Bark To Brunch: Couture Paws Fundraiser For Rescues
Terry St Angelo & Aspen
in Cheryl Keninger
Friday started a whirlwind of pre-Westminster events and all manner of fur friend fun. So, I didn’t want to miss Jennifer Bartok and Celebrity Catwalk‘s 2nd Annual Couture Paws for a Cause Brunch on Sunday at The Spot Experience in Chelsea. The event brings attention to New York’s homeless animals and benefits Rescuzilla. I figured it was a small enough environment to take Sophie, as she gets anxious in large spaces with lots people and animals, so off we went to meet my friend, Lauren Darr of International Association of Pet Fashion Professionals. The event room was packed with pups wearing their Sunday best in preparation for the “Glitz & Glamour Costume Contest” that would award medals to the top 5 best dressed dogs. Sophie…she rocked her winter coat. It’s not a crystal-encrusted gown. But it is metallic silver and has a neon pink faux fur collar. She barely tolerates me putting it on her. I mentioned that Sophie, the dog of a dog fashion designer, hates clothes, right? Well, she agreed to let me put on her fancy pink crystal Dog Collar Fancy collar. That was the best we were going to do.
Mario Laliberte w/ZZ
in his creation
Eminent pet designers Mario Laliberte and Colin Belanger, of Vienna Couture Canine in Canada, were there and had dressed some dogs for the event. Little Maltese socialite, ZZ, wore a peridot green lace and crystal Vienna Couture creation that reminded me of a delicious scoop of sherbet. Pastels are very on trend for spring and Mario was in the zone! He had with him his two precious dogs, the adorable Dachshund, Vienna, and the elegant Chinese Crested, Mia. Mia wore another of his designs, a very beautiful ruched cherry red satin gown with a bodice and neckline completely done in dazzling crystals.
A number of designers contributed pieces for a raffle, including Julie Lancaster of Off the Cuff Stuff for Pets, who donated a gorgeous & bold red floral dress with small satin rosettes adorning the bodice; Donna Blain of Val’s Diva Do’s, who contributed a very pretty pastel pink harness with a floral applique and crystal motif; and Lola’s for Pets, whose beautiful cobalt blue three-strand pearl and crystal choker was very fashionable.
After dining on Chef Jesse Jones‘ made to order omelets and braving lines at the step-and-repeat banner to get pics of their pups in such finery, dog moms settled in for the costume contest. For the second year, Terry St. Angelo‘s Chihuahua Aspen trotted away with one of the top honors in a Down Under Dog Designs creation, designed and made by Cheryl Keninger. It was quite the elaborate piece; a show stopper with yards of tulle, satin ribbon and peacock feathers. Winners of the contest also included Stacy McCosky and Sadie, Joann and Pretty Lilly Mercado, Anne Maria Tavoya and Sophia Loren and Jan Ingram and Mocha.
Jennifer and Celebrity Catwalk raised $500 for Rescuzilla. Great job, Jen!
Me & Sophie in her
Couture by Sophie coat
An awesome cause and a fun time was had by all!
Mario w/Mia in his
creation
Guest Jeff w/Philly &
Pebbles
