Highlights:

Every season I like to partner up with animal shelters and animal rescue organizations to include dogs that are up for adoption in my show. One of the dogs in my show is Aero,.  She was recently rescued from the meat trade market for the infamous Yulin Festival . She was brought to the United States by Imagine Pet Rescue and is up for adoption.

Then we have Mustard Seed, a Dachshund mix puppy rescued by Little Shelter (www.LittleShelter.org) from a hoarding situation that was discovered because of a house fire. She was the last one pulled out. All of the other dogs rescued from the home were quickly adopted. Mustard Seed was later diagnosed with Hydrocephalus and is still available for adoption.

Other hightlights are LA based Norbert (@NorbertTheDog) an adorable 3-lb therapy dog, author & philanthropist who volunteers at Children’s Hospital LA along with his mom Julie Steines.

Also Abby from Tulsa (@abby.pup), Sebastian and Luna (@sebastianlovesluna) from Washington DC who have raised thousands for the Washington Humane Society, a bluenose pitbull named Chase (@SometimesCarl), Oscar, a Frenchie (@oscarfrenchienyc) along other amazing dogs.

From Anthony Rubio:

I had the privilege to visit several very well known cities of Italy known for their gifts and contributions to the culture. Favorite stops were the Amalfi Coast, the island of Capri, the canals of Venice, the Italian fashion capital city Milan and scenic Lake Como. From these destinations I pulled inspirations for my new collection. From Amalfi to Capri and Sorrento I recalled the lemon groves and sipping delicious Limonciello while taking in the breeze off the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean. I also fell in love with the hand decorated majolica tiles seen in kitchens, adorning patios and floors. From these I drew the first colors for my palette. From my visit to Holland I recalled the lovely tulip fields. From my visits to Barcelona and Valencia Spain I brought back magnificently colored floral fabrics to round out the bright and joyful palette of my collection.

While doing my research as to what is predicted to be in fashion next Spring I found disappointment.  Yes it is about influences, art and new shapes but what let me down was the prediction that the color palette would be drab pastel almost non colors. I’m sorry but being from New York and enduring the cold gloomy weather of Winter, I look forward to the bursts of color which welcomes us to the warmer seasons. I look forward to the exuberant colors of flora and sunny skies. This was what I chose to take me through my collection for both human and canine. I want my creations to be a welcome and a celebration to the much anticipated brilliant colors of Spring and Summer. Of course I wanted to include my take of the little black dress so I created a few renditions including what I call my naked dress because even though it is black it is virtually transparent.

I am very old fashioned when it comes to the closing design.. I love to revisit the quaint tradition of the old fashion houses where fashion shows closed with a wedding gown only for me it is more about closing with a jaw dropping voluminous ball gown.

It should not be a surprise that I chose to create a gown in black organza embellished with swirling ribbons of metallic gold topped by a golden sequined bodice which took everyone’s breath away. You could hear the gasps as the model seemingly glided down the catwalk.

My canine creations were basically extensions of the women’s wear only they received artistic elements in the form of hand sewn embellishments and flowers