| Today the Essie manicure is synonymous with | | | | so great that from twelve colours, the range |
| quality and style all over the world, but did you | | | | grew to today's' palette of well over 200 nail |
| know the history behind this famous beauty | | | | polish shades. Along the way, Weingarten gave |
| brand? Believe it or not, this world famous nail | | | | each shade a quirky name to make it more |
| polish range began life in Las Vegas as a collection | | | | memorable, such as the cult colours 'Ballet |
| of just 12 shades. Find out about the vision of the | | | | Slippers', 'Mademoiselle', and 'Wicked'. Weingarten |
| woman who created it; how the brand grew to | | | | has firm beliefs about what makes a good |
| over 200 fashionable shades today. | | | | collection which has lead to her enduring success. |
| All the nail polish is the creation of Essie | | | | The key to success was Weingarten's belief that |
| Weingarten, who had a successful career as a | | | | women have two needs when it comes to nail |
| fashion buyer but dreamt of following her passion | | | | colours - there are times in every woman's life |
| for beauty and in particular, glamorous nails. In the | | | | for elegance, and times for more daring, fun |
| early 1980s, nail salons offered very few choices | | | | colours. The initial 12 nail polish shades were |
| as far as working women were concerned. When | | | | created with the needs of Las Vegas women in |
| having beautiful hands mattered, there simply | | | | mind - working in a very image conscious city |
| weren't the wide range of fashionable shades we | | | | where a high standard of personal grooming was |
| all enjoy today. Weingarten created 12 new | | | | required in their daily professional life. Manicured |
| chip-resistant colours and began selling them to | | | | hands were just as much a fashion accessory as |
| Las Vegas hotel nail salons. The Essie manicure | | | | hairstyling, handbags and good shoes. It follows |
| was an instant hit. | | | | logically then that over the years, Weingarten |
| Her phone was ringing in the next few days with | | | | carefully follows fashion runway shows to create |
| salons impressed by her ability to create | | | | shades that complement the season's new |
| fashionable and 'classic' shades to meet the needs | | | | colours. |
| of glamorous working women. The take up was | | | | |