Christian Audigier, the designer of the Ed Hardy Brand has released a dog couture clothing line just for the designer pooch. The line is properly named Chrome Bones and features clothing for dogs that is true to the Ed Hardy designs, of vintage tattoo and brightly coloured products.  Chrome Bones has everything for the Ed Hardy loving dog owner even water bowls for that special dog.

Other designers and name brands have gotten in on the dog fashion act; everyone from Juicy Couture (for the high end pup) to Barbie has created a fashion line for pampered pooches.  Your dog can even support its favorite footy team with a new jumper.

If you want your dog to be dressed to the nines, the best place to find these designer lines is online or at some select boutique shops. Most online vendors will even ship internationally if you can’t find an Aussie-based online store.  The designer products range from dog clothing, toys and accessories all the way to designer dog carriers and crates.

And not to be forgotten there is a line of cat products as well for anyone who has a multi-pet home. Fluffy and Fido can even match and coordinate their attire for special events.  These products do come with a pretty large price tag but it is after all dog couture. Right?

So dog owners – tell us, would you ever purchase designer clothes for your pet? Post your thoughts and opinions below!

(Images courtesy of MichealRiedel, AYNaku!, and Infinitemonkeys on Flickr.)

Like us, dogs are more prone to sickness during colder months. If your dog is outside for a long period of time in cold weather, keep an eye out for signs of hypothermia which is a severe drop in body temperature. When dogs walk on cold pavement, the coldness easily transfers from the ground to their paws. If they start to shiver or if their fur stands on end, you should take them inside and wrap them with a blanket immediately.

Dogs are also prone to frostbite and are easily affected in their ears, toes, tails and scrotom areas because of the thin skin. Other things to look out for are their water dish which can easily freeze if it’s cold enough. Also, dogs tend to get less exercise so create some fun indoor activities to keep your pets in shape. To preventВ  your dog from catching a cold, make sure you don’t leave them outside for too long and dress them up with some warm doggy clothing.

Snooty Paws is dedicated to all things dog and even have a winter clothing range. My favourite are the cute doggy hoodies which could pass off as baby clothing.

Kooldawgtees specializes in dog t-shirts. You can get a name or number printed on the back of their own little jersey. They also have a winter range which includes coats and even boots. All their products come in 4-6 different sizes so you’re sure to find something perfect for your dog.

And if you prefer shopping offline, any pet store or department store will have jackets for pets .

Bling Bling Poochies claims that it is in no way affiliated with designer brands or trying to replicate designer products, but the shop sells dog clothes with the famous emblems and logos. They’ve renamed their lines to Lillie Vanillie (Louis Vitton), Juicy Poochie (Juicy Couture), Chanilly (Chanel), Couch Potato (Coach), Christian Dioggie (Christian Dior), and Burbaby (Burberry).

The clothes run anywhere from $20 to $30. They even sell collars and leashes too. So next time, if you’re sporting a designer look, your dog can too.

These products are specially formulated to deodorise your pet’s fur and neutralise odour with a scent that is pleasing to both dog and owner. It may seem like a frivolous purchase, but a good dog perfume can double as a conditioner and will nourish Fido’s skin and coat.

New Zealand based company, Pawfect Pets, has a selection of designer fragrances that spoof popular scents such as Clinique’s Happy and Calvin Klein’s CK One. Petkits.com in the US has a larger range of perfumes for your pooch. Because these fragrances contain natural essential oils, they can also be applied to your pet’s living space or even simply around the house.

If you are especially concerned about the impact on the environment, these refreshing organic sprays made in Australia may also entice both Fido and yourself. Herb Doctor provides similar products including soap and puppy shampoo.

Finally, for the ultra-spoiled, extremely indulged pet and owner, PawPalaceOnline has a “V.I.P. Parfum” designed with both canine and human usage in mind. Unfortunately, this particular fragrance is so exclusive, it is sold by invitation only. The good news is that the site also sells lower-priced designer perfumes, although these are restricted to lucky dogs only!

If you do decide to give dog perfumes a try, check out this site for some more helpful tips on choosing the right fragrance for your dog.

One of the most popular ways to dress a prized pooch is in items of licensed merchandise. Car brands, favourite footy teams and even musicians are all well-represented, if you look hard enough on merchandise websites or in large pet stores. Even cartoon characters and actors can be found in markets and online.

Designer prints and custom prints are on the up-and-up, and can be found through internet retailers. All of the prints you’re used to seeing on people can also be seen on puppies before spring turns to summer – argyle prints, bright colours, intriguing fabrics. These will set you back though, so make sure your dog is going to love it as much as you do!

If your heart’s set on one design and no other, but you can’t find it anywhere or it’s just out of your means, you could try creating it at home. Like anything, designs and how-to guides are abundant online, so it should be easy to find one that’s viable and practical.

At the end of the day, the possibilities really are endless. Be practical with what you buy though – make sure it’s the right size, the right price, and you can just throw it in the washing machine after a particularly long day at the park.

The range of wedding couture for dogs is expansive. Fashion ranges from bow ties for him and summer frocks for her, right through to the full tuxedo. If you really want to include your best friend in the proceedings, there are even vests available for the bridesmaid or ring-bearer, which can be found here.

