my family loves fashion but I thought my mom was crazy for dressing up our Mini Pinscher lol

Anonymous said...

No, really, what is the huge craze these days in dressing dogs? I have to admit, some of them look really cute with clothes on, but they also look adorable without any garments on.Didn't the majority used to say that dressing dogs was cruel and mean, or was that my imagination?

Anonymous said...

I love animals and I love my dog Minnie especially. She is a small Maltese cross and without a jumper in the winter she wont get out of the car to go to the park. Also, we have a dressing gown for her when she finished having a bath because she wont stay under a blanket to keep warm.

I do admit some people take it too far, I would never put shoes on her but I also think sometimes they do need it.