It’s not every day that you come across a line of nail polish with color palettes that are inspired by and derived from Wes Anderson films. Fans of The Grand Budapest Hotel, Moonrise Kingdom, The Royal Tenenbaums, and other classics by the iconic director will love the array of gorgeous colors with names like Grand Budapest, Khaki Scout, The Yellow Tent, and more.

What’s more, Bess & Color polishes are non-toxic, vegan, cruelty-free, and made in the USA so you can feel good about wearing them. Founder Jessica Bellinger has been a film and digital photographer for years and also owns a successful wedding and engagement photography business based in her home state of Florida.

Also a newly-published author, Bellinger’s debut book, The Humility Paradox: How Humble People Can Be Happier, Achieve More, and Make a Better Living comes out in November 2020 and will serve as a much-needed resource for entrepreneurs that are looking to work on and improve their mindset.

We chatted with Bellinger, who discussed the unique concept behind her line of nail polish, the inspiration behind the brand, bestselling and favorite colors, and more.

When was Bess & Color founded?

The company officially started December 1, 2019.

What inspired its creation?

The real reason I started the company was because after many years of being a wedding photographer, I was ready to pivot my business endeavors in a new direction. I was fascinated with e-commerce for quite some time. It wasn’t long before I realized that selling nail polish was the direction I was planning to take. I knew I could offer a niche product in a way that was innovatively done. 

Tell us more about your nail polishes and what makes them unique.

We focus on a number of things that are important. For one, we offer a vegan and cruelty-free product. We also are USA made. We focus on colors that are more unique, but still versatile. We wanted to build a color palette that was new and innovative. That's why we derive so much inspiration from Wes Anderson films and the color palettes used in his work. We are so inspired actually that each color is named after a phrase, object, or place from his films. It’s our special touch.

Another big thing we focus on is using eco-friendly mailing packaging. Our mailers are bio-degradable and compostable. We also only use biodegradable paper cushioning and we encourage reusing or recycling our bottles. They make great tiny flower bud vases!

We have also donated to a few child-focused charities here in the US. It’s something our customers have loved being a part of as I have set aside certain proceeds from special sales that would go towards these charities. 

What’s your most popular shade? Favorite shade?

Our most popular shade is She Smokes, which is a super light nude color. It’s very raw-looking. My favorite color is J.L.W. I’m a sucker for super earthy and warm tones. 

Where are your products sold?

We currently sell online, only in the US. We are sold on our website and also in a few small boutiques within the states.

What's next for the brand?

More products and hopefully a bigger team to help me more! I eventually want to make Bess & Color a one-stop shop for all things nails! That's the end goal. 

For more information and to purchase, visit bessandcolor.com and follow on Instagram: @bessandcolor

[Images courtesy of Bess+Color]

Kamala Kirk is a University of Southern California graduate and has been an editor/writer for more than a decade. She has written for E! Online, Total Beauty, TravelAge West, Malibu Times Magazine, and many more. She resides in Los Angeles and is a proud pug mom. Follow her on Instagram: @kamalakirk