essie Names Rachel Zoe as Its First Chief Color Director in a Bold New Era for the Brand

essie, America‘s leading nail brand and a part of the L’Oréal portfolio, has appointed style icon and fashion entrepreneur Rachel Zoe as its first-ever Chief Color Director, a newly created role that signals a major shift in how the brand plans to show up across fashion and culture.

The announcement, made on April 10, 2026, positions Zoe not just as a brand ambassador but as a genuine creative authority, charged with translating essie‘s iconic shades into a broader cultural conversation across fashion, film, interiors, and everyday life.

A Lifelong Relationship With the Brand

Zoe‘s connection to essie isn’t a calculated partnership, it’s personal. She grew up visiting the nail salon weekly with her mother and sister, cycling through iconic essie shades like Ballet Slippers and Wicked. The brand was never a choice she made; it was simply the only one she reached for.

Rachel Zoe said, “Color is so emotional…