Press Releases - Poppie Couture - Designer Tanks, Clutches and Poppiebags

For even the most established design houses, wooing celebrities to wear their clothing is a full-time job. The mark of a star wearing your piece or clutching your purse is a sign of success, especially for up—and—coming designers. The challenges are a mixed bag: How do you promote yourself to be able to reach the stars? When you get there, how do you keep the buzz?

For young designer […] Poppie Harris, it’s a matter of getting the products made and out there, and then hope the right people will take notice.

Aspiring actress Harris missed a call from her agent due to her cell phone being buried at the bottom of her purse. This sparked the idea for the Poppiebag — a miniature handbag for the bare essentials.

The stylish, yet smart bag can be carried on it’s own, attached to handbags or even belt loops for easy access to a cell phone.

Harris showed the bags to Barneys, who loved the idea but wanted to see more than one style. She then went on to design 20 different styles and combinations, and Barneys eventually ordered. Approximately 5 by 3 inches, the Poppiebag comes in an array of fabrics and colors and sells for $145. Bergdorf Goodman will bring them in for the holiday season, and they’ve also asked her to do cellular clutch bags.

After strong sales with high-end retailers and boutiques, it wasn’t long before celebrities began calling for them.

Some proud owners of the Poppiebags include Sarah Jessica Parker, Debra Messing, Calista Flockhart, Lorraine Bracco, Kim Cattrall and makeup artist Bobbi Brown. Jennifer Aniston has the red patent (the current bestseller), while Cameron Diaz chose the blue python. “Jean Paul Gaultier called and ordered some and asked if I could design some for men, so I’ve done that, too,” says the 26-year-old Harris, who has also designed Emmy bags for her clients.

“Once they have one, they call back and say, ‘I need something to go with this; I need something to go with that. Can you make it?” I do, and then I just add it to my line.

(Clockwise from top left) Actress Tea Leoni wears Burberry to “The Family Man” premiere; designer Margaux Gibson in one of her own tops; Poppie Harris alongside her pony Poppiebag, which is available in an array of colors.