Fashion Mavens Swaddle Pets in Matching Designer Outfits

And now, for the pooch who has everything: designer togs for dogs.

From New York’s ritzy Park Avenue to Hollywood’s walk of stars, fashion mavens with leashes are swaddling their pets in Spandex doggy swimsuits, denim jean jackets, Burberry raincoats, and fur coats--though the fur is fake; even such extravagance has limits.

“Everything from tuxedoes to sequined gowns can be had or custom-made,” said Mark Drendel, a pet pamperer at Canine Styles by Ursual Lehnhardt, a New York salon.

“If a lady goes out to buy an expensive Chanel suit, I don’t think she would mind spending a little extra on her dog. In fact, most of our clientele are very wealthy and they don’t think twice about it.”

Karen Thompson, a New York fashion designer, is working on a fall collection of wool dog sweaters mirroring the latest human fashions gracing magazine covers.

“People are into eating right, looking good and staying healthy. So naturally, it’s not such a big thing anymore to want the same things for their pets,” she said.

A dog wardrobe at Thompson’s two New York shops begins at $150: $60 for a hand-knit wool sweater and $90 for a “Chanel-style” lead and collar made of hand-braided leather and gold.

But Thompson said the price is worth the stunning fashion statement of a well-dressed owner and matching pet.

“I really care about the pets that come in to my store,” Thompson said . “I can dress them up and make them very pretty. It’s fun to take care of them and make them look good.”

Even big retailers are getting into the act.

The main Macy’s department store in Manhattan is reporting brisk sales at its year-old Petigree Shop, where a Burberry raincoat from London is going fast at $120, Spandex doggy swimsuits for $12.

It also offers fake furs, hand-painted T-shirts, vinyl raincoats in hot electric colors and tailored wool coats.

Demand is big among the wealthy.

Mary Jane Weiskopf of New York City said she has spent oodles to make sure her outfits are canine-coordinated, but the effort has earned her little Alice many fine compliments.

“I wear a lot of Chanel suits and I put a lot of matching collars to them. Tomorrow I’m wearing a red plaid Valentino jacket and Alice will bewearing her red raincoat,” Weiskopf said.

“Alice is the most pampered dog in the world. She has wonderful clothes,” Weiskopf said. “She’s gone from her Southwestern mood to her Leopard mood to her Chanel mood--and now she has close to 20 sweaters.”

Asked if Alice would ever go out without dressing, she chided the reporter, “If you’re a proper lady, you don’t go out without looking your best.”

In the dog-eat-dog world of Washington, Bone Jour Boutique claims to cater to some truly top dogs. Among the very important pooches: the first dog, Millie, and Senate Minority Leader Bob Dole’s pet.

“Sen. Dole’s dog is a regular grooming client and Millie Bush was in here for a photo session a year ago,” said Bone Jour manager Brian Bean, referring to the bouncy springer spaniel owned by President Bush.

Bean confided that Millie has received a pearl necklace from Bone Jour, to match the trademark pearls worn by first lady Barbara Bush. But any mutt, not just a presidential pooch, can look like a million.

“It’s a whole new world; now you even have to decide what color toenail polish your dog is going to wear,” Bean said.

“We even have little tuxedoes and little satin gowns for dogs,” he added. That would make a splash at Embassy Row parties.

Pet Limo, based in Beverly Hills, will pick up a pooch in a white stretch limousine, take it to its salon for grooming, dress-up in a tuxedo or sequined dress and return it home in time for a big bash.

“New Year’s Eve is one of our biggest nights,” said Steve L. May, the driving force behind Pet Limo.

“We’ve also done some black-tie events and we once brought in 52 white doves, flowers and dressed the dogs up in little outfits for a wedding shower.”

Limo rental averages between $45 and $55, grooming $20 to $45 and a tuxedo another $20.

May said some big-name Hollywood stars are among his clients. “I’d love to tell you their names, but I can’t,” he said.