One Chanel Top, 3 Looks: Brunch

We’ve arrived!! Thank you for following me all the way to this third and final segment of this three part series of styling one Chanel top in a myriad of ways. If you missed part one and two, check them out here and here.

Sometimes you need that middle of the road fit…not super casual, not super extra…you know that waaay out of place moment where you drop in on folks hangin having drinks at a low key dive and you’re headed out on the town 😳 you walk into the room and everyone looks at you like ‘Ma’am, do you know where you are right now?!’ Of course that scene has happened to me and a group of friends before hitting up a nightclub (several years ago). It was a complete moment out of a movie where the whole place goes silent except for the screeching of chairs to stare at us. The music stops playing…etc. If you’re wondering if we stayed, yes you bet we did for a couple of drinks, laughed at the situation, talked to some people and then headed out or the night.

Crop top, belt, bag: Chanel
Lace top: Hofmann Copenhagen
Sunnies: Celine

Jeans can be chic without trying when paired with the right things. This sheer, lace blouse provides a nice feminine layer and the slightly distressed jeans give some contrast making the whole ensemble perfect for brunch. Adding the chain belt brings some shape to the whole look. I always love having the opportunity to wear this belt. It has that iconic Chanel leather and metal chain that you see on the bags and the charms are fun with a dash of Parisian opulence 🇫🇷.

Since this look is geared for brunch, I opted for a brighter color scheme in beige which pulls in the colors of the Chanel top. If you’ve been following me for a while, then you already know I love my neutral color palettes.

Bag: Chanel

Can we just take a moment for this Chanel bag?! Even though this is a look I would wear in the day (or a laid back dinner), this bag elevates the whole ensemble. The leather and chain handles and larger quilt pattern epitomizes the House of Chanel classic flair. It’s the ideal evening bag that goes beyond the night.

And sorry not sorry about too many photos below. Nhan did such a great job I couldn’t pick a few so you get a bunch 🙃. He has such a great eye for scouting out awesome locations.

How cool is this last shot below? I just love how Nhan captured the architecture of downtown Houston and sun’s reflection off the building couldn’t have been more perfect. This is probably my favorite shot in this series.

I highly recommend Nhan for your photography needs, you will not be disappointed. You can checkout his website for more info and stop by his Instagram

Hope you enjoyed this three part styling series on how one piece can curate multiple outfits for different occasions. With summer sneaking up upon us, I look forward to sharing a few more spring looks before transitioning to the summer wardrobe.

One Chanel Top, 3 Looks: Date Night

Welcome to part II of a 3 part series on styling “One Chanel Top, 3 looks.” If you missed part I, “Daytime Casual,” you can check it out here.

There’s no better way to justify a purchase than one that can carry over from day to night. Whether it be date night with your significant other or with the girls, switching up a couple elements is part of the formula to add some glitz to that daytime look.

Top & shorts: Chanel
Blazer: Balmain also here & here; Bank account friendly options: here & here

These Chanel shorts were also worn in part I, and as you can see they’re effortless to transition from casual into statement. Since the top is made of silk, it’s a seamless outfit upgrade to compliment a cocktail in hand. Mine usually involve gin 🍹or champagne 🥂.

The Balmain double-breasted blazer is a classic staple piece. If you’re going to splurge on clothing pieces, staple items are where you want to invest. This blazer is something that I will wear for years to come. A good blazer can make you feel like your most polished self. The combination of a structured blazer, cropped top, and high-waisted shorts is a mix of business sophistication with a touch of sex appeal. The Balmain blazer brought that business inspired vibe in a flirty yet classy way.

Sunnies: Givenchy

An all black look is simple yet classic which makes it a great monochromatic go to palette for the evening. The beige in the top breaks up the color scheme just enough to give some dimension to the overall look. For those splurge worthy pieces, I tend to go with black because it’s universal…and most of the time, the black option always looks better.

A little fun fact on these Louboutins…when I first saw them, I thought “these are so pretty.” The laser cut leather details over a subtle, champagne sparkle background had me obsessing over them. After coming to the realization that I better buy these before they’re gone {nothing’s worse than buyer’s remorse}, I saw the name of the shoe is “So Pretty.” Well Mr. Louboutin, you couldn’t have come up with a better name for these babies 😍.

All these photos were also taken by my friend Nhan Nguyen. When I went through selecting which photos to share, it really was a challenge to narrow it down. How neat is this last photo? I love how he framed the shot through the rails while capturing my reflection in the column. If you’re interested in Nhan’s services you can get more info on his site and give his Instagram a visit as well.

There’s one more look to finish off this 3 part series featuring this Chanel crop top so make sure you come back to check it out!

One Chanel Top, 3 Looks: Daytime Casual

If you’ve been keeping up with at That’s So Shima, you may have noticed that I love versatile pieces to create multiple looks. In my last post I styled a Zimmermann skirt casually, then again with a more dressed up look. Both looks were a personal fav and each rose to the occasion. Styling pieces in different ways is definitely a fashionable way to get more bang for your buck. It’s one of the reasons why I tend to buy separates so I can mix it up and create a whole different outfit.

Before splurging on this Chanel crop top, I took some time to imagine how I can get maximum use of it. Once I was done planning all the different looks I could create with it, from casual day to a night out, I was quick to hand over that Amex! 😂

Chanel SS21 crop top and black high-waisted shorts with cropped denim jacket. Givenchy aviator sunglasses with stars.
Crop top and shorts: Chanel
Denim jacket: Ksubi
Sunnies: Givenchy

Before breaking down these looks, I just want to give a shout out to my personal friend Nhan Nguyen. He is one of the best photographers in Houston and when I saw the photos he created from our shoot, he made me feel like a Vogue model…and I say that in the most modest way possible 😊. Nhan works his magic at weddings here in Houston, both for local Houston celebrities to some of the most beautiful venues you can imagine. He’s a true artist in his craft! Nhan’s Website and Instagram.

Now back to fashion…this Chanel crop top is part of Chanel’s SS21 ready to wear collection. Enough thinking about what looks to create with the top, now it’s time to wear it! For this look, I dressed the crop top with these Chanel high-waisted shorts {also part of Chanel SS21 ready to wear} and curated two completely different looks.

What’s so great about this top? I can make it work from running errands around Houston straight to an evening out with the girls for cocktails! Not too dressy, not casual. I love it.

Also..perfect for keeping luggage space free on vacation…I’m almost ALWAYS over the checked bag weight limit before I even add vacation shopping goodies on the return home 🤭.

For a carefree vibe to run around town, naturally pulled out my favorite Ksubi cropped denim jacket to layer over the Chanel top . The Chanel shorts are high-waisted, balancing out the midriff area for a bit more coverage. For that comfort level, balancing cropped tops with a high-waisted bottom is the key. Kept it sporty-chic with the Chanel Gabrielle backpack bag and these fun Golden Goose sneakers. Told you in my last post, I love this backpack bag so much I got it in both the beige and black 😁.

When Golden Goose first hit the fashion scene, I couldn’t bring myself to spend that much on worn out looking sneakers despite many celebs being photographed in them. I have a friend that I’m convinced is secretly on their PR team who was persistent on luring me into the Golden Goose cult . One of their signature things is the star on the sides and I love stars (hence these Givenchy shades) that eventually I came across a couple styles that won me over. So here I am, an official Golden Goose groupie.

Denim cropped top. Golden Goose sneakers. Chanel Gabrielle backpack bag
Photo: Nhan Photography, Instagram

Make sure to sign up to stay up to date on That’s So Shima to see how I transitioned this daytime casual look to a date night look.