A suave fresh face emerged in the fashion blog world last year when Bodhi, a four-year-old Shiba Inu residing in New York City, hit the scene dressed up in all manner of outfits. Neckties, thick-rimmed glasses, beach shirts paired with a panama hat — Bodhi sported them all under the moniker of Menswear Dog.
Tagging his Tumblr as “a dog’s guide to being a man,” Bodhi quickly became a foppish phenomenon. Now his fashion forward social media fame has offered him a platform to begin developing an upcoming line of clothing for dogs.
Ahead of Bodhi’s impending canine garment renaissance, I spoke to David Fung, half of the husband-and-wife team who help run Bodhi’s social media empire, to get the facts on this debonair dog.
Dogster: How did Menswear Dog come to be?
David Fung: The idea for Menswear Dog came about when my wife and I randomly decided to see what our dog looked like in people clothes. We snapped a photo and shared it with our friends but were completely surprised by the reaction. Then we started spitballing and came up with this art project for a real fashion blog that just happens to star a dog. It caught on and we’ve been playing dress-up ever since.
What was Bodhi’s very first outfit?
It was a shawl collar cardigan over an Oxford shirt and tie. Very collegiate professor.
Have there been any outfits you’ve never been able to get Bodhi to model?
Well, he can’t wear pants or shoes, so that gets difficult to try and work into looks. Sometimes we have to find creative ways to showcase an entire outfit. Putting hats on him is also always a funny process.
How does Bodhi recommend staying warm yet stylish during the heavy snow we’ve been having recently?
There’s all sorts of ways to stay warm and stylish. Layering is important: Henleys, undershirts, shirts under sweaters. And there are a ton of stylish and functional winter coats out there. I’d recommend investing in a nice winter parka. You can dress it up over a suit or dress it down with jeans and it’ll still look great. There’s nothing wrong with a winter coat that actually looks like it can weather a storm.
How does living in New York City affect Bodhi’s style choices?
New York City is basically a living, breathing catwalk. You get to see some of the most unique and stylish people walking around, so it’s very inspiring to see.
Where are Bodhi’s favorite places to shop in NYC?
We’re huge fans of classic heritage menswear. We just stopped into the Todd Snyder x Champion store and it’s amazing. It’s modeled like an old-school city gym with industrial fixtures, lockers, the whole nine. Incredible stuff. The recently redesigned Club Monaco flagship store in Flatiron is also a sight to behold.
What sort of reaction does Bodhi get when people see him dressed up while out in public?
It’s always such a fun experience when we take him out. He definitely steals the show; lots of awws and people asking for selfies with him. He loves mugging for the camera though.
Are any breeds of dog harder to dress up than others?
The fluffier the dog, the harder it is to put clothes on them. It just looks weird when we’ve tried. So much neckbeard.
Who’s Bodhi’s ultimate fashion icon?
Of all time? Probably Steve McQueen. Modern day: Ryan Gosling can do no wrong.
What trends is Bodhi looking forward to in 2014?
I think it’s exciting to see what designers are doing with the printed shirt. It’s cool to see all of these patterns and designs inspired by old-school textiles. Gitman Bros Vintage does some of the best and they keep it fresh every year.
How’s his own canine fashion line coming along?
Fantastic! We’re trying to crowd-source our line now so we can start making menswear for dogs. We’d love to be able to get it off the ground and hopefully expand to a full collection with new looks and accessories.
Finally, is Bodhi looking to meet a foppish female companion? Or does he prefer the bachelor lifestyle?
Bodhi does all of this for the ladies, so he’s always on the lookout!
Check out more of Menswear Dog here.
Read more about Menswear Dog and dogs in clothes:
- Meet Menswear Dog and 6 Other Stylish Shiba Inus
- The 5 Best Dog Tumblrs
- Our 15 Favorite Dog Calendars for 2014
- And Now, the Story Behind the Popular “Street Style Dogs” Blog
- And Now, 11 Crazy Pictures of Dogs in Costumes
- Pix We Love: Fashion Week for Dogs
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