Fashion on Four Legs: Celebrity Catwalk’s “Paws in the City” Fashion Show

Stylin’ with ‘tude

Flying couture, scrambling models…no, it’s not a typical backstage moment at New York Fashion Week. It’s a typical backstage moment at a doggy fashion show! So commented Celebrity Catwalk‘s Paws in the City host, Jill Nicolini, anchor at CBS-TV affiliate, WLNY. Just short of the fur flying, petite fashionistas were briskly ushered through the curtains to parade down the ruffway in more glitz and glamour than a RuPaul nightclub act. It was a dazzling event, beautifully organized by Celebrity Catwalk’s Jennifer Bartok, sating our appetite with 14 different dog designers displaying their fashions on four legs.

The show opened with the brand All About Elegance, featuring a very cute and summery cherry red sailor dress worn by Malti/Yorkie Tasha Bella, and a Pucci-esque vest with a flower embellishment that I loved. Baby Dog Fashions showed pretty pastels. I loved the spring-like baby blue floral gown with a filmy overlay, strutted by supermodel ZZ, walked by mom, Ilene Zeins.

All About Elegance
Sailor Girl Tasha Bella

ZZ in Baby Dog Fashions
pastel floral confection

Catherine Mefford‘s designs were all stand-outs. One theme she utilized was black and white fashion, which I think is elegant and timeless, and is also very on trend for spring. She showed an adorable black and white little boy’s shorts and shirt set, worn by Philly, a Yorkie rescue owned by Mary Goodrow. And, a black and white ribbon floral gown was very striking, too. I also liked Couture by Lucey Trembley‘s black and white polka dot long dress with lace detailing and a tulle undercoat, featuring a white satin ribbon bow with long streamers.

Sophia in
Couture by Lucey Trembley

Philly in Catherine Mefford’s boy shorts and shirt

Doggie Market had a eye-catching cobalt blue, multi-layered dress with lace applique, worn by ice white Pomeranian, Sophia, who flew in from Mississippi with her mom, Gena Oddo. Sophia is three years old, and has been modeling since she’s three months, the little star having appeared in the Washington Post and New Yorker magazine.

The Doggie Market’s
Cobalt Blue Dress

Harlow & Grace created an interesting “Read All About It” newsprint design – a boy’s vest and girl’s dress –  for brother and sister Yorkie models, Bonnie and Clyde.  And, Princess Fur Fashions showed a number of colorful feathered creations. A rich-looking black number was worn by ZZ, who sported shades for the full-on glamorous effect.

Harlow & Grace’s
Read All About It newsprint-inspired designs

ZZ in Princess Fur Designs,
Feather Gown with attitude (not included)

The Light Up Fashions brand, which makes clothing for humans and pets,  had interesting apparel, some with matching carry bags. They utilized colored fiber optic lights, so the fashion twinkled down the runway.

A Genny Perez design using
Light Up Fashions fiber optics

Light Up Fashions
Twinkling Dress

Established canine couture designer, Yvette Ruta, showed some great pieces. Ruta has been so prolific; I am seeing her Facebook posts of new designs all the time, not only in apparel, but beds and bedding. She’s even begun designing lovely baby clothes (as in human babies)! I have so much respect for the volume she creates, while keeping it all high quality and beautiful. The focus of her collection on this runway was Shabby Chic, and Cubby, a cutie pie Westie who’s a regular on the modeling scene, wore a pale pink ribbed cotton chenille harness vest, trimmed in a black lace patterned ribbon. An accordion-styled ribbon down the center back added an elegance to what looked like a very cozy vest.

Cubby in Yvette Ruta’s
Shabby Chic chenille harness vest

Couture designer Mario Laliberte and partner, Colin Belanger of Vienna Canine Couture, turned out some very lovely pieces. This rock ‘n’ roll inspired studded vest worn by Philly was a fave, as was their gorgeous deep purple crystal-encrusted floral vest, worn by Chihuahua-around-town, Chai Latte. Cubby sported a beautiful yellow crystal-embellished vest with a pop of turquoise and gold, Asian-inspired fabric appliqué. It sounds like a lot going on, but it worked.

Philly, held by Yorkie 911 rescue president, Heidi Walker,
in Vienna Canine Couture
harness vest

Chai Latte in a
floral, crystal-encrusted Vienna Canine Couture vest

Cubby in a pop of color Vienna
Canine Couture vest

All in all, it was a great afternoon! There was so much fashion, it’s impossible to report on it all. These are some of my stand outs.

Each year, Celebrity Catwalk fashion shows raise money for Rescuzilla animal rescue group. This year, that plan was sabotaged when they lost their regular runway space. Bartok found a new space at Chelsea’s The Cell Theater, but the event was much more costly to produce. Her regular supporters still came out in droves to lend a hand and sponsor, because Jennifer’s heart is in the right place when it comes to fundraising for animals. It took a village, and here is the list of those who contributed to making it a success:

International Association of Pet Fashion Professionals

Support UR Pet

Orly & L.A. nail polish

Organic Oscar pet shampoo

Mane & Tail Shampoo & Conditioner (for people)

McMillan Publishing

Shea Moisture lotion

Bio Creative Lab Spa Sugar Scrub

Pawfect Day

Green Bark Gummies

♦           ♦            ♦            ♦            ♦

Have you experienced a doggy runway show? Tell me about it in the Comments below.