Dog fashion

This trend dates back to the Egyptian predynastic period and has since expanded due to increased consumer capitalism.

Nobility and the upper class have been decorating their canine companions for centuries and there is photographic evidence from 1900 of people dressing their dogs in human costumes.

Dog clothes that are purely for show would be used as costumes for holidays and special occasions, such as Halloween or weddings.

They provide extra warmth for dogs that are hairless or suffer from the cold and come in an array of patterns and styles, such as cable knitted sweaters or hooded sweatshirts with embellishments.

They are available in a t-shirt style with short or long sleeves as well as a sleeveless tank top for use during warmer weather.

[6] Some major international fashion retailers such as Ralph Lauren have launched their own canine clothing lines.

In the US, expenditure on pet supplies, including clothing, has been steadily increasing for the last twenty years with 2014 estimated spending at $13.72 billion.

[19] In 2021, the pet apparel market was valued at $5.7 billion, with dog owners accounting for the majority of sales.

Dog owners who are single, childless, newly married, empty nesters, divorced, or in a second marriage tend to anthropomorphize their pets more often.

Dogs can be emotional substitutes for family members such as children and spouses and they contribute to the moral maintenance of people who live alone.

In a world where people are increasingly disconnected from their families, they rely more on their pets, specifically dogs, to fill emotional voids.

[23] Increasing affluence means that more people can spend resources on items that are not necessary, like clothes and costumes.

In films such as Oliver and Company, one of the characters is a female dog, Georgette, who indulges in luxury fashion and wears leopard print scarves, big hats, and jeweled collars.

The film centers around an escaped circus dog turned adopted stray that is taken to a basketball court and is discovered to have incredible talent in the sport.