For the duration of the pandemic, it’s a dog’s world, and now we’re even dressing like them

Most would concur that the pandemic has number of upsides, with the exception of 1 notable team: pet dogs.

In point, if we had to wager a guess, we’d say they’re loving it. Following all, their persons are house. All working day. There’s much more petting, participating in, going for walks and treats than ever. What a howl!

It is these up-close-and-private-with-your-puppy months that may possibly have led to a burgeoning pattern. Pet owners are dressing like their pet dogs, or conversely, dogs are starting up to costume like their folks.

Elegant PUPS

“If you advised me five yrs ago I’d be dressing up like my dog, I’d have believed you ended up nuts,” says Laura Burkart, 40, who with her lover, Donal Sheridan, 44, of Queens, consistently attire up in matching outfits with Hendrik, her Brussels Griffon. “I haven’t been expending any cash on my possess garments this year. I’m not shopping for anything at all and I don’t have children, so I’m investing my disposable income on things you would commonly buy for a kid. He’s an extension of me and it’s a way to show we’re a household,” states Burkart, who believes that Hendrik, who has his personal Instagram account (@Hendrik_Von_Griffon) enjoys to get dressed up.

Obtaining all matchy-matchy with your pooch is absolutely nothing new for Mercedes Gonzalez Mayo, 23, a trend influencer from Smithtown. Her Instagram account, @styleitwithtrix (Trix currently being her chihuahua) with its 271,000 followers focuses on matching her have higher-style with her pup’s.

But now, with a new addition to her family, Theo, a 5-month-old golden retriever, she’s taken it a action further by building her possess fake-fur topped puppy beanies, sold at @styledbytrix. Matching human beanies will stick to in February and at some place, she hopes to expand into a whole-on dog-and-people clothes line.

“I’m just a proud pet dog mom in excess of below,” she says. “I’ve normally shared puppy vogue with women’s fashion and I understood someplace down the line I wished to make a canine collection.”

Her reasoning? “One particular is the practicality of maintaining your puppy heat, and two, there is the truth of persons seeking to see posts on Instagram. I’m obsessed with lovely puppies and their pictures.”

‘IT Can make THEM HAPPY’

She’s not by itself. Even major-title retailers like Goal have gotten in on the pattern, promoting matching pup and human puffer jackets and pajama sets.

“Most people is obsessing over their pet dogs these times,” suggests Cassie Cole, 51, the owner of canine clothing and accessory model Fab Canine. Cole, who grew up in the Five Towns and is at the moment quarantining in Remsenburg, states “income have elevated noticeably. In April, when persons had been flipping out simply because of COVID, they were purchasing masses of toys and outfits for their canine, simply because it manufactured them joyful.” Cole suggests she began selling matching pajama sets decades ago and right now, carries on to sell PJs, alongside with T-shirts with funny expressions these as, “Canine Hair Do not Treatment.”

Amusement may perhaps be at the heart of the pattern when there has not been that substantially to amuse, suggests Gina Davis, 32, who owns Pet dog Threads, a Minnesota-centered human/puppy clothing organization wherever enterprise has “snowballed” for the duration of the pandemic.

“Now that we’re paying out so significantly time with our canine, there is a lightheartedness and entertaining to dressing alike,” she states. Davis notes Very long Island is a hot sector for the company’s doggy and human wardrobe options — from summery Hawaiian shirts to cozy ski sweaters. Davis and her husband, Scott, had been a strike on an episode of “Shark Tank,” a minor extra than a yr ago for their matching outfits line.

Just one of Davis’ shoppers is Arden O’Connor, 42, who has been quarantining with her folks in Southampton considering that last Might with her 3 Poochons, Mango, Kiwi and Guava. She procured matching sweaters for a Xmas card photograph but plans for her crew to wear them all calendar year prolonged.

“I actually like my sweater and the canine do get chilly so they need them.” But bottom line, she suggests, “The explanation I started out accomplishing it is simply because I believed it would make people smile and they do.”

Burkart, much too, says that throughout dark occasions, a small doggy and loved ones matching can provide on content moments. “Folks giggle as soon as they detect us. I really do not know if they are laughing with us or at us, but either way, they get a kick out of it.”