Creations of Color: Meet Janice Craig of Belle Diva Couture
Cuties in three unique designs of the Fishy Fishy Harness
Bold splashes of color! That is probably the only common thread running through luxury dog designer, Janice Craig’s, work. She is so imaginative and her looks so diverse, she says it isn’t likely anyone would be able to identify her creations out of a designer line up. And that is precisely one of the things that makes her so interesting. Her brand, Belle Diva Couture, turns out custom work for well-heeled clients, who dress their pups like they’d dress themselves. I first discovered her at the New York Pet Fashion Show, and after several conversations, I’ve learned about her process and how much she cares about the pieces she creates. And, for those of you with one (or more) of your own, she’s a Yorkie lover! Here’s Janice’s story and some of her beautiful creations of color.
BaS: You started as an interior designer. How and why the transition to pet fashion?
JC: Actually, it started as a by-product of the economy. When the economy went south and home building went south, too, I decided to do something where I could continue to use my creativity. I’d already done so much work with Yorkies and Yorkie rescue – I fell in love with the breed years ago – and I loved what people were doing with dressing them. I thought, I know how to sew. Maybe I could use those skills to start doing some creative outfits for Yorkies. It started aimed specifically at the breed, but things took off so fast, I couldn’t believe it. Now, I have designs going out all over the world.
MacKenzie-Childs inspired dress
BaS: Your designs are beautiful, intricate, from the Fishy Fishy (seen above) and nautical harnesses, to your MacKenzie-Childs-inspired creation, to eveningwear. Color is such an important part of what you do and you get it right. What inspires you when you create a piece?
JC: Color has always been a real strength in all of my work. I’m not afraid of using color; I understand how to use it and was trained in my formal education in how to use it. Often people will pull back when they see some of the strong colors I use, but then they see the finished product and they’re amazed at what using color correctly can do. I attend market classes and update seminars on latest colors, trends, so it’s an educated approach to whatever I do. Sometimes its an inspiration, too. I’m from North Carolina; I spend a lot of time on the coast, so many of my pieces are inspired by the location of where I live.
BaS: I saw some of the pieces you did for the recent Yorkie 911 runway show paid homage to Shirley Temple.
Homage to Shirley Temple’s red/white polka dot dress
JC: Right around the time I was asked to do the show, Shirley Temple passed away. I grew up in the 50’s and, at that time, she was a big thing; this cute little girl everyone saw in the movies in her little dresses. All the mothers wanted to dress their girls up like her. My mother made those kinds of dresses for us and I was remembering some of them. So, I went looking online and found doll dresses of Shirley Temple outfits. I made the red and white polka dot dress with a fluffy little petticoat and hat. I actually attached finger curls to the hat made of doll’s hair. There was a nautical collection from one of her movies; my little girl and boy matching sailor outfits were inspired by that, and worn by these two little 3 lb Yorkies on the runway.
Recreation of nautical outfits from Shirley Temple film, in his and hers
BaS: You also had a piece in that show that had Spanish influences. Where did that come from?
JC: Years ago, we were in Los Angeles traveling, and I ran across a Peruvian street festival. I was so taken with the costumes they had; I never forgot it. When I was designing for the Yorkie 911 show, they wanted matching outfits for boys and girls. I was searching for some ornaments for this collection and ran across these little dolls online that reminded me of those costumes. At the time, I had no idea what I was going to use them for, but I ordered them. And, that’s what I ended up making; it was all from those dolls! I found fabric that worked and a doll pattern that I could adjust for a dog.
Peruvian-inspired dog couture
BaS: You did a very ambitious recreation of costumes worn in another iconic film, too.
JC: That would be from the movie, ‘The Last Emperor.’ I did an outfit for Cuba Shaughnessy for the New York Pet Fashion Show. I designed and made costumes for the entourage, based on the movie. I searched online for resources used for the actual costumes and ordered several different silks from China. Cuba’s dads were even dressed for the show! We built a rickshaw; I started out with a basket and wheels, got it built and then realized it would cost about $600 to ship to New York!
Cuba’s Stunning Emperor Robe
BaS: What’s the most unusual design you’ve been asked to create for a clients’ pet?
JC: I find people take dressing their pets very seriously, for whatever special event. Probably the most unusual situation I’ve had is I was asked to do a formal dress for a cat. They were going to a wedding. I believe this was the only cat in a very large wedding for two dogs. [laughs]. I’m hoping the cat was very well-behaved!
BaS: And the dogs, too! [laughs]
JC: Most of the dresses I do are for galas. These are very expensive, very intricate, very nice fabrics. I think people are willing to invest more in those outfits than they do for themselves. Even for special holidays, people dress their pets like they dress their humans.
BaS: You have a special dress you made called Sophie’s Wedding Dress that has a story behind it.
JC: Sophie was my little Yorkie that, unfortunately, I lost. She was just a very special little rescue girl that came to us. A mommy’s baby, for sure. We did a fashion show fundraiser in Charlotte a couple of years ago, and Sophie was dressed as the bride. She married Timmy, a very good friend. Timmy was in his tux and Sophie was in her wedding gown and veil, and it was just a lot of fun. We served wedding cake and punch. The dogs had their own wedding cake to enjoy. Things like that create a real awareness of the pet industry, not only from a rescue perspective and how important raising money to help homeless dogs is, but it tends to put a little fun into it. Sophie’s dress is forever; it’s an heirloom piece.
Sophie’s Wedding Dress
BaS: What materials did you use? It looks as fine and beautiful as a human wedding gown.
JC: It is! I used bridal satin. Underneath, there are three different petticoat layers, so the underside is as beautiful as the top side. There’s lace around the edges. Hand sewn pearls, appliqués cut out of bridal lace. The veil is made of tulle and fastens under the chin, and has little streamers on the side with flowers attached. It’s very intricate with lots of details.
BaS: You have a piece that made it’s way to Robert Redford.
JC: There’s a little dog in Los Angeles named Sophia Loren. Anne Maria Tafoya is her mom. Sophia was a rescue baby, and has a lot of contacts in the movie industry, because Anne Maria is involved in that world. They attended a fundraising event in New Mexico in which the Redfords’ were participating. Mrs.Redford just fell in love with this little lambskin dress; it’s the only leather dress I’ve ever done, and I’m not sure I would ever sew with leather again. The ornamental conchos were silver and turquoise, so it had a real Southwestern feel. When she went gaga over it, Anne Maria took the dress off of Sophia, and gave it to her. We made another one for her. I’m glad they loved it and it is appropriate for that part of the country, as well.
Sophia Loren in the leather outfit
BaS: What’s involved in preparing for something like the Yorkie 911 event or the New York Pet Fashion Show?
JC: Months of work go into doing these events, because I’m so crazy about everything being to perfection, when I send it out. Each outfit takes a lot of time and effort to complete. For the New York Pet Fashion Show last February, I started work on that in October. Right after that show, I started on the Yorkie 911 event, which was in June, so I feel like I’ve been in runway show mode for much of the year.
BaS: Do you have a break now? What’s next for you?
JC: I’m catching up! My clients have been very patient. New things will be coming out, too. I never know what I’ll see that inspires me!
You can hear more about Janice Craig and Belle Diva Couture on my Bark and Swagger radio show, up today, on Pet Life Radio.
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Do you dress your dog? What inspires you in choosing what to buy? Tell me about it in the comments.
