Chanel
The ALU Archives – Chanel Vert Sacrilege
 The ALU Archives focuses on older, beloved shades from the All Lacquered Up stash.
My Chanel Jade nail polish frenzy is growing. I am seriously dying to get my hands on the shade. I heard from a reader that it was on sale at Chanel.com for like a minute but I’m hoping that isn’t the last we’ll see of it (i.e. Tokyo Happening). UPDATE: I was misinformed. I am told that Jade will not be publicly released until September 10th. To quell my fever I had to pull out one of my all time fave Chanels, Vert Sacrilege, for this week’s Archives. Check it out! |
I was lucky enough to score a bottle of Vert Sacrilege through a swap on MUA and even though it’s a tester and the formula is a little thin, I LURVE it! I mean, it’s a GREEN Chanel. A bottle of shimmery forest gorgeousness , what’s not to love? It’s like it was made for me. The shimmer is a bit metallic so there are tiny brush strokes but I can deal. I can more than deal, I’m just plain blind to them. I seriously wanted to hug the bottle when I got it. 
Since we’re on such a matte kick and the new Zoya MatteVelvet green hasn’t yet arrived, I thought adding a layer of Nubar’s matte top coat would give me an idea of what’s to come. I almost prefer it mattified. What do you think?
Unfortunately, this is one of those really hard to find colors. Testers were still around on ebay a few years ago but it seems the well has run dry. If you find a hidden treasure trove somewhere, give us the heads up (after you buy yours of course).
So are there any other fanatics out there hoarding a bottle of Vert Sacrilege? Should we petition Chanel Creative Director Peter Philips to give us a dark green? Let’s here it!
The ALU Archives – Chanel Vamp and Metallic Vamp
 The ALU Archives focuses on older, beloved shades from the All Lacquered Up stash.
I’m not a regular Craigslist reader but for the heck of it I did a search last winter for nail polish. Much to my surprise there was a listing for a box of random polish for only $5. When I found out the seller lived two streets from me, I figured it couldn’t hurt to check it out. Let me say, it was TOTALLY worth it. I found a couple treasures in that box including a bottle of Chanel Metallic Vamp. Score! Check out this fun discontinued find along with the current version of Vamp after the jump! |
Chanel Vamp first hit the scene in the early 90s and was an instant sell-out hit. Uma Thurman wearing it in Pulp Fiction only added it its cult status. Though back then Vamp was a creme. Then in 1995 they released Metallic Vamp and Very Very Vamp as sister shades similar to how there are multiple “Satins” in the Le Vernis lineup.
A few years back Chanel relaunched Vamp in the US but with shimmer. They also released a creme European version with the same product number (#18) only named Rouge Noir. Rouge Noir has been released here in sets but hasn’t been added to the perm lineup. So if you want the original 90s Vamp you want Rouge Noir. If you want a hint of shimmer get Vamp. Confused, you won’t be after this episode of Soap. Sorry, it just popped in my head. Did anyone else watch that show? Enough history, let’s check out the polish.
This is the current version of Vamp. It’s a deep berry with just a hint of shimmer. Though the shimmer is more apparent in the bottle than when it’s dry on the nail. For all intents and purposes, I’d consider it a creme. The formula applies perfectly. It flows so smoothly and is so well pigmented I wish I had more nails to paint. 
And here’s my Craigslist gem, Metallic Vamp, a deep plum metallic. I would have paid more than $5 just for this one alone. Granted the formula isn’t at its best. It’s a bit goopy and brush stroke-y but as a collector I can overlook that. I may add a drop or two of thinner and see what happens. Regardless it’s a keeper. 
Chanel Vamp retails for $23 and is available on Chanel.com and at most department stores both online and on counter.
How many of you own Vamp? Which version? Do you prefer it as a creme or shimmer? Anyone have a bottle of Very Very Vamp?
Chanel Intermezzo and Gondola Le Vernis for Fall 2009
As a city built on water, Venice was a source of great intrigue for Gabrielle Chanel. She saw it as simultaneously dramatic and fragile – qualities she herself possessed. With the imagination of the CHANEL Makeup Studio, Venice comes to life in a palette reflective of the city’s shimmering facades and mosaics, and the sparkling aquatic colours of its lagoons.
As seen in the runway looks created by Peter Philips, Global Creative Director of CHANEL Makeup, at the 2009/10 Cruise Collection show, held on the beaches of Venice, Italy, rich sienna and deep rose tones, and dusky greys and greens combine for a modern look that can be softened for day or emboldened come evening.
Ahh Venice. How I long to go back. I spent three amazing days there with the Boyfriend back in 2002. We stayed in a gorgeous guest house, Palazzo Bembo, right on the canal near the Rialto Bridge. We spent our days wandering the maze of streets shopping, sightseeing and discovering the amazing food and wine of the region. This season Chanel aims to transport us to Venice with their fall colleciton inspired by the colors of this magical city. For nails they introduce Intermezzo, a white pearl, and Gondola, a stunning maroon shimmer. Let’s take a look.
Gondola is a rich burgundy sparkler. It is packed with gold and red micro-shimmer that catch the light adding a bit of jazz to what could be just another berry red. In typical Chanel fashion it’s a chic shimmer not a blingy glitter polish. It applied in two even coats and dried to a glossy, smooth finish.
Intermezzo is an icy white with an opalescent shimmer that gives off a pinkish sheen in the light. I’m not gonna lie, I’m not really a fan of the formula. It applies pretty streaky, requiring three coats and even then my smile line shows through.
The Chanel Fall collection Le Vernis lacquers retail for $23/ea and are available now on Chanel.com and at Chanel counters nationwide.
What do we think Fanatics? Are we loving these or what? Anyone planning to indulge?
More Chanel Jade Nail Collection Info
I’ve got some additional details on Chanel’s Jade Nail collection and I know you can’t get enough of it, right? My nails are dying to be lacquered in Jade. Be still my beating heart.
Debuting at the CHANEL Ready-to-Wear Autumn/Winter 2009-2010 fashion show, Peter Philips, Global Creative Director of CHANEL Makeup, created the JADE NAIL Collection with two exclusive, limited edition nail enamels in rare colours: “Jade†and “Jade Roseâ€.
These mineral-inspired shades transform the nails into genuine gems and recall the pink jade jewelry and the pink knit and pistachio tweed of the Autumn/Winter 2009-2010 Ready-to-Wear Collection.
“For the nails, Karl wanted a green shade to evoke the jade notes of the collection. So I worked with our laboratories to offer him a monochromatic palette of 10 green shades. We chose the colour that most resembled the green tweed skirt suit from the collection,†explains Peter Philips.
Suggested retail price: $25.00 Available for limited time starting October 2009. Available exclusively at CHANEL boutiques, CHANEL Makeup Studios and on CHANEL.com.
The I Love Fridays Chanel Giveaway – Cosmic Violine & Mica Rose
 TGIF Fanatics!!! It’s a beautiful day here in the CLE. We’re packed up and heading out for a long weekend with friends at our favorite summer locale, Put-In-Bay, so why NOT start it off with a giveaway? A great way to kick off the weekend, no?
Up for grabs, one bottle each of Chanel Le Vernis in Cosmic Violine and Mica Rose from the Celestial Lights collection. Just enter your info in the form below and tell me what kind of polish you’d like to see Chanel create and you could win! |
This giveaway is open to all readers and ends on July 3rd, 2009 at 11:55pm EST. To get a peek at what you could win… CLICK HERE. Good luck and have a fabulous weekend!
Lisa N.
Ms Meatballhead
Birdie
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