Wine coloured polishes make the most neglected of nails look instantly immaculate. Bobbi Brown’s lacquer has the rich pigmentation of ripened grapes, which explains its name. Remember:  chips are more obvious with darker colours so use a top coat to give your polish staying power.

Nail Varnish in Bordeaux, £11, www.bobbibrown.co.uk

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Chanel’s polishes are at the end pricey end of the spectrum, but the intense pigment of Le Vernis’ rapid-dry formula makes it a seasonal investment we keep making. A scarlet mani is classic at Christmas so pick Rouge Flamboyant, keeping nails short and neatly filed to avoid triangular talons. 

Le Vernis in Rouge Flamboyant, £18, www.chanel.com

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Nothing takes the gothic edge out of black nail varnish like infinite numbers of silvery sparkles. As with any glitter-based lacquers, avoid spangles on the rest of your person so twinkling nails aren’t outshone.

La Laque Couture No59 Nuit Noir, £18.50, available from 26 December, www.yslbeauty.co.uk

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MAC’s new cream formula is developed without toluene, formaldeyde or DBP, and fortified with vitamins B5, C and E, so you don’t have to worry about painting nasties on your nails. Midnight Sky is a daringly deep shade of navy with a high-gloss, shimmering finish; the grown-up way to do glamour in peep toes.

Studio Nail Lacquer in Midnight Sky, £10, www.maccosmetics.co.uk

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A quick way to jazz up a wintry shade like aubergine for evening soirées is to paint a layer of spangles over the top. Described as a ‘golden leaf effect’, Dior’s top coat will protect your base colour from chipping, while giving it a textured finish not unlike glittery wrapping paper. Oh and how cute is its bottle?

Left: Diorific Vernis Golden Shock, £18.90, www.johnlewis.com; Diorific Vernis Smoky, £18.90, www.johnlewis.com

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Pastel shades are acceptable in winter, but icy colours work best. Butter London’s ‘Lady Muck’ polish shows up soft, snowdrift blue and, thanks to pearl pigments, has an iridescent lustre about it. Ideal for ice skating outings.

Lady Muck, £6, www.butterlondon.co.uk

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If you’re looking for a precise shade of polish, Topshop’s collection is a good place to start. They’re fast-drying, long-wearing and this shade called ‘Filament’ has a glossy chrome finish that knocks the socks off gold and silver.

Nails in Filament, £6, www.topshop.com

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We’re coveting the moody hues in 3.1 Phillip Lim’s collaboration with NARS, which took inspiration from the colours that exist in shadows, hence names like ‘Insidious’, ‘Cross Roads’ and ‘Wrong Turn’. Our favourite’s ‘Shutter’; that rich jewel tone will look sumptuous on long, preened nails.

3.1 Phillip Lim for NARS Nail Polish in Shutter, £15, narscosmetics.co.uk

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Tom Ford’s ‘Flo Naked’ is the colour of brandy butter, or bread sauce come to think of it. Either way, this designer lacquer delivers great coverage and long-lasting shine so your mani will remain intact even after you’ve cleared up Christmas dinner plates.

Tom Ford Nail Polish in Flo Naked, £26, www.selfridges.com

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This Barry M polish is a Christmas tree in a bottle. Paint nails with several coats to achieve a glitter bomb effect and and you’re all set for the 25^th.

Limited Edition Nail Paint in Christmas Tree, £3.99, www.superdrug.com

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