Chanel

Like a predictable but enjoyable rom-com, with Chanel’s Cinema Le Vernis Nail Colour, you already know what you’re gonna get.

You’ve only seen the storyline done about a million times before, but still, you watch it anyway and relish every minute.

And after the ending credits roll by and you’ve brushed the stray popcorn from your lap (no judgement if you pluck a wayward kernel from your bra and eat it on the sly), you smile and say to yourself, “I really, really liked that.” 🙂

That’s how I feel about this creamy tomato red.

Why so glum, sugar plum?

Is it because you woke up this morning, checked the weather forecast and realized that it was going to be 80 degrees today, and you’re more of an autumnal angel than a summer siren? Bummed because you couldn’t rightly wear your wool sweater, corduroy pants, scarf, knee-high boots and Chanel Provocation nail polish?

Not to worry! Fall will be back soon enough. If there’s one thing I’ve learned over six years of blogging it’s that time flies when you’re having fun. 🙂

I’ve also learned that when it comes to seasonal nail polish colors, wear whatever you like! — regardless of the season.

That applies to Chanel’s dark creamy plum Provocation and your favorite swimsuit.

If you like ’em together, why the hell not? You could pair Provocation on your toes with coral fingertips for an unexpected summer surprise.

And so what if the beauty police cite you for wearing a fall color in summer? Just bat your lashes at the trooper and say, “I’m sorry, officer. I didn’t see a sign that said I couldn’t be bold.”

Truth be told, I wasn’t as impressed by Provocation as I was by Starlet or Paparazzzi the first time I saw it in a store.

Then I got it on my nails and, um, WOW! Deep and rich, yet with a hint of brightness that keeps it from looking flat, it’s nothing like those boring, blah plums I see on so many other shelves. Provocation looks downright inspiring.

I think I might love it as much as Starlet (and that’s a lot).

The closest I’ve ever come to the end of a paparazzo’s lens was standing next to Tabs on the red carpet.

Second closest time was today, via Chanel’s $27 Paparazzi plum nail polish concoction.

That’s one way I definitely don’t envy Tabs — having to deal with the paparazzi so much — since they always seem to appear at the most inopportune moments.

With my luck, every pic they snapped would be of me yawning, sneezing or attempting to stealthily extract my underwear from my bum…

No thank you!

I like Chanel’s Paparazzi much better than the ones that chase Tabs.

Maybe not as much as I like Starlet, but that’s probably because of how close we are to summer, and Starlet’s coral just seems more ripe and ready for sandals and summer dresses to me (Calgon, take me to the beach!).

Just like how Starlet spreads out across each nail after it’s applied, Paparazzi does the same thing. Neither shade exhibits noticeable streaking.

One thing I do have to watch when I wear Paprazzi is my timing. You have to be in the right place at the right time with this polish.

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This leading lady is worthy of a summer tentpole film and a handful of Oscar nominations. Maybe even a sleeper hit that takes Sundance by storm, or a blockbuster rom-com opposite a foppish Brit boy with floppy hair and nice arms. 🙂

This Starlet has some serious stage presence. Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour in Starlet has that certain something I like, that “it” factor that pushes it ahead of so many sweet and summery coral ingenues.

Admittedly, I rarely meet a coral I don’t love or like, and Starlet is no exception. But it differs from most coral shades in that it also leans pink, depending on the light, to showcase more of its rich pink salmon side in the shade and a cherry blossom pink in full sun. It also has subtle opalescent shimmer, which elevates its production value from indie film to Hollywood big budget.

I was so excited to try Starlet the day I brought it home that I actually painted my toes with it in the middle of the night in almost pitch-black darkness before settling down to watch one of our generation’s most esteemed films, Step Brothers (“This is a house of learn-ed doctors”), and passing out on the couch.

Not really being able to see what I was doing because I didn’t want to turn on the lights, I expected to have to re-paint my toes the following morning.

Nope. Turns out I didn’t have to. To my surprise, my toes looked nearly perfect, because Starlet is smooove…

You could be painting your toes with one eye half open in the dark, and there’s a decent chance your pedi would turn out alright. 🙂