Chanel Les Vernis Nail Colour in Rouge Carat for Holiday 2011

Look at this exquisite red! Les Vernis Nail Colour in #587, Rouge Carat ($25), captured my heart. I have no idea when I'll wear it, or how often, but I adore the color.

I didn't swatch this shade last week because I'm application-challenged. Would someone please give me lessons? First, I'd like to know how to get an even application. Second, I'd like to know how to do my right hand, painting with my left. Oh, and if anyone has tips on keeping one's hand entirely steady with a pinched nerve making it tingle, that would be useful information. Don't I sound like a mess?

Don't look too closely at these color wheel applications. You'll just prove my point. Normally, I swatch nail color for you by getting a professional application. I didn't have time to do that last week because I was out in the woods hugging trees. I took these swatch photos in a little patch of full late-day sunlight yesterday. I applied two coats, although one covered nicely with saturated color.

I wanted to show off this gorgeous "Christmas red." To me, that's the color of Rouge Carat. I hope my reference to a religious holiday (celebrated by people of many faiths) will be forgiven. I don't mean to dissuade anyone who doesn't celebrate Christmas from trying this gorgeous, glamorous nail color. Christmas is part of my own life. When I think about Christmas, I see wreathes, red ribbons, and, of course, Santa Claus. Red and green! So, I even got one swatch photo with my neighbor's green grass behind (he had some good sun patches late in the day).

The photo directly above was taken against a silver car. It turned into the perfect grey card (something I've been meaning to buy for a long time). The shade is sumptuous. I think it's true red, not blue-red, nor orangy - simply perfectly red. It shines with the gleam in Santa's eye, but there's no glitter. I think it's an elegant red.

I'll definitely be taking Rouge Carat with me for a professional application sometime soon. I'll select a day when I want to look classy. This shade is going to do it!

I purchased my new Chanel Holiday 2011 collection at Neiman Marcus Tysons Galleria. If you need help, give Kathy Shoreman or Janine Greenberg a call. The collection is arriving at all Chanel counters now and is for sale at Chanel.com.

Here's a swatch photo of the new gold eyeliner, Or Liquid Eyeliner, at left and the Noir-Ivoire Eyeshadow Duo. I took the photo in the store with my iPhone. I didn't purchase them, so I can't do an in-depth feature. I "had to" leave a few things behind in this extraordinary holiday collection. There are more collections from favorite brands to come. I need more money! That's another challenge.

Photos by Best Things in Beauty; one photo courtesy of Chanel