As Fall begins to emerge, we were feline the urge to focus on fashion! Feline fashion that is!
With Cats on Broadway having opened on July 31st, how purrfectly fitting that on August 10th, the historic Algonquin Hotel in NYC hosted their 10th annual Cat Fashion Show in the hotel’s iconic lobby.
Photo credit: Lexie Moreland for WWD
In true New York style, a proper reception was held prior to the show, where guests sipped on cocktails and nibbled on hors d’oeuvres, and afterwards got to watch the fashionable feline “mewdels” strut their finest.
Tickets to the event sold for $50 and there was a special auction afterwards with all funds raised going to the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals (a coalition of 150 shelter and rescue groups in the NYC area). We’re pleased to say that this feline fundraising event exceeded its target goal of raising $10,000 for this worthwhile cause.
Photo credit: Lexie Moreland for WWD
Guests attending the event were encouraged to wear their best feline inspired outfit. The organizers even had a mobile adoption van parked in front of the hotel with a few adorable kitties up for adoption.
Photo credit: Layla Morgan Wilde (Cat Wisdom 101)
Oh, did we mention that the event was hosted by the hotel’s own cat – Matilda III? Sure, plenty of hotels have animal mascots, but the historic Algonquin, has been rescuing and caring for stray cats since the 1920s. In fact, the hotel has had eleven furry felines, including seven cats named Hamlet and three named Matilda. The current Matilda lives in a custom-made pet home perched atop the front desk. She freely roams the luxurious property (except for the kitchen and dining areas).
Photo credit: Algonquin Hotel
The theme of the show was “Through the Decades” and was intended to honor the iconic looks of the hotel’s most famous guests and patrons. People like Al Hirschfeld, Michael Feinstein, Marilyn Monroe, Harpo Marx, John Barrymore and many more. The meow-velous costumes were designed by Ada Nieves, a certified animal fashion designer from the Fashion Institute of Technology.
Photo credit: Lexie Moreland for WWD
[clickToTweet tweet=”10th Anniversary of Cat Fashion Show at the iconic Algonquin Hotel in NYC ” quote=”10th Anniversary of Cat Fashion Show at the iconic Algonquin Hotel in NYC “]
Photo credit: Lexie Moreland for WWD
And playing Hamlet was none other than celebrity cat ‘Zeus’…a purrfect choice!
Photo credit: Layla Morgan Wilde (Cat Wisdom 101)
There was even a kitty dressed up like Robin Hood.
Photo credit: Lexie Moreland for WWD
This stunning Persian named Aodhan doing his best Joe d’MEWggio (Yankees) imitation. Looks like he needed a nap after all the attention.
Photo credit: Lexie Moreland for WWD
Photo credit: Layla Morgan Wilde (Cat Wisdom 101)
This sweet kitty is dressed as Dorothy Parker, the American poet, short story writer and critic.
Photo credit: Lexie Moreland for WWD
Our friend Layla below (Cat Wisdom 101) having some fun with Matilda.
Photo credit: Layla Morgan Wilde (Cat Wisdom 101)
And for the more rebellious of cats, a skull motif jacket.
Photo credit: Lexie Moreland for WWD
A fun event with a sound mission, where cats got cuddled and cat lovers got to mingle. No cats were harmed in the making of this story. >^.^<
Drop us a comment below – what’s your favorite cat costume?
Hi! I am completely obsessed with cats. Cats this, cats that. I want to ask you, did they hop onto a table runway? XD
The first kitty that you posted looked very fancy. I guess you could call it “Lady Kitty”.
I love cats. In fact I love all animals, but getting back to my cats. I adopted three senior cats. Every one of my friends have asked why I don’t adopt kittens.I’ll tell you why. Because the senior cat is less likely to be adopted. Senior cats may not be for everyone, but it works for me, and I love, love my three.
I love the charitable cause of this event, but cannot support any one who dresses cats up. Number one: they hate it. Number two: they’re not dogs. Number three: they don’t exist for OUR pleasure, or social standing. And forcing them to be a part of a loud, stranger-laden party? Appalling. Their hearing and sense of smell are 100x more sensitive than ours. Unless their breed dictates otherwise, they deserve quiet homes with limited stimulation and the right to be left in their home (except for vet visits). Imagine not being able to escape the obnoxious attention of loud squealing people! Deliver me. These kitties look traumatised. And those that aren’t are merely being tolerant of their insecure “parents”. We surely don’t deserve cats.
Marjorie, I agree with you and that’s exactly why I adopt seniors and the misfits left behind. Anyone can adopt a kitten, and so they’re more likely to get homes, but the “less desirable” kitties are my bag. They endure so much rejection! One such prince had been shot and was in the shelter for six YEARS before I found him. It meant so much to me that he had been with us for longer than he had been in the shelter. Thank you for what you do for the senior cats!