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a blue dog collar
figure 1  

 

dogcessory. (noun) 1. An accessory related to pets, such as collars, hair trimmers, etc.reference 1

A Santa Barbara-based sportswear company, Big Dog, sells collars and leashes as a side line to their tee shirts, golf attire, and specialty fleece. They describe their “I Love My Big Dog” collar as “The perfect dogcessory for your Big Dog.”reference 2 Okay, it might not be the most scintillating ad copy you've ever read, but you get the point.

 

 

1. Kemmer, Suzanne 2005 The Rice University Neologisms Database. Rice University Linguistics Dept. Last updated: Nov. Accessed Jan 9 2008 from http:// esa4.rice.edu/ ~ling215/ browse.php?l=d.

2. Collar-I Love My Big Dog. 2008. bigdogs.com. Accessed Jan 9 2008 from http:// www.bigdogs.com/ shopping/ prod_detail/ main.asp?productID=21279&catID=10600.
Lydia Hearst modeling as Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, carrying 'Toto'
figure 2  

2. A dog used as a fashion accessory, akin to putting on the dog.

In a puff piece for the Cincinnati Enquirer, Gina Daugherty makes the meaning vivid: “celebs such as Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore and Tara Reid have been spotted on the red carpet carrying their little tufts of love. The pooches are almost a ‘dogcessory’ to match their Prada shoes and Vercace dresses.”reference 3 This usage was confirmed on the fashion blog, The Whine Sisters. After socialite Lydia Hearst modeled as Dorothy (Figure 2) in Heatherette's Oz-themed runway show during Fashion Week 2007, they added this caption to her picture: “Can you just imagine wearing that little number to the block party? Don’t forget your dogcessory.”

3. Daugherty, Gina. 2003. Little Doggy Trend Unleashed. Cincinnati Enquirer.

4. Browning, Sherri. 2007. Get Your Fash-On. J. London, S. Browning and K. Givens, ed. The Whine Sisters. Emtwo. Accessed Jan 9 2008 from http:// www.whinesisters.com/ index.php?/ site/ get_your_fash_on/.
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About the illustrations: Figure 1 is the I Love My Big Dog Collar.

Figure 2 was the image that the Whine Sisters chose, perhaps from New York Magazine's fashion week spread. The image is from Wireimage, a subscription service. Used by subscription.

see also: dog collar; put on the dog Last updated: July 5, 2008
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