Essie's Royal Following

Brand loyalty is a fabulous thing. These loyal followers will defend their favorite brand in a crisis, constantly (and unintentionally) participate in word-of-mouth campaigns to increase awareness among friends and acquaintances as well as returning to this brand purchase after purchase. When these followers are famous, organizations essentially receive a free celebrity endorsement due to an individuals sheer adoration of the brand. Essie, a brand of nail polish owned by L'Oreal USA, is one of these types of brands.

Essie has a cult following among American women. Creator Essie Weingarten set out to create a type of nail polish "that would go on like silk and wear like iron and would look wet for a week to ten days." Followers of the brand are more than happy to agree that she has succeeded. Since 1981, Essie has created over 200 colors of nail polish. In 1983, Joan Rivers announced she was wearing Essie color "Jelly Apple" while hosting the Tonight Show. But the brand has a slightly more famous celebrity fan.

In 1989, Queen Elizabeth II's hairdresser contacted Essie requesting a bottle of "Ballet Slipper", a subtle pink color, because it is the only color the monarch would wear. During the royal wedding of 2011, Kate Middleton wore the Essie shade "Allure", a flattering nude color, during her vows to Prince William. 

In a world as fickle as cosmetics, having brand enthusiasts among some of the most watched women in the world is nothing but positive press for a brand. While Essie owner L'Oreal pays celebrities like Beyonce to serve as a brand representative in advertisements, having the most anticipated bride in years wear a shade of nail polish for the price of $8 from her own pocket is the best type of advertisement a brand could ask for. 

Personally, I tried Essie after Kate and Prince William's wedding just because she wore it. Honestly, who has never thought that if a brand is good enough for a celebrity, it was good enough for them? After trying it, I understand why it has such a following. Have you tried Essie brand nail polish? Is there a product that you have tried simply because a celebrity has used it?