Happy birthday, Rouge Noir

The legend that is Rouge Noir turns 20 this year.

Possibly the most famous shade name in the beauty world (essie’s Mademoiselle and MAC’s RubyWoo also spring to mind), Chanel’s Le Vernis Rouge Noir has been on waiting lists the world over for an incredible two decades.

Here’s a bit of history from the brand itself:

LE VERNIS Rouge Noir has found its place in the history of CHANEL. In an article about colour in fashion, the May 1926 issue of American Vogue emphasized Mademoiselle’s visionary preference for this intense and unconventional shade.

“Black and white are joined by red, a garnet shade, like the heart of a black cherry, which CHANEL uses frequently and which is often called ‘red-black’.” The audacity, modernity and timelessness of CHANEL lie in this declaration of opposites, a typically feminine paradox.

1995: An icon is born.

During the runway show for the Autumn/Winter 1994 Ready-to-Wear collection, an almost black nail polish with a hint of red was swept over the models’ nails in the busy backstage atmosphere and instantly caught all eyes. LE VERNIS Rouge Noir. An absolutely original shade, first called “Vamp” in the United States, created as an homage to the intense garnet colour that Mademoiselle favoured.

Brilliant and mysterious, it took a strong and audacious stance, between the fiery passion of red and the deep simplicity of black.

From that point on, LE VERNIS Rouge Noir met with incredible and immediate success. It was an unprecedented sensation.

In true Chanel fashion, they’re celebrating in style with an exquisite festive season collection to end all others.

The achingly talented team at the Chanel Makeup Creation Studio has created an opulent collection for the holidays, naturally inspired by the one and only Rouge Noir.

The Collection Rouge Noir Absolument plays tribute to the shade in a way only Chanel could, and like every other collection before it, I want every single product. And before you ask, yes, this is my FAVOURITE collection, ever.

The collection launches at all Chanel counters nationwide today, and look a little something like this:

The Exclusive Creation