CHANEL – Collection Avant-Première 2013

In mid March of this year (here in Canada), CHANEL released a capsule collection of four Le Vernis nail shades (along with several new lip products) to coincide with the Cannes Film Festival – although #599 Provocation had been originally released as part of the Fashion Night Out 2012 Collection (previously reviewed here), and even though I snatched them all up right away, I’ve been remiss in posting them. Falling in between the Spring and Summer 2013 Collections, these shades almost seem to straddle the line between the seasons and therefore ensures their wearability even when the weather starts to cool – as though I’m not already lusting over the Fall 2013 collection …

CHANEL – Collection Avant-Première

#575 Starlet Limited Edition (CAD $27.00 13 ml/0.4 fl. oz) – [NOTE: the above photo is taken with flash to highlight the lacquer’s shimmer] the only limited edition shade of the group, this is a salmon pink hue infused with finely ground gold and pearly shimmer, in a superbly flowing formula that lays down in a self-levelling manner and leaves a glossy finish behind. Paradoxically warm leaning yet with cool undertones, it is a colour that will look amazing on all skin tones, and while the shimmer is quite subtle, it still adds an overall pearlized gleam to the nails. Coats applied: 2, plus top coat

CHANEL – #575 Starlet (Limited Edition)

#579 Paparazzi (CAD $27. 00 13 ml/0.4 fl. oz) – [NOTE: the above photo is taken with flash to highlight the lacquer’s shimmer] a dusky plum/raisin hue with dark rose undertones, and filled with finely ground pink and copper shimmer throughout. The absolutely stellar formula makes application almost ridiculously easy, and while the shimmer is even less noticeable worn than that of ‘Starlet’, it still adds a multi-tonal depth to help keep the colour from appearing flat and 1-dimensional. A unique shade that bears both a vampy vibe and an antiqued patina, it will suit both cool and warm tones equally. Coats applied: 2, plus top coat

CHANEL – #579 Paparazzi

#581 Cinéma (CAD $27.00 13 ml/0.4 fl.oz) – a drop-dead sexy cherry red crème hue in a formula so awesome, it almost applies itself. Perfection in the flow that makes it totally self-levelling, a high saturation of colour for incredible depth of tone, and a ridiculously high-gloss shine at the finish and you have a must-have shade for lovers of red polish, as well as non-red polish devotees alike. Bonus: non-staining upon removal. Coats applied: 2 (super easy), plus top coat

CHANEL – #581 Cinéma

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Last word: I was unsure whether ‘Starlet’ and ‘Paprazzi’ would turn out to be my kind of colours, initially believing them to appear a little fussy-looking and a tad old-fashioned; I couldn’t have been more wrong.The fact that I have nothing like them in my rather vast CHANEL lacquer collection, makes them a unique addition – but we all know that I would have picked them up anyway, seeing as how I can’t stand to break up collections. ‘Cinéma’ is that gorgeous and vivid -in-your-face kind of red, that will definitely draw out your inner siren. All in all, this little collection gets a total thumbs up from me, with colours that are eminently wearable, unique in tone, and all three bearing such an amazing formula.

Still available at several CHANEL counters and online (US credit cards/addresses only), I picked mine up from The Bay (Canada).