As fetishes go, I have a real thing about nails. Fingernails. Toenails. You name it. I like them painted all year round in pearly, shiny hues. An immaculate manicure is just to die for. Top of my list of pick-me-ups. Favourites in my ever-growing collection include Essie’s Wicked, a rich plum colour perfect for toes and brilliant in Winter. And my new shade du jour, Chanel’s Enthusiast, which I couldn’t resist purchasing at the airport on my way to Portugal - a gorgeous letterbox red to match my new bikini.
So when I heard that at the Vogue Fashion’s Night Out event last month, Chanel would be giving manicures at their Bond Street store, I was honestly over the moon. My idea of heaven. I imagined Karl to be there himself, carefully helping me decide between Blue Satin and Rouge Noir. And yet the reality was far from my perhaps slightly wishfully thought out fantasy. Nail artists sat patiently while girls queued up to have their nails painted in, wait for it, the new colour of the season fresh off the catwalk, JADE. I was somewhat shocked at this choice, feeling very let down by this Largerfeld’s otherwise impeccable taste. The colour seemed more fitting for the ‘Nancy’s Naughty Nail Parlour’ I sometimes pass in South London, full of inch long acrylic types and God knows what else. Each to their own of course, but Chanel, doing a pale, minty, green colour? Really?
Jade, which launches later this month in Chanel boutiques is said to have a mile long waiting list, one that my name will certainly not be on. I can’t get my head around this atrocious colour and feel it is far from the elegance and beauty of the French brand. I would happily paint my nails with spots or stripes or even in rainbow colours if necessary, but this Jade number is simply not on. Maybe I am missing some big key trend for Autumn, but as long as I have my Rouge Noir to hand, I will be happy. As far as this Jade nail varnish is concerned, I shall always remain green.
