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Kerry Washington Reveals What’s in Olivia Pope’s Purse, Her Style and Beauty Must-Haves

Kerry Washington at the 2014 Allstate Foundation Purple Purse Program
Kerry Washington debuts the plum clutch she designed at the 2014 Allstate Foundation Purple Purse Program on Sept. 15.John Lamparski/WireImage.com

Purple reign! 

On Monday, Sept. 15, Kerry Washington hosted the launch for the 2014 Allstate Foundation Purple Purse Program, and she did it to debut the latest vocation on her resume: handbag designer.

Clad in a green Alexander McQueen dress, the purple purse she designed and plum shoes, the Scandal star, 37, explained why she partnered—and lent her style skills—to the program, dedicated to educating women about domestic violence and financial abuse.

Related: PHOTOS: Get the Scandal look for less!

“This is an issue that’s really close to my heart and when this opportunity came along, I just felt like it was such a great opportunity,” the new mom, who gave birth to daughter Isabelle on April 21, told Us Weekly. “You want to be part of the solution, and this bag is a way to address helping women in a very tangible, specific way.”

Kerry Washington - Purple Purse
There it is! Kerry Washington revealed the plum clutch she designed for the Purple Purse Program on Sept. 15 in NYC. John Lamparski/WireImage.com

Asked what could be found in her handbag, Washington told Us that you can often find “my iPhone, a lip color and a bottle of water.” But in Olivia Pope’s purple purse, Mrs. Nnamdi Asomugha revealed: “In Olivia’s bag are very similar things: phone for sure. Wallet. I bet she has mints in her bag. I feel like Olivia’s a mint person,” she quipped. 

The Django Unchained star also spilled her fall fashion must-haves, including shoes by one very big name. “I’m really obsessed with Sarah Jessica Parker‘s shoes. Her shoe line for Nordstrom is beautiful—really well made. I’m wearing them tomorrow!”

Related: PHOTOS: Olivia Pope's best style moments

She also thanked friend Jessica Alba for understanding her obsession with scarves. “That’s something [we] agree on. You can always be in a tank top and jeans if you have a great scarf. I’m a big fan of Theodora and Callum,” she told Us. “Great scarves make everything look a little more elegant.”

Related: PHOTOS: Us editors' 2014 fashion picks

As she always has flawless skin, Washington finally divulged her absolute beauty rule: “I never go to sleep with my makeup on. I live by my Neutrogena makeup remover wipes because they get everything and I feel like that’s how you really take care of your skin, by letting it breathe.”

She also had a note for Scandal fans desperately awaiting the season 4 premiere. “You will find out where Olivia went, and it’s really great and very cool,” she promised. “What happens there is kind of shocking.”

Soon enough, fans! Tune in to the Scandal premiere on Sept. 25 at 9 p.m. EST on ABC.

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