[unpaid/sample/affiliate/ad] This week I have a couple of hand related posts and I’ll make a start with the Nails Inc Cherry Noir duo which has totally hit the seasonal mood change head on – I suddenly started craving Rouge Noir-esq nails and both shades – Billie and Scarlet – are bang on for the same deep and vampy nails. There’s a lot of patent and faux croc/lizard etc around in the shops for autumn and these colours feel very relevant to them. I’m on the look out for a pair of suede boots in the same shade as Billie, below.

Billie is not quite a dupe for Rouge Noir because it has a bit too much brown but really, I am splitting hairs here. As you can see, it’s in the It’s Topless formula which means that you don’t need a topcoat because it dries quickly. I love the extra gloss of a top coat so I tend to use regardless but if you’re happy to give it a couple of minutes, you’ll be good to go.

I’m no manicurist but for a home effort, I was quite pleased with this. I can be more precise but these days lack the patience. Nobody is going to be looking at my nails in such a magnified way in real life.

Of the two, Scarlett, above, is my favourite. It’s a deep, shimmery red that is just so super-glam and lustrous that it’s hard not to want to wear it every single day.

Yum! The nip in the air tells me it’s time to get the jumpers out of storage and back into the cupboards but new season colours always elevate my mood. It’s strange, isn’t it, how almost imperceptible changes outside alter our tastes and desires? It’s still sunny – I still hope those last green tomatoes on the vine will miraculously turn red – but the mood is different. You can find the £15 Cherry Noir duo HERE.