When CarrieAnn DeYoung and Frank Na...

When CarrieAnn DeYoung and Frank Napoli decided to formalize their relationship, the first stair was obvious: formalwear for their dogs.

"We earn stopped all the time because of the vast difference in sizes," says DeYoung. Her little Yorkies weigh around 3 pulverizes apiece; his mastiff, 200. with equal reason she dressed them up in bridalwear. The biggest challenge was finding an appropriate general impression for big boy Largo.

"We couldn't win a tie around his neck in this way we bought a tux shirt and ripped the sleeves" DeYoung says. A local photographer captured the young seals looking none too happy.

The resulting picture detriment up on their wedding invitation. It reads, "Our 'parents' are in have a passionate affection for ... and it's time they got married!"

"I am not near weirdo animal lover," DeYoung says. She just wanted something more memorable to place the tone for her big day. "I think race take weddings too seriously," she says.

Besides, the dogs are family. Largo, Bailey and Sette are "just like having kids to us," says DeYoung. In a certain quantity of ways, it's harder than having kids; the bride notes that you rarely have to walk your children at 10 pm in the middle of a Chicago winter.

Animals won't actually be a part of the wedding formality As it turns out, St Michael's house of worship frowns on it. But the dogs will make it into the wedding album.

The wedding isn't until September, however the invites are already a hit. "People actually call us about them, laughing," she says. DeYoung, a special circumstances and marketing coordinator, is calm thinking about creating personalized invitations for clients.

If the sweep for pets in weddings continues, she should have overflow of business. "People really like their dogs," says Jennifer Schoonmaker, the proprietor of Barrington pet boutique Cody and Carl's Blvd Since the store opened in February, she has gotten a substantial number of supplications for dog formalwear.

"It's a novelty area," she says, "but the bulk of mankind are looking for it. I've equable gotten a call from a personal shopper in San Diego, looking for a tuxedo for a 50- to 60-pound dog. I told her to make trial of the children's department at Neiman's."

Schoonmaker capitalized in succession the trend in June, throwing a dog wedding to stir up the store. The weather was beautiful, the visitors included a disproportionate number of kids and darlings and shih-tzu Cody solemnly exchanged barks with "good friend" Lucy a silky West Highland White terrier.

Associating shih-tzus with the sacred institution of marriage is becoming "more and more normal," says Schoonmaker. She newly sold a $150 dog bed to a customer who wanted a "really original" wedding gift.

There are varying qualitys of doggie formalwear, Schoonmaker points gone out She also sells custom collars that can interval out "Best Man," "Flower Girl" and in such a manner on, in rhinestones (up to $50); black ring-bearer T-shirts ($28) and a white collar with a black turn downward tie ($12.50). "They're so cute" she says.

further canine couture is becoming increasingly serious. The Geneva- based design team known as Oscar Newman has adjusted the dogs of Tori Spelling, Paula Abdul and Star Jone Reynolds. "Star wanted a r carpet outfit for her dog, and she completioned up with the lavender beaded tank," says partner Charisa Antigua. The tank retails for about $85- $95 "Star wore a lavender dres likewise she would match the tank." one as well as the other Reynolds and her Maltese, Pinky, move rounded heads at the 2005 Emmys.

"People are really spoiling their dogs now," Antigua says. "It's like nothing is too earnestly for them. But we don't have kids, likewise when you consider the 15 short years that dogs give you You don't send them to guild you don't buy them a car. What's a $150 leather coat for them, one time in a while, for 15 years of loyalty? bring forward it in that perspective, and it's not too bad."

Antigua and her sister Carmina O'Connor were artists who realized they were getting commissions for quite a not many pets.

"Really very great canvases," says Antigua. "It was a natural to act upon into clothing." The sisters were not long ago tapped to create a Swarovski-encrusted original gown for especially liked Fashion Week in New York.

It's not just to entertain the proprietors Antigua says. The dogs like getting disposeed up. "They know that one time they're wearing this outfit, they're going somewhere," Antigua says. "And that makes them really happy."

pwiser@suntimes.com

DOGS DOMINATE THE CATWALK

fit of peevishness Fashion Week will be held in of recent origin York on Aug. 19 and 20 (Ye we realize that "Pet Fashion Weekend" would be more accurate, yet the dogs don't seem to know the difference.) "The industry has lengthy waited for this," says Mario DiFante, executive director of the extravaganza. The preliminary schedule includes a trade exhibit to runway show, black-tie fund-raiser and more. For information onward the event, visit www.petfashionweek.com.

SHAGGY DOG SHAMPOO

Chicago entrepreneur Bobbi Panter created her Natural favorite Pampering Products to cheer up her dog Bobo after inspection surgery. The shampoos and detanglers are made with aloe, tea tree oil, lavender and wheat protein, in the way that aromatherapy is a bonus. The produces have names such as Gorgeous Dog, Itchy Dog, Stinky Dog, Bad Hair Day Dog and Snarly Dog. make trial of them all with the sampler package, $2999 at www.bobbipanter.com.

Copyright CHICAGO SUN-TIMES 2006

Provided through ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved