Some months back, when I first spotted promo pics of YSL’s Terriblement Noir Manucure Couture Duo No. 6, I got really excited.
It was perfect. After all, I love black nail polish, I love YSL and I love YSL’s duos.
Jill said, “You have to order that!”
Weeks later, when the duo was finally available on Nordstrom’s website, Jill saw me looking at it again.
“Seriously? You’re going to order that?” she asked.
I was confused. She was weird, I told her. Didn’t she tell me just weeks ago that I should order it? But she still acted like I was insane for wanting to order the duo. And so I ended up not doing it.
In the early hours of December 26, I found out why Jill put her acting skills to use.
Because the duo was part of her awesome Christmas gift to me. She ordered it from Nordstrom and Ver brought it home to Manila.
YSL’s packaging is incredibly gorgeous but also incredibly difficult to photograph.
Illustrated instructions are printed inside the box.
Inspired by YSL’s iconic Le Smoking tuxedo jacket, this duo features two kinds of black polish.
One is glossy and one is matte.
I love how the bottle caps match the polish inside the bottle – one has YSL’s classic shiny cap while the other bottle’s cap is a matte gold.
I love this mani. It’s so pretty.
Naturally, I had to play with the duo immediately.
I was worried about using YSL’s angled brush but as soon as I trusted the brush and let it do what it was supposed to do, it gave me no trouble at all.
I was pretty concerned about doing the glossy tips – French manicures aren’t my thing at all.
But thanks to the brush, it was pretty easy. I just had to make sure I swiped it on at the right angle and it did all the work. They weren’t kidding when they called it multi-usage.
I love the formula of both shades – the shiny polish was so rich and the matte one dried all velvety without being chalky.
It’s such a pretty mani.
I feel like I should have made the tips a little wider though so they would be more noticeable.
I chose to use matte as the base and the shiny polish for the tips but you can totally do it the other way too – glossy black as the base with matte tips.
I’m gonna try that next time.
When Tatin saw my nails, she said, “It looks like a tuxedo!”
Exactly.
Now I love black polish even more.
Thank you, Jill, for the awesome gift. I love it. I love too that you’ve single-handedly built my YSL collection. That rocks, that rocks big time.
Whoa, formal wear for your nails! Looks very classy. Hope you swatch the other way too (shiny/matte).
Absolutely! As soon as my nails grow long enough
I cut them super short 
wow, this is such a subtle yet gorgeous manicure, reminds me a bit of what morticia adams might wear to high tea
haha! morticia rocks
i would totally have high tea with her – and i hate tea!
When this duo launched at my nearest YSL counter, I snatched it up right away, planned on swatching it right away, then I had a horrible accident fluffing up a pillow, whereupon my pinkie nail literally snapped off, and so these beauties sat there staring at me in an accusatory manner. I wound up chopping off all my nails, mainly because I hate seeing them uneven, and then I had to wait for them to grow long enough to be able to wear it like you’ve done, and blah, blah, blah….I think maybe I’m ready to post my swatches now, lol! I just hope I can give myself a decent french mani — something that’s not my forte, but you’ve inspired me! Oh yeah, did I mention how absolutely awesome I think your mani is? Bravo, my friend!!
Eugenia! Ouch! That sounds painful
The opposite has happened to me – I’ve been wearing my nails long the past couple of months when in reality, I love my nails when they’re super short. So to celebrate the new year, I cut them all and I’m in love with my super short nails again.
I can’t wait to see you swatch this set! And i know you will totally rock it! If I can do French tips, you totally can! Your application skills are amazing
I love this! I told myself I didn’t need these colors; until I saw this! I’d want to do this combo though and I can not do a french tip! Did you really freehand those? They look awesome!
I swear, I thought I cannot do a french tip too but the brush really makes it easy – it was made for french tips! I was surprised at how easy it was, it’s all in the angle!
that is one insanely sexy duo! LOVE!
It’s crazy! And I know you would totally rock this!
so chic !! it is really awesome. I hope you will show the other version too (matte over shiny).
I will!
did you paint the entire nail matte and then put the shiny black coat over it? or did you stop at the tip?
Yes, I painted the entire nail matte before adding the shiny tips