When it comes to selecting pet apparel, there are people on both sides favoring lined clothing over unlined clothing and vice versa.  There are also folks who stand on both sides of the issue who select lined and unlined fashions depending on their pet's personality, where the item will be worn, and the purpose for which the fashion item is selected.  I believe that the second stance is the best way to go.

Your Pet's Personality

There are some questions you can ask yourself that will help determine whether your little friend's new outfit should be lined or not.  First, is your pet very active and boisterous?  Or calm and collected? 

If the answer is active and boisterous, then you may want to choose lined over unlined, as items that have an inner lining tend to hold their shape better than something that is not lined.  If you really like a doggy fashion and it isn't lined, you can also ask the seller whether or not there is stay-stitching around all edges.  This is a row of stitching that can be either straight or zig zag that will help an item retain its shape whether there is a lining or not.  If there is stay-stitching and your pet is boisterous, this would likely still be a good choice.

Where The Item Will Be Worn

This is another important question.  If the item will be worn primarily indoors, then you may want to forego an inner lining of fabric in favor of comfort for your pet.  This is also true for fashions that will be worn in a warm environment. 

When selecting a jacket for autumn or spring weather, the way to go is either no lining at all, or a lining that is light weight.  After all, your pet already has on a fur coat!

If the outfit will be worn when you go for outdoor activities such as camping or hiking in cooler weather or for a long walk in winter, then an item that has a lining may be the way to go.  Be sure that you select items made of fabrics with similar properties so you don't end up with one fabric shrinking in the wash while the other fabric stays the same.  You can also ask the seller if the entire item will retain its size if cared for according to the instructions provided.

Purpose For Which The Item Is Selected

If the doggy outfit will be worn for a special party or wedding and will be worn only once or very rarely, you can safely select a fashion item without a lining.  There will not be the need for durability through 50 washings and you can save some of your hard earned money because there is less expense involved with only one layer of fabric.

When selecting a winter coat for a moderate climate, you can also go with only one layer of  material, but stay-stitching is always recommended as it contributes to durability and shape retention. If you decide to buy a lined jacket for your pet, light weight cotton, polyester, or nylon are good lining material choices.

If you live in a colder climate, you should choose an item with an inner lining.  The weight of the lining you select should depend on how warm the coat needs to be.  In very cold climates, flannel, fleece, and quilted linings are the best choices.

As you can see, there are things to consider before you buy pet clothing that will allow for a more positive experience:  Your pet's personality, Where the item will be worn, and The purpose for which an item is selected.  Thinking of all these things before you buy can make all the difference in how satisfied you are with the new addition to your doggy's wardrobe.

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