Timeless, Classy and Fail-Safe: These Are the 11 Chicest Nail Polish Colours Ever Made

As a beauty editor, I have over a decade of experience writing about nail trends. And when it comes to nail colours, I've noticed that there are certain ones that will forever stand the test of time.

While chrome finishes and trending nail shades might dominate one season, there’s a reason we always return to those effortlessly chic tones that never look dated—the ones that feel elegant no matter the occasion.

Having tested hundreds of the best nail polishes over the years and spoken to the top nail techs, I've compiled some of the chicest nail polish colours of all time. I've pinned down the exact shades, from timeless reds to classic pinks. Whether you’re refreshing your at-home manicure kit or booking your next salon appointment, consider this your guide to the ultimate edit of timeless nail colours—the ones every beauty lover should have in rotation.

1. Chanel Rouge Noir

I'd argue that Chanel Rouge Noir is the chicest nail polish colour of all time. There isn't another nail colour out there that is so steeped in history and lore as this deep red nail polish, which garners the power to look beautiful on absolutely everyone. It was originally born when Chanel's then makeup director Dominique Moncourtois, and makeup artist Heidi Morawetz, were tasked with creating a red-black nail polish just days before the Autumn/Winter '94 show in Paris. By combining red and black pigments, the first version of Rouge Noir was created, and it went on to become one of the most classic nail colours around the world. It's often imitated, but nothing comes close to the original.

2. OPI Bubble Bath

Bubble Bath is one of the most iconic OPI nail colours of all time, and for good reason. This sheer pink nail polish is almost transparent, lending your nail a glassy tint of pink that resembles a bubble. It looks great worn alone, layered up for more opacity, or even layered with other nail colours such as Funny Bunny to create a custom nail colour—it's one of the most-requested OPI nail layering combinations amongst nail techs I know. I've not met anyone who doesn't love this nail colour, and it remains a favourite amongst the Who What Wear UK team.

3. Dior Nail Glow

For the nail minimalists amongst us, there's nothing not to love about Dior Nail Glow. Think of it as tinted blush for your nails—it imparts a healthy yet sheer wash of bright pink that instantly makes your nails look healthy and glossy. The sheerness makes it low-maintenance (chips are barely visible). I love wearing this in between other nail colours when I want a low-fuss mani that still makes my hands look manicured.

4. Essie Allure

In my quest to find the best sheer white polishes, I've found my favourite. Essie's Allure is not only one of the best Essie nail colours, but one of the chicest nail polish colours of all time. It's a sheer milky white, but has a creamy undertone that is really flattering and not as stark as other milky white nail colours I've tried. Two coats make my nails look incredible, and it also works as a brilliant base for a milky French manicure, too.

5. OPI Lincoln Park After Dark

For those who love a dark and moody manicure, step this way. OPI's Lincoln Park After Dark is another of the nail brand's most popular winter nail colours. What makes it special is that it's a very dark aubergine hue—so dark that it almost reads black on the nails. But the hint of purple makes it more flattering than black nail polish. It's not one for wallflowers, but it's one of the chicest dark nail colours that makes a statement.

6. Hermès Rose Coquille

Need I say more? Hermès nail polishes are as chic as they come, and each shade is inspired by the enamel hardware colours you'll find across their accessories. Rose Coquille is my favourite, which is a sheer pink with a beige undertone that is understated yet so classy. The bottle itself looks and feels luxurious (and it also comes in its own Hermès orange box).

7. OPI Big Apple Red

I'd be remiss to miss OPI Big Apple Red off this list, which is one of the most coveted red nail polishes in the world. The bright yet cool-toned red hue makes it one of the most universally flattering red nail polishes ever, and has an expensive-looking gloss. When in doubt, you'll never regret choosing Big Apple Red for your manicure—it works year-round and transcends nail trends.

8. Chanel Ballerina

Delicate milky pinks don't come much classier than Chanel Ballerina. This tulle-like sheer pink delivers a whisper of milky pink to the nails that resembles the translucency of a ballerina's tutu. One coat ensures your nails look freshly manicured, while two to three coats bestow a milky pink glow to your hands. FYI—it was also Selena Gomez's engagement nail colour.

9. Manucurist Hollyhock

This stunning deep red quite literally stopped my thumbs mid-scroll, and I wasn't surprised to learn that it was a Manucurist nail polish. The French brand has some of the chicest nail polish colours I've seen, but Hollyhock, pictured above, is perhaps my favourite. It's a deep, black red hue that looks especially chic on short nails, and it's a favourite of our beauty director, Shannon Lawlor.

"I like to think I'm a milky manicure person, but truth be told, my heart lies with deep, deep reds," she says. "I have never seen a black-red manicure that doesn't look chic. I have tried basically every polish out there in this sort of palette, and while I know Chanel Rouge Noir is a classic (I will never be without a bottle), more recently, it's Manucurist's Hollyhock that has won me over. It's not quite chocolate, not quite wine, not quite onyx—it's perfection." What's great is that it comes in both nail polish form and a Green Flash formula that can be cured under an LED lamp for a long-lasting mani.

10. OPI Funny Bunny

OPI Funny Bunny is arguably the best milky white of all time. If you want the look of a milky manicure, then this is the nail polish to go for. One coat gives a sheer tint, while two or more coats provide more intensity while still remaining sheer. I'm not surprised that it remains one of OPI's bestselling nail polish shades.

11. Bio Sculpture Chocolate Fudge

As brown nail colours go, Bio Sculpture's Chocolate Fudge is the shade I see on the feeds of celebrity nail techs and the hands of the chicest individuals. It's the perfect milk chocolate brown with grey undertones, which looks stunning on every complexion. What's great is that Bio Sculpture offer it both in-salon and in nail polish form if you're doing your nails at home.