Over the past year or so, several young, attractive Brits that go by the lovely name Poppy have surfaced in New York society. Herewith, our weekly guide to keeping all the Poppys straight.
While it may be difficult to tell photographer Poppy De Villeneuve and model Poppy Delevigne apart, imagine if the party both of these young women were attending was handled by a publicist also named Poppy.
Poppy Edmonds, 27, is a publicist at Black Frame, the firm that often hosts the types of Fashion Week and art parties attended by the other two Poppys, further adding to all the confusion created by the popular British name. (Ms. Edmonds, in fact, met Ms. de Villeneuve back in England on the set of a fashion shoot a few years ago.)
“My parents were basically hippies, but my late grandfather was an English nurseryman–grew flowers and supplied to the late Queen Mother! I think those can only be the logical reasons,” Ms. Edmonds explained of her name. “In New York, the name is obviously not so common and it does get mistaken a fair amount.”
Ms. Edmonds began her career producing photo shoots for London’s Evening Standard before moving to the United States in 2007 “on a road trip but that never quite happened,” she told the Daily Transom. She wound up working during Fashion Week on the Rodarte show. “I never looked back,” she said.
Ms. Edmonds now lives in Williamsburg, which “feels a little European,” she noted. “I grew up in York, England; I like a sense of history!”
Once, Ms. Edmonds received a package addressed to a “Pappy Edmonds.” The nickname stuck and now she known to some of her colleagues as simply “Pappy.” “It is endearing, I guess?” she joked to the Daily Transom.
Ms. Edmonds said that her British accent contributes to the confusion. “My boyfriend will occasionally introduce me now, after the initial polite handshake and saying my name and having that confused look on someone’s face, he’ll butt in with, ‘Like the flower!'” she said. “And then it’s an all round, ‘Ah, now I get it.’ But he’s called Sylvan and so I introduce him, ‘Like the learning centre.'”
She added, “I have been openly laughed at going through immigration. I guess some consider it not a real name, but at least I get through with a smile.”
Still, despite often being called “Pops” or “Polly” by her co-workers and friends, she’s quite fond of her name. “I like my name and I wouldn’t have it any other way!” said Ms. Edmonds. “I can think of worse florals … Petunia?!”
