Weekend Wrap Up

Couture for the climate

Brrrrr... Signafur scouts in the Big Apple froze their tales off this weekend on the lookout for hound happenings. One thing is for sure, all the pups who dared to explore the city on Saturday were dressed to the 9's, the K9's that is. Furry fashionistas on Fifth Ave were decked out in head to toe coverage.

Sunday saw warmer temperatures in New York and once again Central Park was filled with pups sporting no more than a light parka and four legged friends in Chelsea were back out on the streets in muscle tees.

But let us not forget, winter is not over yet. Don't let your canine catch a cold because he is unprepared for the elements. Signafur has the gear to stay warm no matter what mother nature dishes out. Here's our recommended picks to ride out the rest of the season with:

Doggles -- Dust, debris and doggy eyes don't mix. Stay safe and stylish with these hot hound glasses.

G2 Sneakers -- It's high time to get your canine some kicks. G2 Sneakers protect paws from the elements and look great doing it.

Quilted Coat -- Keep your hound hot and haute in this little number. It's red, it's cozy, you'll want to borrow it.

Photo found on Flickr

Daycare Down Under

Australian daycare caters to all kinds

Wagin' Tails Dog Daycare in inner Brisbane, Australia has seen it all and gives new meaning to the term "pampered pet." Does your pooch need a cut and color while you're at work? No problem, a full salon with veteran stylists can take that on. Does he have a finicky diet of only the finest? That's okay, Wagin' Tails can accommodate that too.

The pooch in the upper left is being treated to a new do, trying out pink -- the salon's most popular color for furry fashionistas. Wagin' Tails Daycare oversees 100 particular pups per week, each with his own tailored preferences and schedule. One client likes to start his mornings with a plate of warm scrambled eggs, another prefers to catch an episode of Days of Our Lives. Manager Jodie Hartz, acknowledges, "It's very similar to childcare. You've got packs of dogs running together and you've got to supervise them constantly.''

Anything goes at Wagin' Tails. And it's no wonder why -- Australians very closely tail Americans in pet related spending. In 2005, Aussies spent a whopping $4.62 billion on pet products, a figure that makes the $33 dollar daycare fee seem nominal.

Photo thanks to The Courier

Mutts Make a Come Back

Popularity of pedigrees waining

"Mutts are like real couture. There are no two alike," fashion icon, Isaac Mizrahi, commented to USA Today gloating about his true love, Harry, an adopted mixed breed.

While the picture in the upper left features a pure blooded beagle sporting a Mizrahi Polo, Isaac's heart is with half breed hounds, and he's not the only one. Mutts are moving up in the dog world and are adopted at nearly the same rate as purebreds nowadays.

Michael Mountain of Best Friends Animal Society in Kanab, Utah agrees, commenting, "It's more fashionable to have a standard, old-fashioned mutt...The 'in' thing is not to have a very well-bred, very expensive dog." Mountain says the growing fascination with mixed breeds dates back to the mid 1990's when public awareness was heightened to the millions of mutts in shelters who would be euthanized. A new wave of social consciousness coupled with purebred health concerns has made mongrels the new popular pup choice.

That's right, say goodbye to the days of pedigrees ruling Park Avenue. Now a mix can mingle with the big dogs.

Dog Fashion Week Does it Again

Designers brace for the second annual NY Pet Fashion Week

Pet Fashion Week strikes again, scheduled for an August 2007 launch in New York City. Last year's show made more than a few big name stylists turn their heads and look down to take account of the impact our furry fashionistas are making. Ralph Lauren, Burberry, Juicy Couture, and Kiehl's are in the works of getting involved with the upcoming canine couture extravaganza, having already created pooch apparel lines this spring. Ralph Lauren came out with a canine cashmere sweater, Juicy Couture with a line of signature doggy sweats and rumor has it that Adidas may be jumping on board to introduce a line of four-legged footwear. With big name involvement stirring up the style industry, there's no telling how far and wide pet fashion will spread this season.

Packaged Facts, a division of MarketResearch.com, anticipates pet expenditures to burgeon to $52.4 billion by 2009. Pet Fashion Week 2007 expects equally large growth, estimating participation by over 120 vendors. Representing the Mecca of canine fashion and displaying the hottest in what's haute, this is not an event to be missed by industry buffs or canine enthusiasts. Once again in August dogs will take over the catwalk for a week of fashion, fun and fur.

