Pets and their threads

Harvey and Sophie used to be cold in the wintertime. Now they're unstoppable.

The shih-tzus' owner, Shayna Arndt, says they used to refuse to go outside this time of year.

"When the weather was cold, they'll sit and shiver and just stare at me," she says. But that was before Arndt started dressing them up. Doggie sweaters, scarves and windbreakers have rocketed to unprecedented popularity this year, largely, analysts say, on the accidental success of an April fools' joke.

Consumers thought American Eagle Outfitters' mock campaign to sell a line for pets called American Beagle Outfitters was funny enough, but after it was revealed as a prank, consumers demanded the line become reality.

Stacey Busch, owner of Busch's Pet Products, said the trend is growing.

Murphy on Tuesday wears his holiday sweater to Mississippi Mutts in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

"This time of the year, especially, we've always seen a demand, but it's started to expand," she said. "I'm not sure how Cape Girardeau stacks up in terms of national trends, but we've definitely seen more interest in pet clothing this year.

"Before, it was usually people who needed something more utilitarian, but now more people are dressing up their pets for special occasions," she explained. She then pointed out a rack of matching vests and elf-ears. "Then there's the 'how embarrassed could I possibly make my dog by wearing this' outfits."

Harvey has a tendency to tread on his tie, as it's longer than his little legs, but he sports the sweater like a champ. Arndt says the dogs' wardrobe has increased gradually, from cute accouterments to purposeful outfits.

"Honestly, when it started out, it was just me and Sophie in my apartment and I sort of just wanted to put clothes on her," she admits. "But now, the sweaters look cute and keep them warm."

Owner of Mississippi Mutts pet store Sherry Jennings said that she's noticed that now that the market for pet clothing has expanded, pet trends have emerged.

"I think that one of the things that people like to do is coordinate with their dogs," she said. "So a lot of the trends that are going on for people clothes, you see the same things in dog outfits. Chevrons, for example, are big."

She also says that pets are being recognized as part of the family in ways they might not have been before.

"People nowadays are including their pets in family pictures and weddings, and so now there are clothes for those occasions," she said.

She said the increased demand has led her store to stock about three times as much pet clothing as it did when it first opened.

"Local therapy dogs are some of our biggest customers," she said. "When they go see patients, the ties and tutus are really a hit."

Busch said a market also has also emerged for pets that are sports fans, or pets whose owners are sports fans, at least. The most impressive thing for Busch, though, is how serious manufacturers have gotten.

"People want the same things in their pet clothes as they want in their own clothes," she said. "They want quality construction, they want it to look nice, be machine washable."

Although Sophie and Harvey just seemed more concerned with where the treats were.

tgraef@semissourian.com

388-3627