Haute Dog! A Doggie Runway Fashion Show for a Good Cause

haute dog sf 4
Wilkes Bashford and Duchie

Paws down, the hautest San Francisco event to take place over the rainy weekend was Haute Dog | SF 4, a doggie runway fashion show held Feb. 6 at the San Francisco Design Center to benefit Muttville Senior Dog Rescue. The always-dapper Wilkes Bashford emceed for the fourth consecutive year and walked his equally stylish Dachshund Duchie down the catwalk. Jane Wiedlin and Gina Schock, original members of The Go-Go’s, were special guests and walked Flora, a pitbull mix from Muttville and in need of a home.

The San Francisco Design Center and Luxury Marketing Council of San Francisco teamed up to put on the event, which sells out every year and was well-attended this year despite the rain. A moving video of Muttville, started by Sherri Franklin, a long-time dog advocate who built Muttville from a tiny operation in her own home into a nationally renowned rescue organization that saves the lives of over 500 dogs a year, was shown.

Then it was time for the high-fashion pooches and their chic pet parents to hit the dogwalk. Kismet Levi Lapovsky, an eight-year-old Fox Terrier won the delightful event. In his outfit, he paid homage to his transgender “sister” Maura Pfefferman, appearing on the television show “Transparent.” Kizzy, as he is known, donned golden ash hair extensions, courtesy Randolph & Hein Textiles, and sparkly shoes.

A close runner-up was the duo of Bubba and Beulah, the official mascots and resident pets for the Marines’ Memorial Club and Hotel in San Francisco and who were appropriately decked out in dress blues.

Wine donors included Duckhorn Wine Company, Hall, Peju and Foley Family Wines; raffle donors included Wag Hotel, the San Francisco Ballet Association, British Motor Cars  and Shampooch Dog Salon.