Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour
5/29/13

I fondly recall buying my first Chanel polish during my college years in NYC. The Chanel counter at Barneys offered a staggering array of gorgeous colors, and I purchased my very first rather pricey polish: Vamp. It was a must-have at Parsons for budding fashionistas to adorn their nails with the deep, distinctive purple nail lacquer. I'd seen the polish on my roommate and was wildly impressed and in awe of the rich eggplant hue. Let's say it was love at first site. I swiftly got myself a mani/pedi with my new polish, and instantly felt transformed. By a nail polish? Absolument. 

One of the many things I adore about Chanel polish is that what you see in the bottle is what you get. No surprises. Then there are the glorious colors. They offer about 30 shades, plus limited-edition releases each season. It's heartbreaking to fall in love with a color that's destined to vanish at season's end, so I've taken to stocking up on colors I adore. New releases are quickly snatched up by Chanel devotees and global fashion gurus, and can be incredibly difficult to find. The formula actually resists chipping for nearly a week's time, which is practically unheard of. My nails get put through the wringer while traveling (those pesky suitcase zippers are just plain evil), and I always reach for one of these polishes prior to travel. I used their base and top coats for many years, but haven't noticed a difference in quality using various base & top coats in good nail salons. I do receive a fair amount of complaints from manicurists around the globe regarding the brush, which is rather thin and apparently difficult to work with. That said, my nails always look flawless post application. I like to label that as a "not my problem" type of situation. If you're brave enough to paint your own nails, be prepared to spend some extra time. 

The depth of each color is incredible. One of my favorite shades Péridot (shown above) is a prime example of what sets these polishes apart. I call this my chameleon polish, because it constantly changes depending on lighting and angles. At first glance it's gold, but suddenly has a green shimmer with slight movement. I should mention that they still sell Vamp, which remains a staple in my obsessively large collection. What can I say? Sure, they're expensive and you could buy several cheaper brands for less than half the price. But no dupe holds a candle to the real thing. Try one. I promise you won't regret it. But I can't promise you won't become addicted. Welcome to the cult!

My verdict? Gorgeous, rich colors with real depth. Worth every penny.

$27 a bottle

Available at: Chanel, Nordstrom, and Bloomingdales.