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This, my pretties, will be the nail polish that will launch a thousand autumnal blog posts and which will be the subject of many a covetous eye. It’s by Chanel – of course – it’s called Paradoxal, it’ll cost €21, and like its sell-out predecessors Jade and Particulaire, it seems set to be the subject of many a waiting list. And no doubt, the subject of many a dupe as the autumn wears on.
Like Lauder’s Surreal Violet (or er, those yokes you used to get in Frosties featuring Tony the Tiger) this has a now-you-see-it, now-you-don’t holographic iridescence about it. Look at this one way and it resembles nothing so much as Vendetta, from the Bohemian Fantasty collection, but turn the bottle and you get a flatter, minky-looking aubergine.
My polish prefs have turned to creme shades recently and iridescence kind of screams granny fingers to me. So I was a bit wary of this in the bottle, even though I really wanted to like it, y’know, just cos. Hell, it’s Chanel, darlings.
Given all that, how did it fare on my fingers?
Not that well, first time out. Two coats painted on looking like a flat, muddy greyed-purple, and you couldn’t see the shimmer at all. I couldn’t understand it. Could it be, I wondered, that this is a bit of an emperors new clothes-type polish? Y’know, one we all say we love but really, we don’t?
So I Googled. I checked out Temptalia and All Lacquered up’s swatches and they looked nothing like the result on my fingers. Perplexing. Then I had a brainwave. I SHOOK THE BOTTLE.
Next step was to remove the existing sludge and re-apply. Now, I can’t really get the purple shimmer to the extent the pair of bloggers mentioned above did, but perhaps the formulation is slightly different State-side. In any case, the result was a bit of a eureka moment. “Ah-HA,” I said, channeling Alan Partridge, “now I see it!”
(apologies for crappy paint job, I had to lash it on before the light went)
And indeed I did. Stylistically, Paradoxal is roughly half-way between the glossy deep darks of Rouge Noir and its ilk, and the greyed-out tones of Particulaire, with a bit of on-trend iridescence thrown in for good measure – but not too much, so it passes the granny fingers test ably. It’s a very ‘now’ sort of shade, quite glam, understated for all its dark colour – and ultimately wearable.
This is not my favourite Chanel polish by a long chalk – Blue Satin wins that prize – but when applied from a well-shaken bottle on nicely-kept short-ish nails, it’s one I think a lot of you will be very happy with. Oh, that is, if you can actually get your paws on one; speaking of which, the polish (and the autumn collection) goes on counter from August 13th.
This will have a waiting list, mark my words, so if you want one, get thee to a department store near you to register your interest. Oh – and do it now!
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OMG!! I need! I want!
I NEED, like NOW.
Hmm- in the bottle it looks very like a No. 7 polish I bought a few years ago-think it was called Petrol- must see if it’s still useable
Hmm I’m not sure…I think I might give this one a skip! I am still dreaming about the YSL ones you had up last week!
I really like that. I think the Chanel nail varnish formulation is getting better too – they don’t seem to chip as much. Anyone else found that?
Erm, well, it looks shimmeringly lovely in the bottle, but when I saw the pic, I assumed it was the muddy grey unshaken version and so I scrolled down to find a second pic – oopsy.
Can’t say I’ll be rushing out to buy this one then, such a pity
Naahh I’m gonna pass on this…I have a Bourjois one that’s similar
I’m with you Aifs – don’t think I’ll be adding my name to the list!
€21 for a nail polish! Yas are all nuts
I was waiting for you to make a post about this! I think its nice – but I have a shimmery-ish deep purple from Barry M that may be just the same. Still though – I do WANT it lol. I’ve never put my name on a waiting list for anything beauty before. I always assumed the SAs would think I was a mad woman. How do you go about putting yourself on a W.L.? Do I sound ridiculously stupid now?
Have a Rimmel nail polish called ‘zeitgeist’ which is very similar and has a hologram effect. THink they have discontinued it though as I have not been able to replace the bottle which is a few years old now. Never really a huge fan of Chanel nail polishes. For me anyways they ALWAYS chip and peel within a day.
