“ But you have to see her first outfit,” Grace said, “which was a black and white suit with a little beret.”

Cleo is a regular at doggie fashion events around the city—she seemed comfortable under the pressure of flashing lights and paw-parazzi. Grace says that she worked with a designer for her Lana-inspired look, and even walked (well, was carried in) Paris Fashion Week in 2023.

At the end of the runway at NYU, Cleo enjoys a reunion with one of her fellow models: a black and white papillon named Finley who sparkles in a sequined top. Cleo and Finley greet each other like seasoned professionals in the industry—no cheek kisses, just little sniffs in the air. They’ve both done events with the American Kennel Club and plan to be at another Pet Gala at the Museum of the Dog later this month. Ruff life, right?

“Does he always look this fabulous?” I asked Elizabeth, Finley’s mom.

“He does have a lot of clothes,” she said. “My husband says he can’t have another drawer. I think he basically has four drawers.”

But the red carpet was open to newcomers, too. Logan, a husky-shepherd mix in a dapper fedora, a white collar, a blue bowtie, and four little gold cufflinks, stunned on the sit-and-repeat, accompanied by human stylists Bryan and David.

“ It all goes with the hat, because the only thing we had at the moment was the hat,” Bryan tells me. “And then, I don’t know, I just got into it. I got one of my shirts, ripped it. Cut it… added the bowtie… and then attached the cuffs of my shirt to his legs.”

Photographed by Hannah La Follette Ryan