Monday Manicure: Chanel Rouge Noir - A Classic

Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour in Rouge Noir 18 available from here 

Rooting through my collection the other week I realised that I'd somehow missed this classic nail polish from my regular NOTD posts. Chanel Rouge Noir is undoubtedly the Rolls Royce of nail polish. Made famous by Uma Thurman who famously wears the shade in the film Pulp Fiction, the shade is meant to look like dried blood (nice). A mix of red and black, the shade has cult status and was the first premium bottle of nail polish I ever purchased.

Here it is on my nails for you guys, I used two coats and sealed it with Seche Vite although I got some extreme shrinkage from it!

The colour is so sophisticated, a real grown up look and at £17.50 for a bottle it is a definite investment shade. In truth, I've had this bottle for years and it's still going strong.

What was the first bottle of nail polish you guys bought?

Mammoth Empties Part 2: Make Up

Here it goes, part two is devoted to makeup (with one random face product thrown in because I clearly got confused).

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua in B20  Beige Tendre 30ml – Warning – shake before use! A great foundation, really easy to apply although it does need buffing out with a stippling brush or sponge afterwards. I have repurchased already but I’m still looking for the elusive perfect foundation as I think this is a touch light on me.

Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation in 200 Soft Beige 30ml – Purchased on a whim and turned out to be one of my favourite foundations. The colour is a little warmer than the Chanel and makes me look pretty healthy. Already repurchased this exceptionally good quality drugstore foundation.

Models Own Powder Blusher Peach Blush – I used to use this along with the peachy coral coloured blusher below as a very light bronzer. Fabulous shade that I used until I hit the pan. Then it broke. Oops. Pretty good value too as the quality is better than a lot of less expensive blushers

Models Own Powder Blusher Warm Glow – Looks great with Peach Blush, also great to use on its own on the apples for a just pinched peachy glow with some irridescence.

Arbonne FC5 Hydrating Eye Crème 1ml Sachet – Got this when I tried out the rest of the FC5 range. The brand is huge in the USA but not as well known in the UK. I’m using the cleanser and moisturiser at the moment but the eye cream isn’t as good as GinZing.

Lancome Definicils High Definition Mascara – Great mascara, definitely one of my favourites. Would purchase a full sized one but to be honest I’ve got quite a few minis to use up first.

George Bronzer Duo No1 for Blondes – I’m not really blonde but hey, whatever. I only started contouring and using bronzer until last year and this was the product I used to get me started. Everybody always used to think I was wearing MAC when I had this on as the colours are that good! Pretty good for a £3.50 compact I picked up to use on holiday. I’d definitely buy this again.

Chanel style boucle jacket

Timeless chic - Chanel style jacket / Miso at Republic

As far as the ultimate wishlist goes, a classic Chanel boucle jacket has got to be top of most girls list.

Not content with creating the coveted 2.55 and Classic handbags, as well as the very first Little Black Dress, Chanel made the boucle jacket a must have along with a string of pearls and a striped fisherman's top.

If you’re not sitting on a small fortune, then you might be surprised at what the High Street has to offer by way of Chanel-alike jackets. This cream number comes to you courtesy of Miso at Republic. I’ve had quite a few compliments and a lot of people asking if it came from Karen Millen or Oasis, proving that there are a lot of similar pieces out there.

It's so versatile and is a great alternative to a black leather jacket or blazer in winter or the denim jacket in summer; so much smarter!

Do you have any Chanel inspired pieces in your wardrobe?

Chanel Rouge Allure Sample

Did any of you guys get an email from Chanel recently with an invitation to try out Rouge Allure? I love the way they phrase that, don't you?!

This was a few weeks back but I just wanted to share this with you anyway.

The sample is for four red lipsticks from the range in shades 97 Incandescente, 104 Passion, 102 Palpitante and 99 Pirate. It also came with a teeny tiny lip brush!

The samples are quite small but enough I think for a decent trial. Remember how years ago you used to get those tiny little lipstick bullets as samples?!

Have you tried these out yet? What's your favourite colour?

My Perfume Collection Part 1 - Chanel Chance, Armani Code, Per Una, Versace Bright Crystal and Lanvin Marry Me

So at last count, it seems I have ten perfumes on the go. Some I use everyday, some I save for special occasions, and some are old favourites I can’t get rid of. Here’s the rundown.

Lanvin Marry Me

This is my most recent purchase and I can’t get enough of it. As I’m wary of using it up too quickly, I don’t wear it everyday. I think it’s going to be discontinued as it was really hard to get hold of even though it only came out recently. The Lanvin website says “Marry Me is a duo of exceptional ingredients, the sparkling freshness of Tunisian bitter orange and the sensuality of sambac jasmine.” Jasmine is my favourite ever floral fragrance which might explain it. I think it’s a fruity floral, and it is very sweet, with notes including peach, bitter orange, freesia, magnolia, jasmine, rose, white cedar, amber and musk. The only reason I was put off buying this is the name!! Alber Elbaz designed the Art Deco inspired bottle.

Lanvin Marry Me

Versace Bright Crystal

Another floral, this is my everyday scent. Some of the notes include pomegranate, lotus flower, plant amber, acajou and musk. Heart notes are Peony, Magnolia and Lotus Flower, top notes are Yuzu, Ice Accord and Pomegranate and base notes are Acajou, Plant Amber and Musk. I love it, although the bottle is so heavy.

Versace Bright Crystal

Per Una EDT

My everyday scent for slightly less important days and a surprise winner. Everyone always comments on this mistaking it for either Chanel or Dior but this is actually a bargainous £6 for this mini Marks & Spencer fragrance.  Described as: “Flowers of magnolia, jasmine, rose and summer freesias mingle with a sensuous background of woods, heliotrope and patchouli to give added depth.” I like buying this purse sized spray to pop in my handbag. Another floral then!

Marks & Spencer Per Una EDT

Armani Code

I got this at Christmas and haven’t used it yet but I will use it once the Versace is finished. I thought this was quite musky, but I actually think it’s a floral again due to this description from Boots: “Orange Blossom is the Muse of this creation: a miracle of the nature, the quintessence of femininity. A unique creation reveals this flower's full magic and operates its metamorphosis by the incredibly soft embrace of Madagascar vanilla and a touch of honey. Sambac jasmine, from India, amplifies the radiance and elegance of this celebration of noble materials.”

Armani Code

Chanel Chance

I love Chanel but I think it’s too heavy for me to use everyday. Usually reserved for weddings etc, I really want to get this in the Eau Fraiche variation and I have had Chanel Coco Mademoiselle before. The Boots website says it contains “notes of White Musk, Hyacinth and Citron, Pink Pepper, Jasmine, Fresh Vetiver, Orris Absolute and Amber Patchouli.” It’s another floral with jasmine in; I see a pattern emerging. 

Chanel Chance