Rimmel and Revlon I find the best for colour choice and staying power
Emz – yeah I agree with alchemystee too. I thought that was the muddy colour in the picture! That can’t be good! Although I do feel I shouldn’t judge with my Blueberry Ice cream nails on today!
Tigerlily – not at all! Lists are extremely common as it happens and have been in place for years, it’s just they’re getting a lot of press now. If you’re a regular customer at a counter then they’ll often contact you to tell you something they think you’ll like is in-coming, and would you like them to hold it for you. So that’s one way, the other is to go into counter and request to be put on the list for it, so you ensure you definitely get it. they’ll be well used to it, especially at Chanel so there is no harm in asking at all.
Kirstie thanks for that – does that mean when the particular product launches you get preference for getting your mitts on it over the regular punter who just walks up to the counter without being on the waiting list? Excuse the stupidity of me, I am severely tired today!
Tiger – absolutely, that’s the whole idea of it! You need to be on the list early though – no sense in being 500th if the shop’s only getting 100 bottles in. So like I say above, if you want it, register your interest now.
Like the look of Essie Lapis of Luxury, as mentioned in the Sunday Times Style on Sunday last-wondering if there might be a cheapo version however!
I was just reading All Lacquered Up’s blog for the first time yesterday and had a mini-stroke of excitement at her Paradoxal pics. Immediately followed by a mini-stroke of shame about having mini-stroke of excitement.. about a bleedin’ nail polish. Totally considering getting on the mythical Waiting List for this though, which I’ve never done before either..
really like the colour on your nails looks fab!!! So want it. Only prob is, have had nails shellac-ed the past 2 times I’ve got a manicure, and have now become obsessed with not having to do my nails for 2 weeks. Although they don’t have a full colour range, could prob do with giving my nails a break!
Me likey! Will be picking this up stateside very soon. Can’t be doing with paying Irish prices for Chanel varnies.
Granny finger! Teehee
Don’t really like it. Reminds me of when i used to mix mud and water when i was was young and throw it all over the place
Oooh god this is gorge. I’d be tempted to try it with a matte topcoat, too. Looks like it could be rather gorge in matte
This Paradoxal is all I’ve been hearing about on blogs for the last week! Yeah….just like you Kirstie, I’m a bit “whelmed”. For shimmery deep purple, I’ll stick with my Rimmel Pompous.
Tewwibly on-twend dahlink and all that but too muddy!
OMG Thalia, Rimmel Zeitgeist! It’s definately discontinued because it’s reached near-mythical status on various nail blogs on the interwebz. It pops up on Ebay from time to time for loads!
And the sickener is, I had a bottle years ago but I was really young and too shy to wear something that basically looked like a petrol puddle and I threw it out! GAAAH!
Kirstie, (and ladeez…) I’ve just found the mentalest nail polish ever. It’s GOSH’s Rainbow and it’s this mad glitter top coat except it’s not glitter – it’s these crazy iridescent flakes that glow pink and orange and green!
It’s an exact dupe of one the Yanks are always banging on about – Sally Hansen Hidden Treasure (which app. is all sold out over there anyway).
I put it over dark purple yesterday and I swear it was like dragon skin! Almost started hyperventilating with joy and Himself thought I’d finally lost it entirely.
No, defenitely won’t buy it
I like the look of it in the bottle but not on the nail. I think I will be holding out for Illamasqua’s competition winners collection.
V for vandetta??
I like but I wonder if it’s flattering on darker skin… Any thoughts anyone? Anyone at all? Oh, and by darker, I mean something between Halle Berry & Eva Longoria dark.
Oh I really want it… wonder if it’s cheaper in France & worth hanging on until September. Or should I waitlist my name here?
Decisions, decisions…
It might be cheaper in France!
I tried to add my name to a wait list at the counter in BT (Dublin) but they said that they were not accepting names bc they are not creating a wait list just yet.
The girl wasn’t completely friendly, so I don’t know if she was just being catty with me or if she was telling the truth… Do let me know if you find out about a wait list & good luck!
Great blog!! Thanks for the release date, got so excited I had to mention it and you on my blog
http://anneliepop.blogg.se/?tmp=29112926
Check out which nail varnish I added to my Chanel collection today at the duty free in Stockholm…
xoxo