by Natacha Bunzl

Burberry is one of the world’s most famous designer brands. But branded trenchcoats and sweaters for dogs? There’s a thought that may raise your eyebrows!

Is today’s designer fashion selling out? Despite what you might think, high-class designer labels also cater to your pets nowadays, as does British luxury label Burberry, who just released their own collection of Burberry clothing for dogs. Most notable features are the famous Burberry trenchcoat for dogs, as well as the Check sweater and Burberry dog leash.

Where did this trend start? The origins of dog clothing most probably came from England, due to its damp and cold climate. It was easy for smaller dogs to catch colds when they were taken out. So for a while it was not uncommon to find small dogs dressed in cover-up “raincoats,” and sausaged in small waterproof capes.

But the idea of actually dressing your dog and providing them with a wardrobe only gained ground recently. Sparked by such celebrities as Paris Hilton and her pet chihuahua Tinkerbell as well as the successful Hollywood movie ‘Legally Blonde,’ dressing your dog up has become the ultimate in fashion and accesorizing.

From an alligator-skin dog collar and leash set to an elegant Burberry trench coat for dogs, shoes, t-shirts, hats and more you can find just about everything you wear yourself in ‘dog sizes’. Bloomingdale’s, Neiman-Marcus, Gucci, Louis Vuitton — all the biggest names in fashion have pawed their way into the very lucrative pet-accessories market, an industry that gathered an estimated $8 billion during 2004.

Though Burberry isn’t the only designer label to release their own dog clothing collection, Burberry for dogs is definitely the collection with the most fashion credibility — especially if you consider that as well as being English, and therefore accustomed to bad weather, Thomas Burberry’s initial success was in outdoor wear, trenchcoats and sweaters.

So if you are looking to dress your dog up, think of Burberry for dogs, with their trenchcoats, leashes and custom-made sweaters. Your dog will always keep warm while looking elegant and refined, just like Burberry clothes make you feel when you wear them. It’s a sweet way of extending your love for fashion to your pet.

Unfortunately, Burberry clothing for dogs are a little pricey, with the Check sweater for dogs selling at $155 and only available from select Burberry stores. But why not coordinate and shop for a Burberry mesh hat, handbag or sweater for yourself online? Shops like Bluefly.com and Ashford.com sell authentic Burberry clothing and accessories at lower prices than your regular bricks-and-mortar shops.

Happy Shopping!

About the Author
Natacha Bunzl writes for best fashion shopping site Indelibles.com, whose aim is to enhance your designer shopping experience.