Choupette’s Diary – Choupettes Diary

How to Help Hurricane Harvey Pets

August, 29^th

Every now and then my cold heart warms when I see organizations helping pets in need. After seeing the devastation of Hurricane Harvey, I put together a list of ways you can help pets affected by the natural disaster.

1. Austin Pets Alive! is seeking families that can foster cats and large dogs. In addition to fostering, the organization can also use in-kind donations like large plastic or metal bins with lids. Check with the organization first before you gather supplies. If you can help with fostering or in-kind donations, go HERE.

2. The SPCA of Texas has put out a call for foster homes to help care for the animals already in shelters and those coming from the Gulf Coast. The organization is also accepting financial donations and in-kind donations, including cat litter, litter boxes, towels, blankets, large wire crates, toys, treats, pet beds, newspaper and gas gift cards. Sign up to foster HERE.

3. A number of online fundraising sites have also been set up through GoFundMe, with donations benefiting everything from hurricane and disaster relief groups to animals and families in need. The full list of fundraisers can be viewed by going on GoFundMe’s Hurricane Harvey Relief page.

4. Put your Amazon Prime account to good use and shop for useful pet necessities such as cat food, dog food, litter, crates, or other amenities on Austin Pets Alive!’s Amazon Wishlist.

5. You can help animals by volunteering for the Animal Defense League of Texas or by donating to the Humane Society of North Texas.

Daddy Karl Lagerfeld is Collaborating with Vans

August, 24^th

What’s black and white and has Daddy’s face all over? The Kaiser’s latest kollab of course!

Daddy is no stranger to Kollaborations, including past partnerships with H&M, Shu Uemura, Vilebrequin, Steiff and Tokidoki. Today, it was announced that his latest kollab will be with Vans – yes, the iconic Lords of Dogtown skateboard sneakers that made their debut on the Venice Beach boardwalk.

According to the dahhhlings at WWD, “The capsule’s six interpretations of Vans footwear classics include the Sk8-Hi laceless platform and Old Skool laceless styles outfitted in leather with the quilted letter-shaped detail atop white platform soles, and a solid black leather Classic Slip-On — also with the quilted letter K. Other highlights from the two-toned, black-and-white capsule include a T-shirt with an image of Lagerfeld wearing a checkerboard tie; a black-and-white raglan sleeve bomber, and a premium leather backpack sporting the quilted letter K motif. Prices range from $40 to $300.”

The capsule will be presented at the Bread & Butter trade show in Berlin in early September and will be distributed in Karl Lagerfeld boutiques internationally and select Vans accounts, as well as on both of the brands’ e-commerce sites worldwide on Sept. 7. Just in time for fashion month!

An Open Letter to My Dahhhling Fans On My Birthday

August, 15^th

Dear Dahhhhling Fans,

Back in 2012 when I was just a little ball of fluff, I embarked on an unexpected journey towards social media fame. It all started on Twitter when I put my paw to iPad for my first tweet: “Baptiste may think he is a muse but only I, Choupette, am Lagerfeld’s true muse. Everything from my whiskers 2 my meows inspire.” Since then, my brand has expanded to Instagram, this blog and too many magazines & collaborations to list here.

I wish I could say I went into this with a well-thought-out marketing strategy but being one of the first pet influencers (Sidenote: Can we please stop using this “I” word already?) besides Grumpy Cat, there wasn’t a digital formula for social media success. Without a set strategy but with a snarky voice, I was able to capture followers and fans along the way and these are the humans I call my dahhhhlings.

My dahhhlings are the reason I share my most intimate moments (e.g HERE) and pose for Daddy Karl Lagerfeld’s camera. You are my inspiration to continue to share socially and on the blog despite the many hardships that have stood in the way for my creator, @ChoupetteSocialGirl. I can’t say there haven’t been times where I wanted to shut down the accounts and to curl up in a ball for an extended catnap. I can’t say I don’t get frustrated when I’m misquoted in articles or when fake Facebook accounts pop up stealing my wise words. But, what I can say is that I keep this going for the feline fans and fashion followers.

So on my special day, I want to give YOU dahhhhlings a virtual purrrrr-enducing hug (minus the heavy petting) and say merci!

Xo,

Choupette

[Above Photo by Sogo Seibu]