Couture Dogs of New York
by Paul Nathan and Nadine Rubin Nathan
Pelluceo
In New York City, even the dogs can’t be seen looking like mutts.
“Couture Dogs,” photographer Paul Nathan’s new coffee-table book, captures bedazzled chihuahuas and Yorkshire terriers — the fashion plates of a special breed of dog owners who don’t mind spending a small fortune on a four-pawed wardrobe.
“They are eccentric and colorful and into fashion,” said Nathan, a New Zealander who lives with his wife and their baby in Williamsburg. Nathan, whose previous book was about Brooklyn hipsters and their tattoos, started off the project by shooting owners who look like their dogs on the street. That eventually lead to meeting people in the dog-couture culture.
Some of the doggie outfits cost as much as $5,000. But for owner Grace Forster, it’s worth every penny to clothe her two beloved Yorkshire terriers, Portia, 7, and Rosie, 6.
“They’re family. I won’t call them my ‘fur-children,’ but I do call them my ‘yorkie girls,’ ” she said.
Forster has a closet in her Gramercy Park apartment crammed with designer outfits worth thousands of dollars — because she doesn’t like “the girls” to repeat looks on the town.
“You don’t want to be seen in the same thing, just like we don’t want to be seen in the same cocktail dress,” Forster said.
“I always love dressing my dogs, and they never go out without something on. If they didn’t like wearing the clothes, I wouldn’t do it.”
It’s not unusual for her to splurge $1,000 to $2,000 a year on their one-of-a-kind couture costumes.
“Sometimes I will buy a dress and I will want the designer to coordinate an outfit for the girls and vice versa.”
Forster and her two Yorkies have a very busy social calendar, attending animal-welfare charity events in the evening at least once a week and appearing on the reality TV show, “Doggie Moms.”
“It’s very much an integral part of my life,” said the retired UN staffer. Last year, Forster, Portia and Rosie were guests at a $250,000 over-the-top, record-breaking “puptials” — a pet wedding held in July.
The pooches Baby Hope Diamond, a teacup-sized Coton de Tulear, and Chilly Pasternak, a tie-dyed poodle, were united in holy “muttrimony” in front of nearly 300 guests at the ritzy Essex House hotel across from Central Park.
Forster said she didn’t mind that the $200 a ticket took a bite out of her pocket, because the money went to the Humane Society of New York.
Besides, they got their pictures taken. “It was worth it,” she said.
Here are some of photographer Nathan’s favorite pooches from the book:
You can call him “Eli the celebrity Chihuahua” who along with owner Karen Biehl stars in the reality TV series “Doggie Moms.” The chic Chihuahua’s soulful gaze (or is it a plea for help) makes him extra cute in these doggie duds by Roberto Negrin for Hec-lin Couture ($100). Eli’s hat is by Ninoska Viggiano for Luna’s Brat Pack ($75). Not all costumes are a hit, says Biehl, who once dressed Eli as the pope. “That particular outfit got a lot of buzz on the Internet,” she said, recalling one angry Facebook message: “You blasphemer! How dare you, woman, defile our religion.”
Gucci had a lot of tails wagging, all primped for the pre-Westminster dog-show gala at Hotel Pennsylvania in Midtown. He looks absolutely princely in this gorgeous $5,000 gold train, custom made by owner Olga Zabelinsaka, who used 2500 Swarovski crystals, brocade, Venetian lace and gold trim to make this pricey outfit. Gucci’s pedigree social calendar includes “Barkmitzvahs,” “pawties” and “yappy hour.”
Birds of a feather flock together. In this case, designer Roberto Negrin drew a peacock design on his forehead to compliment the $2,000 iridescent peafowl plumage comprised of 500 peacock feathers worn by his toy poodle he named Hec-lin, the name of his couture line. Negrin admits, “I dress up my dogs because I was not able to dress up Barbie dolls when I was a kid.”
Boo the toy poodle keeps on her toes in this “paw des deux,” a $500 black dress and mask by Roberto Negrin. It’s inspired by the ballet costume worn by Natalie Portman in the thriller “Black Swan.” Negrin says he likes to blend the styles of Alexander McQueen and Oscar de la Renta when he makes a costume for one of his many clients.
Where’s the magic carpet? Athena is alluring in this “Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves” gold-sequined Arabian Nights shirt ($35) and hat ($45). In fact this long coat Chihuahua could be cute as a button belly dancing for a biscuit — or maybe two. Her bio says she’s posed for Glamour magazine, too. “It’s like I’m making the outfit for one of my babies,” said designer Roberto Negrin.
This pearl and diamond Hec-lin designed evening wear ($100) worn by Portia, a Yorkshire terrier would fit quite nicely in a “Downton Abbey” episode sitting on the lap of the Dowager Countess of Grantham, played by Maggie Smith. “People often comment on the fact that Portia has a more extensive wardrobe or is more groomed than themselves or their children,” boasts proud owner Grace Forster.
Sasha is the Big Apple of her eye. Model Shakyra LaShae and her imperial shih tzu love to dress like twins. Both are wearing a “I ♥ NY” black T-shirt ($30 each) as they enjoy a stroll along the promenade in Brooklyn.