When I received an email from Essie Canada's PR gal asking me if I'd like to check out all the stunning nails created for a select grouping of shows for Toronto Fashion week — aka  World Master Card Fashion Week — and THEN get my nails done by Essie Canada's Lead Nail Artist Rita Remark I must have rsvp'd in record time.   [caption id="attachment_10389" align="aligncenter" width="298"] Rita Remark and moi hamming it up for the camera.[/caption]   Admittedly a free manicure is always exciting but it's so much more exciting when your nails are in Remark's hands. This woman has a joie de vivre that's simply infectious. She truly loves what she does for a living and this is why she's so darn good at her job. She cares about every single nail she paints, whether it's for a runway show, editorial beauty shoot or for some lady that saunters into her studio — me! Yesterday I met Remark at her temporary studio at the Gladstone hotel on Queen St. W. in Toronto. This is where she, along with  her team of nail artists, have been feverishly working on nails for S/S14 runway shows such as Michael Kale, Beaufille, David Dixon, Laura Siegel, Mackage, Soia & Kyo and Caitlin Power. Over the last few days they've turned out a whooping 1530 nails!   [caption id="attachment_10390" align="aligncenter" width="448"] My street art manicure by Essie.[/caption]   I knew my wee little nails were in super duper capable hands so I gave Remark carte blanche. She decided to take mani inspiration from my look du jour; a metallic leather jacket, Play Comme des Garcons t-shirt and black leather skirt.   [caption id="attachment_10394" align="aligncenter" width="453"] My Essie colour palette.[/caption]   These were the colours used to create my crazy beautiful nail look. From left to right:

• Essie Nail Polish in Blanc, $10.
• Essie Nail Polish in Ignite the Night, $10.
• Essie Nail Polish Snap Happy, $10.
• Essie Nail Polish in No Place Like Chrome, $10.
• Essie Nail Polish in Liquorice, $10.

  Lucky for me this was not my first encounter with the charming Rita Remark, we recently worked on a few photo shoots together, and during one of them she did a nail tutorial for us!  Check it out and learn how to do these wicked cool nails that Remark created for our December beauty shoot.