Chanel’s new nail collection: what you need to know …
I rarely get a pro manicure, but when I do I find it a challenge to pick just one colour. Cool neutral or timeless metallic? Vibrant orange-red or elegant, finger-lengthening ballerina nude? And so it is with the new collection of Chanel Le Vernis, just landed online (and available nationwide from May 12). Should you try one of the 17 chic new shades, such as cool lilac Immortelle, or else revel in a classic, such as Particulière or feisty red Pirate?
So what’s new? The varnishes are longer-lasting than before and have a great glossy finish, even with just one coat. The brush is wider, to make application easier. At the launch event in London this week, nail expert Harriet Westmoreland (@harrietwestmoreland) told me that this new formula is the best she’s ever used.
At the launch, Westmoreland and her lovely team were on hand to do manicures using the new polishes. We chose from a menu featuring five key styles, including Reverse French (the cuticle is painted white, rather than the nail tip), Marbling (with white dragged through the colour) and Ombre, where each finger is painted a different tone of a shade – I randomly went for browns.
And it looks like this is the way to go this year. Westmoreland is the manicurist who popularised the super-natural nail look, inspiring us all to wear a buffed, palest pink finish. She is seeing a shift to soft browner tones this summer. I am drawn to them as they remind me of shades of coffee: there’s cool creamy cappuccino Légende to darker espresso Duelliste. I feel that Particulière, that velvety mocha, is still a standout – remember when everyone went crazy for it when it first launched in 2010? – and Westmoreland tips the paler, taupe-ish Légende to have a similar impact this year. I think this colour would look amazing on toes, too.
Key to it all is great nail care – a base coat is essential, especially when wearing more pigmented shades like red, manicurist Chanelle tells me. Use thin layers of polish to build up colour and avoid chipping – the brush is specially designed to enable this. And July sees the arrival of Chanel nail stickers, along with some chic glass nail files in an oval duck egg blue case. Summer nails, sorted.
Available online now, and in stores nationwide from May 12, €32 each.
