London - With tangerine silk facing, Harris Tweed cuffs and turquoise piping, not to mention the ostrich feather collar, this is a dog coat like no other.
It certainly isn’t made for rolling in the mud, wallowing in puddles or keeping warm on a morning walk.
Indeed, a single drop of rain on those ostrich feathers would cause irreparable damage — a real shame considering the coat costs £4,000.
Designer Lilly Shahravesh admits her dog outfits are strictly for very special occasions.
She is often asked to make silk ‘bridesmaid’ or ‘page boy’ outfits to match the wedding dress of a dog-mad bride. Before she turned her hand to canine couture, Shahravesh worked for 14 years in the (human) fashion industry as a knit-wear designer. Then, ten years ago, she set up the LoveMyDog label to cater for a growing market for designer clothes for dogs.
Although she does have a cheaper, ready-to-wear range, her bespoke outfits are tailor-made. Shahravesh likens it to ‘having a Savile Row suit made for your dog’.’
Even the initial appointment to have your dog measured costs £200. But that’s nothing compared to the final bill: £1,000 for a cashmere top, £3,000 for a hat, £4,000 for a coat. There is a six-month waiting list for the made-to-measure service.
Materials used also include silks, organza ribbons, and mother-of-pearl buttons There’s even an oilcloth ‘Barbour’ with a Liberty-print lining. The best-selling dog coats are cut from Melton wool — traditionally used for the red coats of the guards at Buckingham Palace.
Celebrity clients include the chatshow host Jonathan Ross, whose French bulldog Professor Snowball has had a sweater, matching blanket and hot-water bottle cover made for him.
Actor Chris O’Dowd, who starred in the romantic comedy Bridesmaids, bought a tweed coat for Potato, his Jack Russell. - Daily Mail