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Chanel Nouvelle Vague Le Vernis Nail Lacquer Review, Photos, Swatches

Wednesday, March 31st, 2010

Chanel Nouvelle Vague Le Vernis

Chanel Les Pop-Up de Chanel:  Nouvelle Vague

At $23 a pop, Chanel’s Le Vernis Nail Lacquer is a decadent indulgence for your hands. Some love ‘em, some hate ‘em. I’m in the camp of love the product, hate the price (but who loves to pay more? seriously!). I’ve personally haven’t had any issues with formula or wear on the Chanel shades I own. In Les Pop-Up de Chanel (Chanel’s summer collection), Chanel is releasing three new shades of Le Vernis: Mistral (soft pink), Nouvelle Vague (turquoise), and Riviera (intense pink).

I literally just received Nouvelle Vague this afternoon, and I was thinking about holding off to post until tomorrow, but I just can’t resist. Nouvelle Vague is a beautiful shade of aqua-blue. It’s turquoise, but it’s not a brightened turquoise. It’s pastel without being light and sheer. There is the finest dusting of icy, aqua-blue shimmer laced throughout the aqua-blue. It’s a very stunning shade of turquoise. It’s one of my favorite polishes by Chanel, ever.

For those who find Chanel out of their price range (or fear their bank account murdering them in their sleep if they purchased this…), don’t despair, because China Glaze For Audrey is so, so close. Chanel’s Nouvelle Vague is just the slightest bit lighter and it has shimmer, whereas China Glaze’s is a pure cream.  Check out the swatches to see just how similar they are.  Personally?  I would have bought Nouvelle Vague anyway.  In a heartbeat.  I wouldn’t even think twice (barely once!).

If you want to know more about how products are evaluated, read out Rating System FAQ! :)

  • Product: 30/30
  • Value: 6/10
  • Ease of Use: 4/5
  • Packaging: 4/5

Recommendation: I think for those who love their polish, there may be the need to own both, but for those who are simply lusting after the shade, For Audrey might be a little lighter on the wallet.

Availability: May 2010

See more photos & swatches!

Chanel Nouvelle Vague Le Vernis

Chanel Nouvelle Vague Le Vernis

Chanel Nouvelle Vague Le Vernis
China Glaze For Audrey vs. Chanel Nouvelle Vague
Thumb & Pink are For Audrey; the rest are Nouvelle Vague

Chanel Nouvelle Vague Le Vernis
Chanel Nouvelle Vague

Chanel Nouvelle Vague Le Vernis
China Glaze For Audrey vs. Chanel Nouvelle Vague

Thumb & Pinky are For Audrey; the rest are Nouvelle Vague

Chanel Nouvelle Vague Le Vernis
(Natural Light) China Glaze For Audrey vs. Chanel Nouvelle Vague

Thumb & Pinky are For Audrey; the rest are Nouvelle Vague

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Beautiful swatch, I was just wondering if this color would look good on a darker skin tone?

god. this is like, the most beautiful nail polish of all time. the shade is perfection. chanels brushes make it so easy to give yourself a great home manicure. i've had so many people compliment it already.

That's such a gorgeous shade . . . I think I'll go with For Audrey though just for the price xD

Nouvelle Vague is back on the Chanel website! I ordered a bottle yesterday and I'm really excited! Chanel has free shipping and 2 free samples...I highly recommend checking it out before they are gone again! :)

Can i still find this in stores? I just found out about it:(

I live in Israel and in my counrty, you cant find nothing - not mention CHANEL. I absolutely LOVE this color, it is amazing - modern & vintage. At last, I orded it from Hong Kong(!) for 50$(!!!). I cant wait to get it , just hope it will be worth the price.

I love this new shade, I was not a fan of "different" colors, until I saw this one from channel! I was into the basics whites and light rose and french manicure style,even red for me was too much of a change.... Agree with the others about the price!!!! Would not pay $23 for nail polish, ever!! Found a very similar shade, very cheap at CVS and Walgreens!!! $1.99 girls!!!! "Sinfulcolors professional" the shade is "mint apple"! Loved,very satisfied,great conversation piece, LOL..... I applied 2 coats,its low shimmery and a tiny little bit darker. Nobody can't beat $1.99!!!!

Love this, Actually I DON'T like the For Audrey better... I love the slight shimmer tho!

LOVE THIS! After I saw your review, I called my Chanel counter immediately and got one on hold. Can't wait! It's absolutely gorgeous.

wow...at first I couldn't tell but then i looked again and it seems to be that the Chanel has a ever so slight shimmer in it, a bit of a yellow whereas the China Glaze is very flat. Other than that, not much difference at all, from pictures.

I have to say I NEED this color! While I hate paying @# for a bottle of nail polish Chanel tends to win my heart over time and time again. Just like I needed Jade..I have to say I need this too! LOVES <3

Oh my, I LOVE this colour. I also have For Audrey though.. They seem only a tad different, but that little difference is what I LOVE!! I'll check out The Bay to see if they got any in...

oh deng, almost exact dupe for ChG For Aubrey except for the shimmer.

