Fashion

She Designed a Cute Purse for a Good Cause

by Erin Mayer

There are lots of reasons to love Kerry Washington and her impeccable sense of style is definitely one of them. Her red carpet choices are so often a million times more inspired than the endless sea of sequined gowns we tend to see during awards season and her maternity style during her recent pregnancy rivaled even that of Kate Middleton's. Given her history of fabulous sartorial decisions, it's no surprise that she's a talented little designer as well. Kerry Washington designed a purple purse that's totally lust-worthy. Better yet, the bag supports charity. Gotta love fashion with a purpose!

As ambassador for the Purple Purse project in conjunction with anti-domestic violence organization Allstate Foundation, Washington created a limited edition purse that "will be distributed to community leaders, Allstate agency owners and community partners that work with domestic abuse survivors," according to the Chicago Business Journal. "A purse is a woman’s domain, it’s where her financial life lives," Washington told WWD. "I like the symbolism of clutching; really being able to hold on to it. You can take back your financial control.”

The purse is as classy as Washington herself, with a sleek design that doubles as a clutch or a shoulder strap bag and elements of leather and tweed fabric. The lovely berry purple shade serves to symbolize the domestic violence awareness movement. You can enter to win the bag by visiting the Purple Purse website and donating at least $10 to the cause.

Domestic violence has been in the media a lot recently following the NFL's disastrous handling of the Ray Rice scandal, but it's important to remember, as Kerry Washington reminds us in her PSA for Allstate Foundation, that domestic violence affects hundreds of women daily. We can't forget about those who suffer in silence. Hopefully the Purple Purse project will open up a dialog about how to better assist the victims of domestic violence. This is a conversation we should have been having for a long time and it can't wait any longer.

Image: kerrywashington/Instagram