Chanel Provocation Le Vernis is an intense dark vampy plum-wine. The color has a high-gloss finish and goes on with smoothly. It’s a classic fall vamp nail color. It darkens with two coats but I love that the purple tones are still visible. I really love this color.
Swatched with two coats:
There are a number of other dark vampy plums on the market. There are quite a few alternatives that are similar to Chanel Provocation. I didn’t look at all of the plums I own to compare, but I suspect there is a good dupe out there. Chanel Provocation is similar to Rescue Beauty Lounge Bruised and Chanel Diabolic on the nail wheel. RBL Bruised is lighter and Chanel Diabolic is deeper and more brownish.
A few comparisons of the closest shades I could find shown below. Chanel Vamp is significantly more reddish, Dior Shadow is more purple/blue, Dior Orchid is close but has more red, Provocation has the most dusty-purple tones, Chanel Vendetta is almost blue/violet when compared side-by-side.
Bottom line I think it’s a must-have even though it’s not the most unique shade. The coverage is smooth and opaque. It gives a defined edgy look that’s perfect for fall. Did you pick up any of the Twin Sets items this year? Which color/item was your favorite?