Is this anything like Orly's Gumdrop by any chance?

I don't think I've tried that one!

i need this!!!!!!! it's awesome.. it's one of my fav's one of all time

Oh my... there goes my paycheck. I need to call Chanel tomorrow and check my local stand. Wait..no! I MUST resist.

Does anyone know where i can find out that it will be released in belgium? The stores have never heard of this collection, i hope i can find it because i'm in love with nouvelle vague hihi

I think it will be - are the Chanel seasonal color collections usually released? If so, it should be.

Also reminds me a lot of Essie's Mint Candy Apple from the Holiday Collection...

I don't know how much cooking and dishwashing you all do, but as much as I love Chanel, I won't be buying anymore of her polishes! They chip off way too fast and I can't stand it because the chip is obvious. I love wearing Particuliere, but I guess I cook, bake and wash my hands too often. If at all, I'll probably stick to the very sheer ballet slipper shades.

I type all day, wash hands a zillion times a day, but I don't do dishes myself... but yeah, they always hold up for me. Sometimes I'll wear the polish for two weeks and all that I have is tip wear!

Well, you know I caved already and I tried 3 coats. Put it on last night and lookin' good so far. I type all day long, too! Thanks again. :)

*sigh* Sometimes i wish i didn't work in an office setting so i could wear such beautiful bright colours on my nails. I don't go out much so there's no use for me to get a bottle. :(

I have For Audrey (along with three other China Glaze polishes, none of which I've managed to use without some frustration at the difficulty in applying -- for some reason there's a lot of drag marks on my nails no matter what), and the difference between it and the Chanel is very, very subtle. $23 US seems like a lot to pay for a polish, but it sure is gorgeous.

not sure if you've done anything different, but i like the photos for these nail swatches... not too mention the polish...i have to say the comparison shots have me a bit confused -- the difference is barely there in appearance, but i still would love to get both! unfortunately sometimes the nail polishes don't ever get released here... :(

The actual photos of the nail polish swatches are the same, though the bottle photos are in more natural lighting and a different part of my house, so those are different! I spent all night playing around with the swatches and the differences are small. If you really look for them, you'll definitely see how China Glaze is a bit darker and obviously Chanel has shimmer, but it's not obvious!

i ended up getting for audrey off an ebay seller.....i was slightly disappointed in the finish/colour....pretty colour but a bit too dark and towards the blue spectrum for me...hopefully the chanel one will be released in the uk...i think the shimmer would help!

WHOA. its like oranges and oranges. I am a total nail snob and was like, uh huh SURE they are super close. . . but wow, just wow. I have to say, I prefer the China Glaze. Skip the shimmer.

Omg! I just wrote a post about China Glaze for Audrey =) I love all 3 of them waiting May.. Absolutely i will get all! Maybe you want to cheack it out! Here is my post link: http://insideofmypurse.blogspot.com/2010/04/china-glaze-for-audrey.html

Wow, this is a lovely color! I have For Audrey already so I think I'll pass on this one...but the other two are calling my name! Christine are you going to do swatches of those when you get them?

If I get them, I definitely will!

that subtle shimmer in the chanel one is really pretty. i already own for audrey. in fact, i'm wearing it right now! plus i'd NEVER pay more than $10 for a nail polish especially since i'm sure it costs pennies to produce the stuff.

It really is a pretty colour. I do like the fact that there is some shimmer in it! But I mean if the For Audrey is so similiar (minus the shimmer) I would rather just use that and save the money to buy other colours!

I agree with just about everyone else...altho I already own for audrey, the chanel looks so shimmery & pretty. Don't know if I can resist.

christine these photos look v professional.. especcially the last one :) it looks like some promo ad for the nail polish lol it really is a beautiful colour but i cant be spending that much on a polish :( haha

The color is gorgeous Christine! Thanks for the swatches and for the recommendation. There is always a cheaper variant to any nail polish or makeup color :)

Love the colour, but pricey! I don't spend that much on nail polish as a rule, because I buy too many!!!! =)

ChG For Audrey looks just a tiny bit better than Chanel :D The color is great! :)

I am totally loving the lighting in this. Gotta admit I only clicked on this because the lighting was so amazing, plus the quality is beautiful. Im an amateur photographer and wish I could do what you just did =) <3

Aww, thanks AlyxVeee! I am an amateur photographer, too, but I'd say like pre-amateur, really. I don't have the time to learn about a lot of the mechanics and technical aspects of photography and lighting, but I wish I did!

Love the colour, literally. But Chanel's enamel are so bad they're chipping in 2 hours! Unfortunately, China Glaze is not sold in Italy (maybe in 2 shop in the entire Country?) so you are tempting me anyway! Vale

I like the chanel one cuz its shimmery/sparkly

I have never seen another person with my name before....v.cool!