There’s a reason that Chanel’s Les Vernis line of nail polishes is amongst the most coveted in the industry-and it’s only partly to do with the under-$30 dose of designer luxury. Plus, the nail shades themselves are often limited edition, creating a lasting demand when electric blue Vibrato and Monochrome gray are no longer available options. Beyond couture confections and rotating ready-to-wear staples, the French fashion house’s beauty selection is what really moves the needle for customers who want a manicure to match every fall mood.

For Chanel’s Spring-Summer 2022 collection, winter-friendly chromatic pops in lacquer shades like Mirage mauve, Rhythm navy, and, of course, inky Black could be spotted in looks that drifted onto the retro, raised catwalk like tonal waves. On the last day of Paris fashion week, a presentation at the Grand Palais has been the traditional setting, though the historic venue was closed for yesterday’s show and replaced with the house’s alt-location deemed “Grand Palais Éphémère” on Place Joffre.

Inspired by late ’80s and early ’90s supermodels and the photographers that helped make them famous, Chanel designer and creative director Virginie Viard called upon Inez and Vinoodh to shoot models like Quannah Chasinghorse-Potts and Lily-Rose Depp and actress Rebecca Dayan in black and white, their images teased ahead of the presentation. Luckily, the main event was in full, living color, with the cast posing in oversized blazers, twirling in tweed suits, and waving capes of fabric like sheer flags for the flashbulbs. Here, a rainbow of varnish cues for every occasion pulled from the all-the-time stylish shades seen on today’s retro runway.

Black

Not quite a patent finish, Boy De Chanel’s slightly sheer, matte black texture is a reminder that inky nails lend a flash of dark drama for all. Layer coats of the quick-dry polish to level up the intensity.

Ballerina

The bestselling shade is reminiscent of blushy satin ballet shoes and lends a soft wash of ultra-pale pink as translucent as the silky fabrics that floated across the catwalk.

Terre Brûlée

One of the line’s limited edition shades, Terre Brûlée, is the bricky red shade that embodies Chanel's cosmetic signature. A pure classic.