It’s early February, which means the glitterati are piling out of luxury Ubers—their hair and runway-fresh looks immaculate—to attend the most exclusive event of the season: the Westminster Dog Show.
The 144th annual Westminster Dog Show concluded on Tuesday, and while the judges had a very specific set of standards for evaluating the dogs that were paraded before them, Vogue has slightly different ones: Which of these pups is the most chic? With all due respect to newly crowned Westminster Dog Show winner, Siba, a Standard Poodle, some of her canine peers were unfairly overlooked.
Siba is the fifth Standard Poodle to win at Westminster, and she’s certainly a powerhouse; she beat out 2,500 competitors representing 204 breeds across three days. Siba is a gorgeous canine specimen, to be sure, but when it comes to fulfilling the inscrutable nature of chic, a word Merriam-Webster defines as “cleverly stylish,” I wonder whether the classics should continue to win out. Siba might encapsulate tradition and gentility, but what would be truly au courant is a dog of the future; in other words, a dog that reconceptualizes our idea of what “best in show” might look like.
In honor of all that’s sacred about the century-and-a-half-old sporting event, Vogue presents the chicest canines from the 2020 Westminster Dog Show.
This Komondor
We love a mop moment! This dog has texture, plus just a little chaos, and thank goodness for that; it’s daring you to embrace mess.
This Airedale Terrier
Sort of a nouveau-prep, “short hair don’t care,” Thom Browne vibe going on here.
This Havanese
Havanese are often accessorized to the max with ribbons and bows, but I appreciate this specimen’s commitment to that old maxim attributed to Coco Chanel: “Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take one thing off.”
This Neapolitan Mastiff
The velvety maximalism on display here is reminiscent of the soft textures from Ulla Johnson’s Fall 2019 show.
This Golden Retriever
Daniel, the winner of the Westminster Dog Show’s Sporting Group, makes what’s old new again with an Americana-inspired ribbon that contrasts boldly with his buttery, gleaming coat. Justice for Daniel!
