CHANEL | Le Vernis Châtaigne, Écorce Sanguine & Vert Obscur, Fall 2015

The CHANEL Les Automnales Collection (already reviewed: Entrelacs Eyeshadow Palette, Pensive Rouge Allure & Téméraire Rouge Coco Shine, Tissé d’Automne, 914 Feuille & 918 Ardent) has so perfectly captured the essence of Fall with every single beauty offering – in particular with the nail lacquers. Taking cues from nature herself, the three limited edition shades of this collection (CAN $31.00 each) – Écorce Sanguine, Châtaigne, and Vert Obscur, are like taking a stroll through a dense forest and discovering unexpected pops of colour: the fiery red of changing leaves, the deep earth underfoot, and the sun-dappled but deeply mysterious greenery all around. Makes me want to head up to my chalet in the mountains right this second, and just breathe it all in, I tell you.

INSPIRATION: ocellated turkey feather

CHANEL | 669 Châtaigne, 671 Écorce Sanguine, & 679 Vert Obscur

669 Châtaigne | Deep chestnut brown with plum undertones in a hybrid crème/jelly formula. Self levelling on application, this shade bears the typical springiness associated with this type of lacquer – which in no way affects how it applies, coming to an ultra-high gloss finish (that doesn’t really need top coat, although I never go without just the same; helps to seal everything in and make the shade last longer). A totally fresh & modern alternative to black polish. BONUS: non-staining upon removal.

Coats applied: 2, plus top coat

CHANEL | 669 Châtaigne swatch

671 Écorce Sanguine | Almost a ‘one-coat-wonder’, this is a warm leaning red shade with burnished & slightly brown-based undertones, bearing ultra fine bronze shimmer in the formula – but of the stealth variety; you definitely need sunlight or direct light hitting your nails to bring out this feature. Self-levelling and with a glossy finish at the end, this is a relatively non-staining hue (for a red this saturated), although I wouldn’t skip base coat just the same. Note that the formula while somewhat thickish, applies easily and will not pool around the cuticle area of the nails.

Coats applied: 2, plus top coat

CHANEL | 671 Écorce Sanguine swatch

679 Vert Obscur | A blackened teal in a hybrid crème/jelly format that bears absolutely no shimmer whatsoever, applying in a self-levelling way and coming to an über-glossy finish. The paradox here, is that while the formula seems a little thin and semi-sheer (note how the dark green tones are so apparent at 1 coat), it becomes completely opaque by the 2nd coat, as well as absorbing most of that green colour. Once again, this is an excellent option to wearing straight up black polish – although you do need to see this shade in bright/direct light, to appreciate the teal undertone. Personally, I love the look at 1 coat; it’s like ombré nail art, without any skills/effort needed to achieve that effect. BONUS: non-staining upon removal.

Coats applied: 2, plus top coat

CHANEL | 679 Vert Obscur swatch (1 coat)

CHANEL | 679 Vert Obscur swatch (2 coats)

CHANEL | 669 Châtaigne, 671 Écorce Sanguine, & 679 Vert Obscur

After a Spring and Summer filled with bright/vivid/pastel shades, I for one, am just so totally ready to bring back my true loves: brooding nail lacquer colours. There is something so lush and rich about the three hues of this collection, and while the actual colours themselves may not be groundbreaking (with the possible exception of Châtaigne, as browns are not that prevalent with most brands), it’s the way they apply that pushes all my buttons. That being said, I do believe that if there’s any area where CHANEL needs to up their game, it’s with the brush shape – and while I personally have never had an issue with it, there are several more effective options out there now. Just that one small change, will elevate this brand’s lacquers to a level everyone else only dreams of … I’m just saying.

The CHANEL Collection Les Automnales 2015 is available now at all counters nationwide, including Hudson’s Bay and thebay.com (Canada). Find more detailed information on the collection via www.chanel.com