Click here to get all the details.

Photo found on Flickr

Tags: pet fashion week, new york, fashion

Pet Fashion Meets Paris Hilton

Miss Hilton: Socialite. Fashionista. Designer?

The heiress to the Hilton fortune is constantly making waves with her lavish lifestyle. But we will resist talking about cocktail party mishaps, DUI's, or celebrity quarrels... the topic of the day is doggy design. A front runner in the fashion scene, Paris Hilton now tries her hand at canine couture. The 25 year old heiress has long since been spotted with Tinkerbell, the world's richest Teacup Chihuahua, slung under one arm and dripping in designer doggy gear.

Hilton has put pet fashion in the forefront of our pop culture's subconscious, opening the gates for a slew of celebrities and big name labels to follow. It only makes sense that the Simple Life star would get directly involved in the trends she helped create. Little Lily launched on Monday and will be available in stores in the next coming months. Thanks Paris, for bringing attention to our furry friends!

Photo found on Flickr

Technorati tag: "Paris Hilton"

Space Age Fashion

Canine Couture Gets Cosmic

January 16, 2007 – Berlin, Germany.
Four fashion forward pups strut down the runway showing off their new space age threads. NASA, more universally known for Mars exploration and placing men on the moon, has now tried their hand at canine couture. The pooches pictured are sporting the new "outlast technology," designed to comfortably withstand extreme fluctuations in temperature.

The new products were previewed yesterday in Berlin, Germany at the 'Home-Animals and Plants 2007' fair. The new releases signify the growing popularity and market for canine fashion; domestically, internationally and now possibly, inter-galactically.

Thanks NASA, for making the future so fashionable!
Photo thanks to the Associated Press

Fashion Just Got Festive

With so many things to decorate this time of year, don't forget about your doggy. The canine fashion industry certainly isn't, they are relishing in the new season inspired styles. Puppy's with antlers, red and green sweaters and jingle bell booties are common place items among this year's cheer filled wardrobe.

The winter season also means taking more precautions for your precious pooch; salt residue from ice melting chemicals can cause damage and corrosion to a pup's paws. Be conscious of the changing weather conditions and dress accordingly in protective foot wear such a stylish pair of Hound Hikers.

Fashion and function can go hand and hand this season. View the changing climate as an opportunity to expand your doggy attire wardrobe with fun and festive frocks.

Photo thanks to the Northwest Herald

Furry Fashionistas

Small Dogs and the Socialite Scene

A recent article in the New York Times highlights society's growing attraction to small dogs and marks them as the ultimate fashion statement. Pictured in the upper left is Muffin, a New York Yorkie, privy to her own custom wardrobe. Muffin, among many other lap dogs in the city presents an opportunity for pet parents to take their love of the lavish to the next level.

On the whole, petite dog breeds have been booming in popularity over the past decade; registration of the Brussels griffon alone has skyrocketed a whopping 231 percent during the last ten years.

Owners are relishing in the opportunity to spoil themselves and their furry friends. And why not, with a slew of designers, restaurants and hotels jumping up to cater to both pet and parent. New York's trendy W Hotel offers a pooch-friendly Woof Program including doggy pillows and special treats placed on them at bedtime. In addition, these arm candy canines are increasingly welcome in the workplace, a survey polled by the pet products association reveals that upwards of 20% of employers welcome dogs in the office.

With all the incentive to be eccentric, why not indulge in a little canine couture?

Photo thanks to the New York Times

Doggy Fashion Gets Serious in India

Delhi, India

The days of having to outsource for pet fashion gear in India are long gone. As the pet fashion industry continues to grow globally, canine boutiques are popping up all through Delhi. The cold season is marked as a high time for pooch related shops, and sales on doggy sweaters, coats, and layers are expected to soar.

What else does India have in store for it's four legged friends? Oh, just a quaint group canine wedding scheduled for December 17th, 2006. The ceremony hopes to include participants from over 50 breeds in an attempt to gain recognition for cutting edge Indian canine friendly society and to earn a place in the Guinness book of world records. Stay tuned, Signafur will keep you updated!

Photo found on flickr