You bet! Even your doggie buddies need a touch of high fashion now and then. At least, that’s what London’s Harrods thinks and apparently there are quite a number of people who agree with them. This fall, 2007, jewelry designers like Ben de Lisi and Vivienne Westwood are set to show up some pooch designs featuring diamond settings and other gems in November. The collection is said to be showcasing about 1.5 million dollars of jewelry for pampered pets.
There are jeweled doggie collars, spring jackets, body warmers, coats, tail decorations and paw warmers. The affair is being provided for a group of select celebrities and customers who have bought a limited set of tickets for the show. The show is expected to help raise funds for the Retired Greyhounds Trust.
One outfit alone is capturing the fancy of pet fashion buffs and that is the rumored bespoked diamond and precious jewel collar that is said to be worth an estimated $1 million dollars. It is truly an outfit for a princely dog.
The Pet-A-Porter’s Diamond show is a take-off on fashion designers that typically have two collections: an haute couture and a prêt-a-porter collection. The prêt-a-porter collection is usually more commercial and mainstream, but it’s doubtful anyone will want to let their doggies out daily wearing these jewels. It basically means the “ready to wear” collection. The Pet-A Porter will feature many unique diamond settings for pets.
The show will be similar to a real catwalk fashion show where the models, Chihuahuas, Labradors, and other types of dogs will be modeling the accessories and jewels. There is also a $5,000 diamond and sapphire collar designed by Vivienne Westwood that will be paraded on the catwalk.
It’s always been very fashionable to have pets wearing some jewelry. The most interesting and expensive dog ornament was probably the Blue Hope Diamond. Apparently, owner Evalyn Walsh Mclean fancied letting her dog wear it every now and then! Whether she was trying to make a statement about the supposed curse or she just enjoyed the startled looks from guests is anyone’s guess. It’s probably one of the most unique diamond settings in the pet world to make an appearance.
Recently, even movies have portrayed the properly attired pooch with gemstones. In the film Legally Blonde, for instance, the Chihuahua named Bruiser had a tiny Tiffany necklace. It became a popular knockoff when Petco started selling similar imitation jewelry for pet owners who fancied the look. It came in both doggie and kitty versions.
Do Only Doggies Get This Attention?
Actually, even the felines are elbowing in on the diamond action. There are stories that suggest that Ivana Trump dropped about 100 grand on a pave diamond necklace for her cat. Whether you have a pet dog, a cat, or even a bird, you may end up being tempted to emulate the rich and famous by getting them some diamond-looking decorations. Just be sure they can’t easily swallow the baubles and cause them some harm.
In fact, there are some jewelry stores that have even taken to adding a few animals to their showcases, sort of reversing the trend. Instead of having the doggie or kitty wearing jewels, the jewels are showcased with either snakes or spiders. Why? Well, the idea is that if you know how to handle a snake or a spider, they make an interesting and exotic way to show off your jewels while providing a large deterrent for reaching behind the cabinet to grab a few from inside the case when the jeweler is not looking. They are an inexpensive night watch too.
This combination of animals and jewels is just getting started. It is possible we will see more pets wearing jewels in different styles and trends. We might even see more doggie fashion shows. As people begin to really bring luxury into their lives, they may decide it’s okay for the dog to wear some pieces of jewelry. At the very least, it is a big conversation starter. If you are worried about losing the jewels or harming the pet, obviously you should take precautions. While having jewels and animals mix is a great novelty, it should be done with the same common sense you approach anything in life.
Is This the Start of a Trend?
Possibly. Luxury owners pay a small fortune to get just the right dogs and don’t mind showering them with expensive ornaments. It can become a status symbol that the regular folk will have a tough time duplicating. Some of the luxury items in the past that were synonymous with wealth or celebrity may be losing their stature. When there is a mass of people copying a designer handbag and someone who isn’t as wealthy can afford to buy one, celebrities and other wealthy people want something new to differentiate their status from others. That may well be the appeal of buying luxury jewels for our best pet companions.
There are some ways that less famous and wealthy people can join this fun trend. There are pet accessories for owners that probably will get a boost from having diamonds associated with them. You might get a diamond shaped dog tag, a doggie whistle with diamond chips, and any other number of bling-encrusted fashion accessories for the well-heeled pet owner.
There are already numerous knock-offs of doggie decorations that use crystals or glass to give the appearance of diamond-encrusted doggie wear. If you really want the look, but would rather you wear the find jewels in the family, there’s no reason you can buy the diamonds for yourself and let the dog have the crystals. That way when you walk the dog, you can look like you are in sync for less money.
Shopping for pet accessories can be a fun and giggle-promoting activity. They also make a great gift for people who love their pets like children. When you are trying to find something for the person who has everything, this is definitely a new possibility. Whether real or fake, diamonds and other fine jewels are proving to pair up fabulously with our favorite pets.
Other articles of interest: