Can a nail polish really be worth £25 (make that $30, Stateside)...?

Er, yes, we think it probably can, having slicked toenails and fingernails with these. The polish glides on super-smoothly and it really does have a 'lacquered' finish (very shiny-new-car, if you get our drift:  that wonderful depth and shimmer which expensive motors have).

There are 16 shades in the collection (launched just before Christmas) with some seasonal additions.  And it's Spring 2012's that have our heart beating that little bit faster, in particular the seriously bling gold (Gold Haze), gunmetally silver (Silver Smoke) and - our major crush - Burnished Rouge, which actually goes a deep, lustrous chocolate-y red when applied.

On toenails, it's a definite last-er:  three weeks and counting without a chip.  And there was a major swoon in Margaret Dabbs New Cavendish Street when we brandished Burnished Rouge from our bags.  (Tip:  we always take our own polish along rather than have fingers or toes painted with a salon's own polish, so that we can easily touch up any chips, back home.)

As mood-lifting splurges go, these are still way cheaper than a new jacket.

UK:  www.selfridges.com/£25 - click here US:  www.niemanmarcus.com/$30 - click here