Manicurist Marian Newman on Chanel Le Vernis

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Chanel Le Vernis – Fracas, Accessoire and Emprise
Chanel Le Vernis – Fracas, Accessoire and EmpriseCourtesy of Chanel

We speak to manicurist extraordinare Marian Newman about her favourite Chanel colours, Christmas beauty tips and her personal nail icons...

Christmas is all about pairings. Holly and Ivy, David Bowie and Bing Crosby. This year, Chanel chose to celebrate the release of their new Le Vernis nail shades (Fracas, Accessoire and Emprise) with manicurists Marian Newman and Sophy Robson. Newman is one of the industry's most celebrated, longstanding manicurists, having worked on groundbreaking shoots with photographer Nick Knight, alongside hairdresser Sam McKnight and make-up artist Val Garland. She established the Urban Retreat nail bar, and has represented the professional nails industry on a British Industry board. AnOther caught up with Newman to discuss her favourite Chanel colours, Christmas beauty tips and her personal nail icons.

What are your favourite Chanel nail colours this season?
I love Malice, it appears shimmery in the bottle but that translates to the deepest glossiest gloss that you can dive into. It's perfect for the cold weather. As an opposite (I'm always one or the other) Beige is beautiful and very wearable for everyone.

"Brighten your colour up quickly by painting a little glitter at the base of the nail"

What's your Christmas beauty tip?
For nails, keep a bottle of glitter polish handy. Have your colour on but brighten it up quickly by painting a little glitter at the base of the nail, or the tip (the tip will help stop it from chipping), or just the ring finger, and then add to it a few days later until all nails are covered. For hands, wear a barrier hand cream as they are in and out of water all day and going from hot indoors to cold out of doors which seriously dehydrates them. A barrier will help keep moisture in.

Who's your nail icon of all-time?
Lady Gaga as she lets me do what I want (well, usually seems to like my suggestions); Adele because of her unapologetic glamour (I've never done her nails though) and Audrey Hepburn for the original 'nude' nail (I can never choose just 1!).

How will you be spending Christmas?
For the first time in four years, at home enjoying feeding my family and playing silly games.

Text by Laura Bradley