At the $600m wedding to end all weddings, of Anant Ambani – the son of Asia’s richest man – and Radhika Merchant, a very good boy was pictured looking bored. The family dog, Happy, perhaps didn’t realise how lucky he was to be a guest at the celebrations in Mumbai last weekend. But even in the presence of Priyanka Chopra, a few Kardashians, a clutch of Bollywood stars, and Tony and Cherie Blair, the golden retriever still gave the impression there were places he would rather be.
Happy is not the only pooch in the spotlight recently. His nonchalant hobnobbing came hot on the paws of the rescue terrier-poodle Brisket, who appeared on the red carpet at the premiere of Twisters in LA last week, the ward of the film’s lead actor, Glen Powell. At the weekend, Sir Pippin of Beanfield – or Pip to his friends – attended the Wimbledon finals. Belonging to actor Glenn Close, the Havanese did well to not chase the tennis ball around Centre Court.
If those last few paragraphs read like a canine iteration of Tatler’s Bystander, then let me introduce you to the Princess Beatrice of the pack: Demi Moore’s chihuahua, Pilaf. As at home on the front row at fashion week as on the red carpet at Cannes, she was apparently recently “quite moved” by Tom Holland’s performance in Romeo and Juliet in London’s West End.
Our canine companions increasingly seem to be enjoying the high life, melding into human ways of being in a way that would make their forebears howl. At one dog-friendly members’ club in Mayfair, where a pair of bronze german shepherds guard the door, the capital’s discerning spaniels and dachshunds can enjoy dog caviar in lavish surrounds. Is it any wonder that the case against pet ownership is growing?
All the glitzy tail-wagging is in line with the rise of fancy dog togs – pooches need something to wear to all these events and the global pet clothing market is expected to be worth $7bn by 2032. Last year, numerous fashion houses, from Gucci and Celine to Tommy Hilfiger and Hugo Boss launched ranges for pets.
Mytheresa sells nylon hooded dog coats by Prada (£580), Christian Louboutin rubber dog toys (£185), Gucci canvas pet carriers (£2,290) and slightly bigger bags intended to hold the slightly smaller bags used to scoop up dog poo, embellished and yours for £485. For pooches whose aesthetic is more quiet luxury than conspicuous consumption, there are Loro Piana cashmere dog coats, a snip at £420.
Dressing dogs is “immensely popular because it not only enhances their cuteness but also gives them a distinctive identity and personality”, says Mytheresa chief buying officer, Tiffany Hsu. It is, she says, an extension of the owner: “This trend allows pet owners to express their own personalities and tastes through their pets … a delightful form of self-expression that strengthens the bond between owner and pet.”
While dog fashion has, according to Hsu, been common in Asia for some time, elsewhere the trend gained “further momentum during the pandemic, which saw a rise in pet adoptions. This increase in pet ownership has driven the demand for pet products to unprecedented levels.”
If all of this feels like late-stage capitalism incarnate, it’s wise to heed some sage advice from Bill Lambert at the nonprofit Kennel Club: “It is important that owners remember that dogs are not fashion accessories. Of course, we can’t help but want to spoil them, but this can be done very simply, without the need for fashionable clothes or extensive pampering.” He offers some lo-fi ways: “taking them for walks, providing social and mental stimulation and giving them lots of attention is all the indulgence they need”.
There may be a large gap between the lifestyle of dogs belonging to actors and multimillionaire business people and those cared for by the rest of us. Research carried out by the Kennel Club after the pandemic found that almost six in 10 Britons (58%) said they’d like to see more places open for dogs, and almost half (47%) didn’t believe there were enough dog-friendly places. Some dogs seem to have access-all-areas while others are relegated to boring old parks and pavements.
But if other places do open up, Lambert has more wisdom: “It is vital that owners who wish to bring their dogs with them to events first consider whether their dog will be comfortable and happy in that environment and that they have access to water.”
Back to Happy and his options for avoiding social burnout. If ever the partying gets too much, he can see himself out in style – in his very own Mercedes SUV.
To read the complete version of this newsletter – complete with this week’s trending topics in The Measure and your wardrobe dilemmas solved – subscribe to receive Fashion Statement in your inbox every Thursday.
