Chanel's new red nail polishes: irresistible

 

Red nail polish is like red lipstick, but I never feel uncomfortable wearing it. It’s elegant and striking, opinionated and unapologetic. I love it especially for my pedicure, and it is almost sandal season in Canada (fingers crossed).

Chanel’s nail enamels are a favourite of mine: their bottle’s squat and squarish proportions are classically beautiful, those intertwined Cs so iconic and French. A bottle of Le Vernis on the bathroom vanity or bedroom dressing table is a decorative detail best left on view alongside a simple vase of fresh-cut blooms and the plushest of white terry towels.

The brand’s two new latest red polishes are irresistible: Dragon and Coromandel. Yes, I know they’re $26 each, but they’re gorgeous – bottle and enamel, both. And we all know how a swish manicure can perk us up, not to mention add a little zing to a less-than-new outfit.  And a single coat of this polish gives rich, completely opaque coverage. So your bottle should last longer than some cheap brands, too. Plus you're buying style -- sorry, I'm a sucker for aesthetics, that's why I do what I do.

Dragon is a strong blood- or blue-red, while Coromandel, named for the dramatic decorative screens that accented Coco Chanel’s apartment, has more orange undertones. Both are knockouts and worth the splurge. www.chanel.com

-- Deborah Fulsang