Most importantly of all, wedding dresses and tuxedos are also purchasable. Wedding dresses can be bought with veils (and leashes). Tuxedos come with tails and pocket handkerchiefs, and can even be combined with a traditional top hat. Accessories include hairpins and the ever-popular rhinestone collar. Wedding attire can be found here.

Should you wish to conduct a wedding, be sure to plan it well ahead, as you would with any event. Remember that animals can be unpredictable, and may be confused by all the action surrounding them. A helpful how-to guide for a canine nuptial ceremony is here. Finally, enjoy seeing the excitement on your dog’s face as they undergo a whole new experience!

Finn and Sootie, a “pet emporium” based in Victoria, is one such shop that stocks items for the hippest pets and their owners. In the jewellery section alone, there are necklaces made with Austrian crystal, handmade knitted flower hairpins, and even crystal tiaras if you really want to make your pet feel like royalty.

Or if you prefer timeless style and elegance whilst keeping Fido fighting fit, have a look at the “Growlex Watch Toys”, the “Pawda Bags” or the “Jimmy Chew” (get it?) soft toys.

By far my favourite, however, are the dog carrier handbags, as popularised by Reese Witherspoon and Chihuahua in “Legally Blonde”. These are ostensibly for carrying around your smaller, more delicate pets, but they would probably work just as well as ordinary handbags, albeit ones with mesh ventilation windows.

If you really have a hankering for dogs in dress-up, Downtown Doggy might be more your thing. This shop is located in Teranora, NSW (but will post anywhere in Australia or internationally) and carries some of the most elaborate dog-clothing I’ve see in awhile. Highlights include a punk-style jacket (complete with pin-badge), chenille harnesses and distressed leather ‘˜town jackets”.

Judging by the success of these sites, doggy haute couture looks like a fad that’s set to stay. It may seem crazy at first, but really, if you can’t lick ‘em, why not join ‘˜em?

More sites

http://www.dogue.com.au/index.html

http://www.thehautehound.com/ (US.)

I was forever embarrassed as a kid by my mother’s key ring which always had a dog poo bag tied around it, clinging there as a constant indicator to anyone who saw it that my mum picks up dog poo. It just always struck me as a bit undignified!

Anyway, as with everything, there is now a more stylish way of picking up poo. This German company have designed  the last word in cool poo bags! Yes, now you don’t need to be ashamed of the slightly loaded black bag swinging in your free hand, because now there are designer poo bags – with attitude!

So if you have a complex about your current design, and don’t mind the $50 for 16 price tag (30 Euros for one pack shipped to Australia), then log on and order some today. I would love to see that in the park!

Well, I just found it, I think. The price is only available by phone. It’s THAT exclusive! I found it under the collar heading “Diamond Collars”. The give away I suppose is the fact that the thing has real diamonds encrusted into the charms and strategically studded around the alligator skin collar! Swarovski crystals, what was I thinking? They are so not exclusive; it couldn’t possibly have been less than real diamonds!

But would you let your dog wear diamonds? More to the point, does a dog NEED to wear diamonds? The collar is not unlike many other collars I have seen, how are people supposed to know the sparkly bits are real? You can’t honestly put diamonds on your dog and not want people to know they are real!

So if on a dog, why not a child? Would you let a child wear diamonds? I think they’re safer on a child than a dog, I’ve seen Snatch!

This led me to ponder an even more pressing point. How much spare cash do you have to have to be able to NOT worry about half a carat dropping out of Fifi’s name tag? A diamond’s only forever until it’s lost!

Have you come across any other outrageous dog adornments?

This year’s event will take place on August 23-24.The mission of New York Pet Fashion Week is to “create an inspiring and unique tradeshow venue for national and international pet lifestyle exhibitors and buyers”. As their website further points out, it’s not just about a tradeshow but also a “designer platform – to nurture the development of new ideas and innovation in the pet industry”.

One only need take a look at a Runway event of 2007′s New York Pet Fashion Week to see evidence of fresh and innovative ideas in the world of designer products for dogs. One of many designs that elicited a delighted response from the audience was a Chihuahua dressed as a Balinese dancer, complete with a golden tiara. Other products on offer ranged from jewel-encrusted leashes to doggy fragrances.

Naturally, attendees of Pet Fashion Week shows brought their beloved pooches. At one fashion show held at a trendy New York club, waiters circled the room with glass bowls of dog food. Meanwhile, hip young people sipped cocktails and their dogs sniffed out new four-legged friends at the bar.

Considering the extraordinary affair that was Pet Fashion Week 2007, one wonders how the upcoming 2008 exhibition in New York could surpass it. No doubt it is being highly anticipated by members of both the dog loving community as well as the pet industry. In the United States, the pet industry is worth close to $AUD50 billion a year, with roughly ten per cent being attributed to sales in toys, clothes and dog-sitters.

In Australia, the figures are also staggering, with the pet industry contributing around $4.62 billion to the economy each year. In January this year, for the first time Pet Fashion Week New York staged The Tokyo Project, a pet industry runway show at Japan’s New Year Dog Party. While one of the most prestigious tradeshows for just about all things dog related has yet to reach our shores, dog lovers of Australia must be hoping it will only be a matter of time.