Rouge Noir is a very dark red, almost black, shade of Chanel's Le Vernis nail lacquer, introduced in 1995. Chanel's history explains that it was created as a reference to one of Gabrielle Chanel's favourite colours, and that it met with remarkable success.
Chanel had sold make-up since 1924, when the Société des Parfums Chanel created its first powders and lipsticks. Rouge Noir arrived at the same moment Karl Lagerfeld cast Stella Tennant as the androgynous face of the 1996-97 ready-to-wear collections.
The shade became a cult beauty product and has remained in the Le Vernis range since. Its success came under Karl Lagerfeld, who had led the house since 1983.