THE EXPERT Rita Remark, global lead educator for essie. Her nail creations can be spotted on runways in Toronto and New York. Here’s how she makes nail trends happen.

FIRST STEPS “I first started paying attention to nails watching music videos. The singers with their long, exaggerated nails were impossible to ignore. I studied graphic art, but I wanted to work with people. So the next way I thought to translate my love of art was with makeup. From there, I fell in love with nail art.”


DAY JOB “At essie, Rebecca Minkoff, our global colour designer, chooses the colours. My role is to translate them into looks. It’s like Christmas morning when I get a new collection.”

 

From left: Essie Nail Polish in Coconut Cove, Berried Treasures, Hiking Heels, Viva Antigua!, Loot the Booty, Tribal Text-Styles ($9.99 each), at essie.com. 

 

DARK ARTS “My favourite – and the most unexpected – colour trend for summer is really dark nails. It has a back-to-the-’90s Winona-Ryder-in- Reality-Bites feel to it. As for shape, there are two extremes: If you can grow your nails long, an almond shape is super-feminine. If you prefer to keep your nails short, try the ‘squoval.’ It’s a more wearable, sporty nail – flat at the top and curved around the sides.”

CREATIVE GENIUS “A friend just opened my eyes to Pinterest. I’ve been a pinner for maybe a month; it’s my newest obsession. A lot of my friends are painters and graphic designers, so I find a lot of inspiration there. I always keep my iPhone handy in case I see a colour combination, pattern or texture I find really appealing.”

 

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