Quvenzhane Wallis Puppy Purses Bring Playfulness To Red Carpet [PHOTOS]

By Roxanne Palmer | February 25 2013 11:13 AM

Quvenzhane Wallis has racked up awards and nominations for her starring performance in "Beasts of the Southern Wild," where she plays Hushpuppy, a young girl living in a Louisiana bayou community threatened by storms and rising seas. Offscreen, Wallis has taken to toting puppy-shaped purses from Poochie & Co. everywhere from the red carpet to the White House.

Wallis' signature "haute dog" couture strikes a charming note in a celebrity culture that tends to smother childhood innocence.

At the Oscars on Sunday, Wallis accessorized her navy Armani gown with a custom puppy purse made by Poochie & Co.:

qv05 Photo: Reuters/Lucy Nicholson Quvenzhane Wallis in a navy Armani gown and Poochie & Co. purse at the Oscars.

The young star told talk show host Ellen DeGeneres that she owns more than 20 of the canine clutches, which come in a range of various breeds, from poodles to bulldogs.

quvenzhane01 Photo: Reuters/Danny Moloshok Quvenzhane Wallis poses with the best young actor or actress award backstage she won for her role in "Beasts of the Southern Wild" at the 2013 Critics' Choice Awards in Santa Monica, California January 10, 2013.

Earlier in February Wallis attended a White House workshop in honor of Black History Month. The young starlet brought a companion along in the form of a curly-haired cocker spaniel purse.

qv06 Photo: AP/Manuel Balce Ceneta At a White House event, actress Quvenzhane Wallis answered questions from students about her role in "Beasts of the Southern Wild."

Unlike other Oscar fashions, Poochie & Co. purses are fairly affordable, retailing for about $10 each. These doggy bags are available at many stores nationwide, including Sears, Kmart and Burlington Coat Factory.

qv04 Photo: Jason Laveris/FilmMagic Wallis at the 2013 Essence Black Women In Hollywood Awards in Beverly Hills, Ca., where she won Best Breakthrough Performance.

Poochie & Co. sales rep Diane Calvanico told Yahoo! Movies that the press attention was exciting for the company, which only recently set up a website.

After the company sent Wallis a box of doggie bags to complement her collection, "she called the office to thank us for sending her the package. She’s just so polite and sweet,” Calvanico told Yahoo! Movies. “She’s just packed with personality.”

quvenzhane02 Photo: Reuters/Lucas Jackson The "Beasts of the Southern Wild" star looking 'pawsitively' fashionable.

If dogs aren't particularly your style, Poochie & Co. makes cat purses as well.

Wallis was just tapped to star in the Will Smith-produced version of "Annie" -- perhaps she'll sport a purse modeled on the little orphan's dog Sandy at that premiere?