7 Red Nail Shades That Are Perfect For The Festive Season – From Letterbox Red To Rich Plum

Perennially chic, there’s nothing that says Christmas quite like a red nail - in our opinion, it’s just about as important as the tree. Less old-school glamour and more sumptuous seduction, adorning nails with the colour of love, in the festive season at least, is a magnet to the mistletoe.

Inspiration is close to hand from the myriad shades of red that were sent down the AW15 catwalks. At Julien McDonald nails took on a classic shade of letter-box red, while at Derek Lam, lacquer was sultry in a rich hue of plum. Perpetually alluring and universally flattering, red nails speak a sophisticated language. As versatile as you like, paired with barely-there make-up, a classic red lip, or a sultry smoky eye, a red polish completes the ultimate Christmas look.*

We’ve tried and tested a range of rouge shades and are quite confident that our edit will set hearts aflutter.

Smith & Cult's polishes supply high-octane glamour, while Models Own's glitter gel injects a bit of fun and sparkle. If you're after more attitude - true to form - Givenchy is the one for you. With Butter and Burberry, there's a bona fide ode to St Nick. Dolce takes on a hint of pink, whereas Diorific has a deeper tone and is a considered choice for the less girly among us.

Now we just need to sit tight and wait for the Nails Inc's Paint Spray Can to come in a lucious rouge!

Click through our gallery of the best shades of festive red nail varnish below.

*** Words: Phoebe J. McDowell ***