Karl Lagerfeld’s Birman cat Choupette and Thom Browne’s dachshund Hector directly inspired some of their owners’ most beloved designs. Is it any surprise, then, that the pets of fashion-industry icons lead especially stylish and luxurious lives? From sirloin beef jerky to car rides to Southampton, the perks of being a fashion pet are legion.
Below, meet the beloved dogs (plus one turtle) of designers Emilia Wickstead, Tory Burch, Laura Kim, and Hillary Taymour; PR extraordinaire Lucien Pagès; former J.Crew and Gap CEO and current Alex Mill CEO Mickey Drexler; and T Magazine Editor-in-Chief Hanya Yanagihara.
HANYA YANAGIHARA + FRED, 24-year-old sulcata tortoise
How did you find each other?
My father was having a late-life crisis and answered a Craigslist ad. Before my mother could say anything, he was paying Fred’s previous owner $250 and loading him into the back of the car.
What’s the most expensive thing your pet owns?
He has a doghouse that my cousin built for him; he sleeps in there every night.
What’s Fred’s favorite pastime?
Pacing around the lawn eating cactus leaves. He loves visitors—especially children.
His favorite place to be?
Beneath the cup-and-saucer bush. It’s shady and dry there.
His snack of choice?
Hibiscus flowers.
Most mischievous behavior?
He continually humps a large rock; my parents have named it Wilma.
What fashion icon (dead or alive) does he channel?
EMILIA WICKSTEAD + MARGOT, 1.5-year-old Airedale terrier
What nicknames does Margot respond to?
None. She loves her full name.
What’s the most expensive thing she owns?
Her leather, pleated collar. It matches the tone of her curls, and it has a gold heart with her name engraved on it.
Her favorite pastime?
She trots instead of walking.
Her most cherished accessory?
The red velvet bow attached to her collar.
Her favorite place?
Hyde Park, or at the top of the staircase waiting for the children to arrive home from school.
Her snack of choice?
Fresh chicken.
Most mischievous behavior?
Sleeping in bed like a human—under the covers with her head on our pillows.
What fashion icon (dead or alive) does she channel?
Katharine Hepburn. The hair, the poise, and the attitude.
TORY BURCH + CHICKEN, six-year-old miniature poodle,
and SLIM, five-year-old miniature poodle
How did you find each other?
It was literally meant to be. We originally got Chicken for my mother when we thought her standard poodle was about to die, but that didn’t happen until much later, so Chicken became ours. A few years ago, we lost Chicken for three days, which was very traumatic. Slim was Chicken’s therapy pup. Slim came to save her and all of us.
Their favorite pastime?
Taking naps on our bed and car rides to Southampton.
What is one fashion trend Chicken and Slim have pioneered?
Hopefully none.
Their most cherished accessory?
A Bode dog bed with hand-drawn illustrations. It was a gift from a friend.
Their favorite place?
Their cave/bed. They run for it at night.
Their snack of choice?
Chicken: chicken. Slim: salmon.
LUCIEN PAGÈS + MARIUS, eight-year-old pug,
SARTRE, four-year-old pug,
and URSULA, one-year-old pug
How did you find each other?
It was an obsession. We were just waiting for the right time.
What nicknames do Marius, Sartre, and Ursula respond to?
Baby.
What’s the most expensive thing they own?
An Hermès tent.
Their favorite pastime?
Sleeping. Pugs are really lazy.
Their favorite place?
Our house in the Cévennes in the south of France. They have a garden there where they can run free.
Most mischievous behavior?
Jumping on the table to eat smoked salmon.
What fashion icon (dead or alive) do your pets channel?
Marius channels Valentino.
What’s one fashion trend your pets have pioneered?
They hate clothes. They are naturally trendy.
LAURA KIM + KING, four-year-old goldendoodle
What nicknames does King respond to?
Snuggie.
What’s the most expensive thing he owns?
Me.
His most cherished accessory?
His Hermès collar.
His snack of choice?
Homemade sirloin beef jerky.
Most mischievous behavior?
He puts his toys away every night—but he only does it when no one is watching. When guests come to visit, he carefully selects a few and brings them out to show off.
What fashion icon (dead or alive) does he channel?
HILLARY TAYMOUR + POWIE, 13-year-old pomeranian
What nicknames does Powie respond to?
Doodle, Pow, Dog.
His favorite pastime?
Laying down outside and watching nature.
His most cherished accessory?
Any fluffy bed.
His favorite place?
On a hike, any hike.
His snack of choice?
Popcorn.
His most mischievous behavior?
Honestly, he's perfect, but his favorite toy is the inside of a spool of thread so sometimes he will grab the thread spool before the thread is gone to play, this is honestly the only "bad behavior" he does.
What fashion icon (dead or alive) does he channel?
A mix between Jim Morrison and Tilda Swinton.
What's one fashion trend he has pioneered?
The doggie mohawk.
MICKEY DREXLER + HANK, nine-year-old lab,
and FREDDIE, four-year-old lab
What nicknames do Hank and Freddie respond to?
Well, there’s a bunch of nicknames. The one most always used is “doggies.” But “treat” will bring them in a second. When I open a bag of popcorn or any bag that has a rustling sound. If the refrigerator door opens, they come running.
What’s the most expensive thing they own?
When we first got them, I decided I’d go to Hermès and get them a very nice leash and collar in that beautiful camel color. After two days of playing in the park, they were covered in mud and dirt. That was the last and only expensive thing I ever bought them.
Their snack of choice?
Well, they have no choice, but my wife Peggy feeds them only carrots and celery. I’m sure if they could speak, they would want something more flavorful but it’s very healthy and keeps them at a healthy weight.
Their most mischievous behavior?
You know, they’re really not mischievous—they’re very friendly. But they don’t realize they’re as big as they are, and they will jump on to anyone’s lap, which is not the best move for the person.
What fashion icon (dead or alive) do they channel?
Paul Newman, who was as handsome as they get.
What's one fashion trend they have pioneered?
A bandana. I don’t think they pioneered it, but in fact without a banana they are never completely dressed. That is part of their daily uniform. I’d also like to think that because they’re my boys, that they also channel me personally–and I’m not comparing myself to Paul Newman, but because I have my go-to look every day, and so do they (with the bandana).
