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'Canine Couture' Fashion Show Puts Dapper Dogs on UES Catwalk

By Victoria Bekiempis | February 22, 2013 7:08am

UPPER EAST SIDE — It's like Prada for pooches.

Grooming salon Doggie-Do & Playtime Too, located at 348 E. 76th St., will host a Fido fashion show on Saturday at 5 p.m., shop owner Howie Binder says.

The shindig, called "Canine Couture," will feature  costumes from dog designer Anthony Rubio of Bandit Rubio Designs — said to be the first canine couturier featured at New York Fashion Week.

"I think it's going to be very, very exciting," said Binder, 54. "We're expecting about 100 people."

Binder, who has hosted dog fashion shows before and is known as a groomer to the stars for trimming pups of celebs including Sean Combs and Jennifer Lopez, expects approximately 10 to 15 dogs to participate, he said.

Rubio said most of the participating pooches have had his designs purchased for them. Several rescue dogs, too, will be sporting his costumes, which range in price from $150 to $600.

He hopes his participation in the event — his first time working with Binder — will foster friendship among dog owners and help make well-dressed dogs the norm. 

"I want to introduce the concept of dressing dogs for whatever occasion to the real world to people who aren't aware of it," said Rubio, an Fashion Institute of Technology alum who's been dog-designing for five years. 

"These are couture pieces  these are not things you'd see in Petco."

Binder said Rubio knows how to make dogs look fierce.

"If you want to talk about a real bitching look," he said, laughing, "he's got it."