The Tradition of Iconic Vintage Fashion at the Morris & Essex Dog Show

Melanie Haid
Oct 6
6 min read

Updated: 8 hours ago

Originally published here at AKC.org on October 6, 2025 by Melanie Haid

It only happens once every five years: the Morris & Essex Kennel Club Dog Show. What used to be among the “it” events of the mid-20th century still stands out, and not just because of the beautiful dogs. Dog show handlers and attendees are already known to follow a certain dress code, but this event takes that one step further: leaning fully into vintage fashion of the original time period of the Morris & Essex shows.

Why Morris & Essex Is So Fashion-Focused

The original dog show, which was spearheaded by Geraldine Rockefeller Dodge, ran from 1927-1957. So when the dog show made its return in 2000, with an event every five years, it had to be just as stylish. Morris & Essex’s iconic fashion is part of what makes it so grand — and what brings people from all over the country (and the world) to the event.

Dodge was one of the wealthiest women in the United States at the time. She was the force behind Morris & Essex’s iconic 30-year original run, and left her mark in the conformation dog show world as the creator of Morris & Essex, as well as a breeder, dog owner, and philanthropist.

Despite having a beautiful mansion in New Jersey, Dodge liked to keep her home and social life private to a degree. For the 30 years of the show’s original run, the show was held on the grounds of Marcellus Dodge’s Hartley Farms.

The show held its last event in 1957, because at 75 years old, Dodge could no longer plan and oversee it. But it held such a special places in the hearts of dog lovers and historians that it was brought back in 2000 to return to New Jersey every five years. Nearly 100 years since the very first show have passed, and the event holds the same extravagance and magic as the original; it’s like stepping into a time capsule.

Dressing for the Occasion

Fashion trends change, but there are always things that stick out from every era that can be clearly pinpointed to certain time periods. So, how does one set a “dress code” for an event that spanned thirty years?

Those attending Morris & Essex largely tap into the 1920’s, 30’s, and 40’s style. Walking around the grounds, you’ll see a lot of hats, sparkles, and three-piece suits. Today’s show is a tribute to the past, an era that Morris & Essex coins the “golden era of dog shows.” At its peak in 1937, over 50,000 spectators and over 4,000 dogs were shown at Morris & Essex, so in terms of what to wear, there’s plenty to choose from.

There aren’t many people walking around in jeans and sneakers, but these also aren’t typical conformation dog show outfits. While the long skirts and suits may resemble similar dog show outfit choices today, everything down to the cut and materials is reminiscent of the era. You’ll spot all kinds of hats, gloves, suspenders, bowties, and scarves, as well as overall different silhouettes than you’d seen on modern-day handlers.

Hats, Headbands, and Handmade Headpieces

One thing that stands out every year at Morris & Essex are a piece of clothing that we don’t see as often in day-to-day fashion anymore: hats. The headwear doesn’t stop at flapper-style headpieces either. You’ll see everything from hats like fedoras, bowlers, and derby hats that were popular at the time, to large, dog-adorned DIY-creations that signal the love of their breeds far and wide.

One group of Welsh Terrier fanciers got creative for the show. “I made the hats. I didn’t make the under-bits, but did the decorating. Had lots of fun doing it,” says an attendee from Sydney, Australia. She and her friends from Canada and Ireland have been to Morris & Essex several times over the years. She worked to craft little felt dog replicas onto the hats, depicting the Welsh Terriers that her friend was exhibiting at the show.

Jim Friedhoffer from San Diego, California, who was exhibiting his Beagle “Adella,” already had everything for his outfit — except the hat. “It’s a great show and a great environment,” he says, showing off his feathered hat and the carnation on his lapel. “It’s a once-every-five-years’ experience, so I wasn’t going to miss it.”

Whether it’s their first or fifth time attending, dog lovers from all over the world have five years to spend planning their outfits. Some put in just as much effort as they do to prepare their dogs to show. Janet McMillans was exhibiting her dog, “Griffon” at Morris & Essex for the first time.

“I’m attempting to embrace the aura of the show with the hat and the outfit. I dug deep in my closet, I’ve got a lot of suits. I said, ‘I think I’ve got one with a little bit of a longer jacket that I can put a belt on, and it’ll work,'” she says. “But I did buy the hat. I got the feathers from a different hat, so I pulled them off of that hat and put it on this hat. Lot of glue gun work,” she laughs.

Vintage Pieces Made and Sourced

Along with making hats, some people put their sewing machines to work. Bonnie Sofranic, from Broadheadsville, Pennsylvania, made her dress herself, and it happened to fit the occasion perfectly. “I actually made [this dress] about eight years ago for an anniversary, and I thought it’d be perfect for this,” she says. “I fell in love with the material and the pattern.” She was at Morris & Essex with her daughter, Tanya, who was showing a Chesapeake Bay Retriever.

Other attendees went treasure hunting for vintage gems to wear to the show. Whether they were digging through relatives’ closets or hunting online, there were plenty of incredible, authentic garments gracing the grounds at Morris & Essex.

Second-time attendees Kim Zolowolnik and Caitlin Schliefer both sported vintage outfits. Zolowoknik’s dress featured a tiny bird-and-birdcage pattern that matched her wicker basket. “This is my Great Aunt’s vintage outfit from the 1940s, I was really excited that I can fit in it, and that the seams aren’t falling apart,” she says. “So happy to have an occasion to wear it!”

Schliefer took a different route, sourcing a vintage costume to reflect the era. “My outfit is actually a 1980s outfit, but it’s a 1940s costume that was made in the 80s,” she says. Her outfit featured a pillbox hat that matched the button-up jacket and skirt. “I bought it specifically for this show.”

Paul Lethiani, who has been attending dog shows for over 60 years, uses Morris & Essex as an opportunity to show off his vintage pieces. “This is a vintage rowing blazer. Rowing clubs all over the world traditionally have their own pattern and colors for their club members,” he says, sporting a striped blazer and boater hat. “This one was made in England in the early 1960s, and I found it on eBay about 10 years ago.”

For the Love of the Dogs — and the Outfits

At the end of the day, the rich history of Morris & Essex is one that is only underscored by the unique style choices of the attendees. Like any other esteemed dog show, it’s about the dogs being great representations of their breeds. But it doesn’t hurt to play into a theme.

Vickie Venzen, from Palzo, Maryland, is a professional handler known for her ringside fashion. Her black and gold beaded flapper dress was something she already had in her closet. “This is actually a repurpose,” she says. “We just used this for a cover that we did recently, and it just happened to be a 1920s evening flapper dress, so I said perfect, we’re taking it to Morris & Essex.”

It was Stephanie Woodrow’s first Morris & Essex, and she was excited to break out her gold flapper dress for the occasion. “Any excuse to wear an outfit and do a theme, I am here for,” she laughs. “I’m just so excited to see what everyone’s wearing today. The best accessories, of course, are the dogs,” she says playfully.