On a Tuesday morning in early August, designer Willy Chavarria and his partner David Ramirez—a former jewelry executive—were trying to coax Chester, their terrier-mix rescue, out from under the dining table. Photographer Diego Bendezu, a favorite of Chavarria’s, was taking test shots in the couple’s Tribeca loft. Chester is calm, quiet, and deceptively shy. Unlike the many models, celebrities, and dogs who would jump at the chance to be in Vogue, he seemed unsure. It’s not that he dislikes people—he’s sat front row at Chavarria’s runway shows and enjoys the spotlight. But having cameras and lights pointed at him in his own home clearly required some persuasion.
“I’m the caretaker; Willy is definitely his master,” Ramirez says. “The night we adopted him, I filled out the paperwork while Willy held him in the car. I drove, so Willy sat with him on the way home,” he recalls. “Since then, Willy has been his master; they’re very close. But Chester knows I take care of him. I do everything for him.”
“Well, not everything,” Chavarria interjects, “I help too!”
Photographed by Diego Bendezu
Their roles were set early on. Rewind to 2021: It was winter, pandemic restrictions were still in place, and Chavarria and Ramirez drove from their home in Copenhagen to the city’s outskirts. They arrived at a remote farm around 1 a.m., along with 49 other families, all there to adopt a puppy.
Chesterfield Ramirez-Chavarria—Chester to those who know him—came into the designer’s life after he and Ramirez saw a photo of the black-and-chestnut terrier mix in an ad from a rescue agency. “It was tiny,” Chavarria remembers of the photo. “And you weren’t really into it,” adds Ramirez. “Wasn’t I?” Chavarria questions, then answers, “Maybe I wasn’t. You just couldn’t really see him.”
At first, Ramirez recalls, they inquired about adopting Chester—who had been rescued by the agency in Portugal and brought to Denmark to meet his forever family—but he was already spoken for. (A popular dog, this one.) Luckily for the Ramirez-Chavarria household, that adoption fell through, and Ramirez got a call. It was meant to be. Chester is the second dog to join their family; his would-be sibling had died just a few months before Chester arrived.
A few weeks after adopting Chester, Chavarria moved back to New York to start a job as senior vice president of design for menswear at Calvin Klein—a role he left in 2024. That left Chester alone with Ramirez in Denmark. “He didn’t like me at first,” Ramirez laughs, “but he warmed up to me.” That’s an understatement. When Ramirez calls Chester to come out from under the table and join him in the living area, this cover dog leaps over the couch—picture Gisele Bündchen jumping for Steven Meisel in the pages of Vogue—to be with his dad. Add some of Chester’s favorite snacks (chicken feet and fish skin—a gourmet dog!) and the camera starts flashing. Unsurprisingly, Chester is a natural.
I’ve interviewed Chavarria in many settings: on camera at his Greenpoint studio, for Vogue’s The Run-Through podcast at our offices, and even in Spanish for the June 2024 issue of Vogue Mexico & Latin America. But one topic we’d never covered was Chester. Until now. Read on as Chavarria, Ramirez, and the dog himself answer Vogue’s Dogue questionnaire.
Photographed by Diego Bendezu
Vogue: What is Chester’s best quality?
Ramirez: Definitely his independence.
Chavarria: I like his sixth toe. He has an extra one on each paw.
Who would voice Chester in a movie?
Ramirez: Hm, I’d say Bradley Cooper, or maybe Ryan Gosling.g. He’s handsome like that.
Describe the voice you use to talk to Chester.
Ramirez: I use more of a bro voice—like, “Hey bro, hey bud.”
Chavarria: Oh, I do that, the baby voice.
What is Chester’s weirdest nickname?
Ramirez: I’m not sure if they’re very weird, but they’re all variations of Chester. Like Chesternut, Chestnut.
What is one place you wish you could take him?
Chavarria: Anywhere with grass in New York City, since he’s not allowed. [Laughs.]
What is the strangest place you’ve taken him?
Chavarria: Honestly, he goes with us everywhere, even when we think they won’t let him in—we still take him, and they do.
Ramirez: I’d say maybe a fashion show? He’s at every one of Willy’s shows. Maybe the rehearsal at the first Paris show [in January 2025]. He was sitting there watching while J Balvin was rehearsing. I’d say that’s pretty strange for a dog, right?
Photographed by Diego Bendezu
What is one thing you wish you could tell him?
Ramirez: I feel like he understands everything. He’s fluent in us.
Chavarria: He even knows things that we don’t.
What is the most human thing that Chester does?
Chavarria: Hide from other humans. [Laughs.]
And what is the most dog thing that he does?
Ramirez: He loves everything that’s gross. He’ll run around and rub against things that are decomposing at the park. He’s already had three baths this week.
Chester, what is your full name?
Chesterfield Ramirez-Chavarria
Astrological sign?
Chavarria: I’m going to guess Leo or Taurus.
Ramirez: [Checking Chester’s passport.] He’s an Aries.
Chavarria: This [his phone] says that Aries dogs are known to be confident, courageous, and thrive on being the boss. That these dogs love attention and are extremely competitive.
Ramirez: Sounds about right. [Laughs.]
Photographed by Diego Bendezu
Favorite toy?
Ramirez: For inside, he loves this cat [tiger plushie]. He goes through one each month. For outside, same with the Frisbees—he just chews them up.
Favorite meal?
Chavarria: Whatever we’re having.
Ramirez: He loves breakfast. He has kibble and then lots of snacks throughout the day.
Worst habit?
Ramirez: We were lucky that when we adopted him, he was already house-trained. He’s never had an accident. [Knocks on wood.]
Chavarria: He has this thing where he doesn’t always come when you call him. Sometimes he just stares at you.
Strangest habit?
Ramirez: He likes to…
Chavarria: Actually, maybe don’t tell Vogue that.
Makeup artist for Willy & David: Mitch Yoshida
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Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about Chester RamirezChavarria and his romantic nature presented in a clear and natural tone
General Beginner Questions
Q Who is Chester RamirezChavarria
A He is the son of the renowned fashion designer Willy Chavarria and is known for his own creative and romantic public persona
Q How is he a true romantic
A He often expresses a deep appreciation for beauty love and emotional connection in his life style and public statements much like the themes in his fathers work
Q Who is his father Willy Chavarria
A Willy Chavarria is a highly respected American fashion designer known for his elegant often romantic and socially conscious clothing collections
Q Is Chester also in the fashion industry
A While he is associated with the fashion world through his father he is more recognized for his personal expression and influence rather than as a professional designer himself
Deeper Advanced Questions
Q In what specific ways does Chesters romanticism mirror his fathers
A Both use aesthetics and emotion as a form of storytelling Willy does it through clothing design while Chester expresses it through his lifestyle social media presence and personal philosophy
Q What are the benefits of embracing this kind of romantic outlook
A It can lead to a more passionate meaningful and aesthetically rich life It encourages deeper connections with others appreciation for art and beauty and authentic selfexpression
Q Are there any common challenges or misconceptions about being a true romantic
A Yes People might mistakenly equate it with being unrealistic overly sentimental or naive In reality its about finding depth and beauty in the world which requires strength and vulnerability
Q Can you give an example of how Chester shows his romantic side
A Examples could include his curated social media posts that focus on love art and poignant moments his distinctive and expressive personal style or his public support for his fathers emotionally charged fashion shows
Q Whats a practical tip for someone who wants to incorporate more romance into their own life inspired by this
A Start by consciously appreciating small moments of beautylike a good meal a meaningful conversation or a piece of art Prioritize emotional honesty in