Rich and Poe

Designer Gregory Poe used to be big in Japan. "I was treated like a king there," he sighs, recalling his stint as a corporate shogun for hire, fronting a chain of 17 Gregory Poe boutiques. After the rice cake crumbled in the late 80s, "the only thing I got to take out of that country was my ponytail." Now Poe is enjoying a fashion reincarnation-appropriate, considering he's kin to Edgar Allan Poe. Dutch Courage, his new clothing line (with Brad Hickman), emphasizes classic shape and Poe's flair for the tongue in chic. "It doesn't take talent to be a success in this business. As far as I'm concerned, it's detrimental," says the arch baldy, who first found infamy with a line of faaabulous pink purses colored by Pepto-

Bismol injected between two layers of vinyl. However, prolonged contact between the stomach medicine and the vinyl created a tragic chemical reaction. The bags turned into time bombs —one of which exploded all over a Vogue editor's Balenciaga gown.

Now, with Dutch Courage,

Poe is hoping for a more fortunate fashion explosion, and not another "design Pearl Harbor." Bombs away!

LANCE LOUD