DOG’S THAT GO INTO SOCIETY.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIII, Issue XXV, 16 December 1899, Page 1120

DOG’S THAT GO INTO SOCIETY.

THE LATEST CRAZE. HOW TO DRESS A IXMI IN STYLE. There is a eraze just now raging in Paris for creating a class of socalled “fashionable dogs'*—an aristocratic canine society made up of chiens du monde as distinguished, not only from the common curs of the street, but from the well-fed, wellkept naturally clothed companions of the bourgeoisie and professional and business people. Writing in “The New York Times,” Mr John J. Waller gives a most interesting description of the modern society dog. It is not enough, he says, to possess an animal of pure breed and faultless manners; he must be of bine-blooded canine stoek, perfumed and pampered with luxuries and dressed a la derniere mode de Paris, in costumes to suit the weather, the particular season of the year, and even in accordance with the etiquette of certain social functions which he may be called upon to attend. To meet the requirements of this new state of society which has risen in the fashionable world of dogs the “Canine Costumier”—or, in plain English, the Dogs’ Tailor and Dressmaker —has become an absolute necessity, and one of the leading ladies of the “movement” assures me that very shortly these aristocratic pets are also to have their Directory — giving their names and addresses, their pedigrees, distinguishing qualities, and reception days. GARMENTS FOR ALL WEATHERS. Let me detail for you some of the features of this extraordinary craze for dressing up society dogs. A few years ago the classic wrap in blue or brown cloth, hemmed and braided and bearing the arms or the initials of the owner, was regarded as a piece of extragavamce, but this is looked upon as a very commonplace covering in aristocratic canine society to-day. Now’, in the shops of the Galerie d’Orleans you will find complete trousseaus for dogs of all sizes and all classes —toilettes de reception, mantles for cold days, and waterproofs for rainy days; dust- coats for excursions, plaids for railways journeys, and gray linen suits for the seaside. And the imagination of these people who are so (anxious to make the life of dear little doggie a really happy one does not stop here. This year they have gone one step further in rendering the sublime handiwork of the Creator ridiculous by providing their pets with sets of fine linen. No society dog which really respects itself would think of possessing less than a dozen undergarments of lawn, if it be in good health, or silk or surah if it should be subject to colds or nervous complaints! Then if the “poor darling” should be troubled with watery eyes, a dozen embroidered cambric handkerchiefs become an absolute necessity. And this is not all. His delicate little feet must be kept dry by boots, made to measure, of leather, or india rubber to suit his particular temperament. DOGS IN BRIDESMAID’S COSTUMES. T made particular inquiries, and found that the dogs' tailors in Paris can now count upon something like 5000 or 6000 regular customers from whom they receive orders for “garments” of one sort or another several times a year. One of the tailors took me into his confidence so far as to say: “For the most port our clients belong to the higher classes of society—people who can afford to pay high prices and who pay ready cash. The business is, therefore, a very profitable one, because the materials used do not cost very much, and we sell them at a very large profit. For instance, I recently had a very remunerative order from the daughter of a diplomat in Paris. She was about to be married, and I made a set of gala clothes for her dogs to inatcii the liveries of the lackeys in her father's household. As the bride entered the residence after the ceremony, her three dogs were awaiting her at the top of the grand staircase, dressed in these costumes with txmquets of orange blossoms attached to their collars end held in a silken leash by one of the footmen. The effect was Marvellous! Then, uguiu, the daughter Of a rich banker, recently marled, had another idea. I made to measure for each of her dogs—she had half a dozen— regular bridesmaids’ eoatuaes

of white faille embroidered with lace and garlanded with orange blossoms, while on their feet they wore small slippers of white satin, also specially made to measure!"

A DOG’S TROUSSEAU. The following is a complete description of the trousseau of a really select society dog. First of all, I was informed, the collar has been changed from a mere steel or leather circle of servitude into a purely decorative article. That most iu vogue just now is the shape of a man’s collar, made of white celluloid with a bow in red celluloid fixed in front, while a little silver or gold Swiss bell is attached to take the place of a pin. Then on the left “ankle” iu the case ol a really fashionable lady dog, a gold bracelet, ornamented with coloured stones (in some cases real emeralds and rubies are used) must be worn. This also may have a gold or a silver bell attached to it. Now conies the trousseau proper. This is composed of undergarments for night and day in lawn or silk for summer and fine flannel for winter. Then there are the pocket handkerchiefs, in linen embroidered with lace, which are placed in a pocket on the left side of the overmantle, and bearing the arms or initials of the owner. The boots and shoes are of various patterns and materials—kid, calfskin, patent leather, or india rubber. The latter find most favour, and they are laced or buttoned au choix. Bow-wow has his boots put on when he goes out, and they are taken off for him at the door as he comes in, so that he does not dirty the carpets or the staircase after his promenade in the Bois. MORNING GOWNS AND PARASOLS. As to costumes, your well-bred lady of the canine aristocracy is furnished with a morning gown for the house, made of muslin or surah for the hot summer months, and of flannel for the winter. The costume de ville is made of all sorts of materials to suit the weather and the occasion, and just now it is adorned with a fashionable collette and Medicis collar. The robe may be trimmed in colours to match those of the dress of the dog's mistress. Then we have the seaside Costume made of white pique or ether light stuffs, and completed with a small sailor’s hat to shield the delicate eyes of “tou-tou” from the glare of the sun. One-fanciful Parisienne has determined to complete the costume during her visit to Trouville this summer by having a small parasol made of red silk, which writ be held upright in a ferrule fixed in position upon the dog’s back. This will also serve as an en-tout-eas in case of showery weather, to keep the. glossj’ hair of the “precious beauty” dry. A COMPLETE OUTFIT—£2O. But we have not yet quite completed our survey of the creature comforts of the. Parisian society dog. Let us not forget the toilet requisites, for these include quite a collection of combs, fine and coarse, of brushes, of fancy soaps, and of perfume bottles. Then there is a doggie’s cot, upon the arrangement of which just as much eare and luxury are bestowed. The most favoured form at this moment is the Chinese pavilion upholstered in silk and covered in its exterior with white skin. Little windows are fixed in the walls for the double purpose of affording amusement for the spoiled inhabitant as well as giving him rhe fresh air necessary for his well being. The price of these luxurious little habitations for the “mashers” of modern dog society ranges from £5 to £2O. As to the complete trousseau —upon what the tailor called a “modest scale”—the following figures were quoted:

Add to this £7 or £8 for a cot, and you have at once a bill of about £2O. And this the tailor assured me was a very ordinary sum to spend upon a dog’s outfit in Paris. Many ladies will pay as much as thia for the collar and bracelet alone, ordering gold Io be used, and inlaying it with real stones.

4» s d Collar with imitation stones 0 10 0 Bracelet with imitation stones 0 7 0 Half dozen undergarments... 10 0 Half dozen pocket handkerchiefs .0 5 0 Two double pairs of boots (four feet) 1 5 0 One morning costume....... () 17 () One walking costume 1 10 0 One travelling costume 1 5 0 0 One costume de ceremouie.. 2 10 0 One winter coat with fur collar 2 2 0 ' £14 6 0