23 Luxe Nail Polishes to Buy When Your Vibe Says "Chanel" But Your Budget Says "Nope"

Hand with shiny, burgundy-red nail polish

(Image credit: @betina_goldstein)

It would be nice to collect Chanel bags and line them on the shelves of my walk-in closet like so many influencers do. Or wear a Dior dress for my next black-tie event. Maybe even slip into a pair of Gucci loafers before heading out on a casual coffee run. Yes, it would be nice, but let's be real: I'm a girl on a budget. Designer clothing and accessories, as inspirational and exciting as they might be, aren't currently accessible to me at this stage of life.

That doesn't mean I have to forgo designer brands altogether. Quite the contrary. I'm a scrappy editor who incorporates luxury where she can, and ever since college, that's been in my beauty routine. Yep, I love designer beauty products, and thanks to their less-exorbitant price tags, I'm able to indulge in everything from lipstick, to eye shadow and beyond.

My favorite designer beauty item to buy, though, has to be nail polish. I don't know what it is, but I'm a sucker for a luxe glass bottle filled with smooth, shiny pigment. Ahead, see the designer nail polishes—from Chanel, Dior, Gucci, and more—I'm buying to satisfy my shopping habit without breaking my budget.

Chanel

Dior

Gucci

Hermès

Kaitlyn McLintock
Associate Beauty Editor

Kaitlyn McLintock is an Associate Beauty Editor at Who What Wear. Although she covers a wide range of topics across a variety of categories, she specializes in celebrity interviews and skincare and wellness content. Having lived in Los Angeles and Austin, Texas, she recently relocated back to her home state of Michigan where she works remotely. Prior to Who What Wear, she freelanced for a variety of industry-leading digital publications, including InStyle, The Zoe Report, Bustle, Hello Giggles, and Coveteur. Before that, she held a long-term internship and subsequent contributor position at Byrdie. When she's not writing, researching, or testing the latest and greatest beauty products, she's working her way through an ever-growing book collection, swimming in the Great Lakes, or spending time with family.