In 1995, the profession of nail technician was still rare in Japan, and self-manicured nails were the norm. Nail colors were primarily pink and red, and long, slender nails were considered beautiful.

Then, Chanel's Rouge Noir suddenly appeared. The impact at the time is unforgettable. This blood-like red, mixed with black, quickly became famous not only in Japan but worldwide, leading to prolonged stockouts. Everything about it was new; for instance, it truly shone when applied to short, neatly trimmed nails, like a child's.

Personally, I couldn't help but wonder why, despite its intense blackness, it never felt gothic, and instead harmonized so perfectly with white long-sleeved shirts, striped knit tops, or beige cashmere sweaters. Since this nail polish achieved explosive popularity, many manufacturers have rushed to release similar colors, but the overwhelming elegance and avant-garde feel it possesses are unmatched. Most remarkably, even 23 years after its release, the appeal of this color remains undimmed.

Rouge Noir was born from Chanel's Autumn/Winter 1994 Paris Collection show. An anecdote from the collection look photoshoot before the show: when red nail polish was paired with the outfits for a black-and-white shoot, the nails appeared as a hazy gray. Concerned, Dominique Moncourtois (then Chanel's Makeup Creator) wanted to make the nails appear 'blacker' and hastily painted the models' nails with black marker. By the day of the show, a nail polish mixed with red and black was ready. Supermodels confidently walked the runway wearing it, their fingertips drawing all attention... the rest, as they say, is history.

The emergence of a nail color like black-and-red can be said to have brought a sense of creative freedom to the somewhat conservative world of nail polish. Colorful and liberated nail styles began to emerge, and the prevailing theories of 'what constitutes beautiful nails' were spectacularly dismantled.

What's remarkable about Chanel is that even creations that might seem avant-garde are always chic when worn, elevating the allure of any woman. Moreover, they never feel dated, even a decade or two later, seamlessly becoming timeless styles. Rouge Noir will undoubtedly continue to be an iconic presence for the brand.

CHANEL

Le Vernis Longwear Nail Colour 18 Rouge Noir
Volume | 13mL
Price | ¥3,200 (excluding tax)

AYANA
Beauty writer. After working in product planning and development at a cosmetics company, she became independent. Her primary work involves articulating the stories behind objects created for beauty and the people involved in beauty. She aims to help women re-examine themselves and the world through a lens of beauty.
Instagram:tw0lipswithfang
www.ayana.tokyo

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