Nail Polish Fanatic? Essie Opens Salon in New York

by Kayleen Schaefer, Vogue

Walking into Essie Weingarten's first-ever nail salon, one has the pleasant sensation of actually stepping inside one of her famous rectangular bottles of polish. The decor, by Peter Millard, is entirely gleaming white (there are even white orchids), except for the leather love seats where clients have their nails done. Those have been dyed, fittingly, in Essie's most famous shades, from A-List to Raisinnuts.

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"It's really an out-of-bottle experience," says Weingarten, who founded the brand in 1981. "For years, it was 'I hope I can get my polishes into this nail bar or that salon,' and they would call and place an order. Now when I drive down Sixty-fifth Street and see my name on the awning, I can't believe it."

Two years ago, after L'Oréal bought the brand, which is now carried in more than 100,000 salons across the country, they began speaking with Weingarten about the possibility of opening an Essie flagship. She knew just the place-inside the Samuel Shriqui salon, where she heads for weekly appointments with resident manicurist Josephine Allen, who has tended to her nails for over 20 years. (Of their close relationship, "it was instant love," says Weingarten fondly. "Josephine knows everything about me.")

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Die-hard Essie fans, take note: That means you could be perched on a Bahama Mama pink love seat, staring at the salon's impressive "wall of color"-which houses about 300 of the company's iconic shades, from Waltz to Wicked-next to Weingarten herself. Most likely she'll be getting one coat of Blushing Bride, followed by one coat of Mademoiselle-and, yes, the salon will be offering her signature manicure upon request.

The Essie Flagship Salon at Samuel Shriqui; manicures from $32, pedicures from $65,
35 East Sixty-fifth Street, NYC, 212.472.6805


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