I love the coats on both these ladies; they would be stylish still today. The tailoring on the left one is especially spiffy. Even though fashion has changed so remarkably in 94 years, a good coat on a cold day never goes out of style.

pretentious and racist by today's standards.

I think you're looking for fault where really there is none to be found.
Those names are no more racist nor pretentious than any of the names given to purebred cats & dogs and thoroughbred horses in 2009.

I agree, this is a tough crowd. I love dogs and these are little cuties!

I think that this might be one of those rare cases in which the animals would be more appealing as neckpieces.

Miss Catherine Louise Littauer, born in 1901, was much in the news in 1923, along with her parents and her boyfriend.

William E. Doeller, a former Army officer, had come to Washington from his native Ohio, opened an auto dealership, and met Miss Littauer, who was the daughter of a millionaire glove manufacturer.

Early in 1923, when the couple announced their plans to wed, her parents took her to Paris and tried to get a court order to prevent the marriage. Her father did not think that Doeller could support his daughter. The newspapers followed this saga with great attention.

The couple promised to postpone things, and there was a reconciliation. They married in June 1923.

Here is her obituary from the Washington Post, 11 October 1972:

"Catherine Louise Littauer Doeller, active in social circles in Washington, New York and the hunt country of Virginia, died Saturday in London. She and her husband, retired Army Col. William E. Doeller, were on a trip through Europe when she was stricken. They lived at Prospect Hill, a stately mansion at Orlean, near Warrenton, Va. The home, which was often open to visitors during Historic Garden Week in Virginia, was built in 1934 after the Doellers' 18th century house, built by Chief Justice John Marshall, was destroyed by fire a year earlier. Mrs. Doeller, a tireless traveler, and her husband had brought back furnishings for it from England, the Middle East and Asia. Born in Geneseo Valley, N.Y., Mrs. Doeller had lived in Washington as a girl and again during World War II, when Prospect Hill was closed after her husband was sent overseas. During the war, she was chairman of Virginia's Christmas campaign to sell war bonds and stamps. In Washington, she worked actively for the Stage Door Canteen and the American Red Cross. Mrs. Doeller was a member of the Sulgrave Club here, the Colony Club in New York and the National Society of Colonial Dames. In addition to her husband, she is survived by a son...."

All I can say is that these dog's names would be remarkably pretentious and racist by today's standards. Handsworth Chinkie?

Washington Post, Apr 19, 1914

Capture Dog Prizes

Pekinese Spaniels Awarded Two Cups and Five Firsts.

Closeburn Chancellor Wins Washington Post Cup and Three Other Awards. Mrs. Larz Anderson's Poupee Also is Given a First Prize - Exhibition is First of the National Capital Kennel Club.

...
Little Miss Catherine L. Littauer, daughter of William Lattauer, won two cups and five firsts with her Pekinese spaniels Soachou Sing and Handsworth Chinkie;
...

Who among us here today would choose to be judged and harshly critiqued in 94 years just exactly as you look this very minute? (Hopefully by a futuristic Shorpy audience.) No Mr. DeMille, I am NOT ready for my closeup. I never have been and never will be ready for a closeup.

I think both ladies are very fetching. I like both hats; the depth of the brim on the right more than makes up for the plainness of the design.

Miss Catherine Sails:

and Marries:

and dies in Piedmont, VA in 1972 bearing the last name Doeller:
http://www.fauquiercounty.gov/documents/departments/library/pdf/Piedmont...

Apparently, Daddy didn't like Mr. Doeller:
http://extras.leaderherald.com/millennium/19201929/daughter.html

Both the dogs and the girls. And likely not worth the trouble in either case.

The girl on the left is pretty cute. The one on the right reminds me of Maurice Chevalier.

Spiffy brim, though!

The hat on the right has a Saturnal design—not very becoming.

Brushed and groomed within an inch of their lives.

The girls, that is.