NEW YORK - They may call it a catwalk, but the is the ' time to shine. Designer Anthony Rubio threw the now-annual fete Monday night, sending 18 dogs down the at New York's American Kennel Club . Each canine donned similar to what wore at the just two weeks earlier.
"I want people to understand that we're not making fun of the Met Gala. We're not mimicking the Met Gala," Rubio said. "We're elevating and appraising and appreciating the wonderful designs that were presented at the Met Gala by the most talented of the world.
" At $300 a ticket, proceeds from the Pet Gala benefit the host museum - much like its human counterpart uptown serves as a fundraiser for the . Most of the furry fashionistas were pint-sized - even the role of Chris Hemsworth was played by a shih tzu - though there was a Leonberger in the mix. Some of the Met Gala's most talked about stars were represented: Daffodil the Pomeranian as Jennifer Lopez, Kimba the chihuahua in one of Zendaya's looks, Miley-Jo the Chorkie as Cardi B and Bastian the terrier as Colman Domingo.
This year's gala dress code was the Garden of Time, accompanying the Met's "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion" exhibit. The dogs' outfits will be housed at the Museum of the Dog for the month of June, Rubio said. "Every photographer tells you it's the hardest job to work with .
.. kids and animals.
Not in my world," said Rubio, who worked "tirelessly" to adapt the garments in the short timeframe. "I think the people are a lot harder to wor.