Chanel Rouge Noir: 20 Years On And It's Still Love

Chanel Rouge Noir has turned 20 and to celebrate the Chanel Christmas collection is dedicated to it.

Chanel Rouge Noir is a true bona fide beauty classic if we ever saw one. Since its creation some 20 years ago, this blood red – almost black – nail polish has become a cult product and women all over the world, of every skin tone and age, are obsessed with it. And rightly so, Rouge Noir’s boldness makes it eternally chic and a couple of coats makes even the most unkempt nails appear groomed.

Rouge Noir launched in 1995 (yes, we did a double take when we realised that's two decades ago, too!) and it has gone on to be one of the most – if not, the most – coveted nail colours ever. Before Rouge Noir you wouldn’t hear of a nail colour selling out but that’s what happened when it launched in the 90s.

Rouge Noir became the first polish to attain cult, collectible status – something that Chanel has managed to replicate (to an extent with more recent nail colour launches including Particuliére, Paradoxal and Jade).

Rouge Noir first appeared backstage at the Autumn/Winter 1994 show where a deep, deep, almost black, red nail polish was used. The shade caught on and an icon was born.

Rouge Noir made its big screen debut in 1994’s Pulp Fiction where Uma Thurman – playing troubled Miss Mia Wallace – wore the nail colour accessorised with a white shirt and cigarette.

And proving that you can never have too much of a good thing, to celebrate the twentieth year of Rouge Noir, Chanel have dedicated their forthcoming Christmas collection to the collectible colour. The joy!

The Chanel Rouge Noir Absolument collection launches on the 6th of November and there’s a whole lot of Rouge Noir chic-ness to get your hands on.

Here’s some of what you can expect:

EYES: The Chanel Exclusive Creation palette with gorgeous double C motif includes four shades; Luminous sheen (a pale rose), Radiance booster (a dusty mink), Electrifying Rouge Noir (the iconic shade) and Smoldering gold (what it says on the tin).

And then there's the Illusion D’Ombre in Rouge Noir.

NAILS: Le Vernis in 18 Rouge Noir (naturally) plus Le Top Coat Lame Rouge Noir (a red and gold sparkly top coat) and Le Vernis in 757 Rose Fusion a grey-tinged Rouge Noir if you fancy something jazzy.

That's us sroted for Christmas, then!