Alright folks, buckle up because today was all about experimenting with those iconic Chanel denim jeans. You know the ones – seriously premium denim, maybe some subtle tweed accents or signature hardware. Pricey? Yeah, but hey, they’re Chanel. So, I decided to put mine through their paces and see what truly sings. Here’s the messy truth.
The Morning Brainstorm
Grabbed my trusty notebook first thing. Needed to sketch out possibilities, see what vibes stuck. Lately obsessed with either super elevated casual or sharp casual-with-a-twist. My closet was about to become a battlefield.
The Trying-On Frenzy Begins
Pulled out the jeans. Seriously stiff at first – you don’t just slide into these easily. Felt heavy-duty, definitely noticeable when you move. Okay, first look: Tried throwing on a worn-in, super soft band tee. Thought maybe the contrast would be cool. Wrong. Totally wrong. The fancy jeans just kinda swallowed the tee, made it look cheap. Ditch.
Switched gears. Dug out this crisp white poplin button-down shirt. Like, really crisp. Buttoned it up most of the way, tucked it in perfectly. Added my basic black Chanel ballet flats – the ones everyone and their grandma has. Instant upgrade! But… it felt kinda safe? Like, too expected maybe. Nice, clean, felt rich… but boring? Needed something more.
Playing with Proportions and Layers
Got frustrated. Yanked out a long, loose-knit black cardigan. Super drapey. Tried it over a simple black cami underneath. Undid the button-down, left it open, untucked over the cami. Better! The long cardi balanced the cropped jeans (mine hit just above the ankle). Added platform loafers for some lift. Suddenly felt relaxed but expensive. Like I knew something you didn’t. Almost there.
Then I remembered this boxy little Chanel boucle jacket hiding in the back. Short tweed number. Tried it over the drapey cardigan combo. Jackpot! The layers created this interesting texture play – smooth denim, soft cashmere cardigan, rough tweed jacket. And the proportions? Perfection. Loose cardigan peeking under the fitted boxy jacket. Tension! Tension is good. This was the “effortless luxe” vibe I was chasing. Took photos immediately before I forgot the angles.
The Accessory Struggle
Jewelry. Oh boy. Piled on like five chains at first – a mix of gold and silver charms, totally chaotic. Looked like a magpie attacked me. Scaled it WAY back. Kept it simple: One classic Chanel camellia pendant chain. Maybe added a small, funky cocktail ring. Didn’t need more; the jacket hardware spoke volumes.
Bag choice was less dramatic. Either my minimalist black leather tote for everyday errands or the classic quilted flap if feeling fancy. Point is, couldn’t be too noisy.
The “Photoshoot” Disaster
Okay, “photoshoot” is generous. Propped my phone precariously on a stack of books. Remote timer kept failing. Tripod leg got tangled in a shoe. Knocked over a lamp. I think I cursed creatively for about ten minutes straight. Finally got some usable shots after like, an hour of wrestling technology and furniture. Real human blogger life, right here.
Biggest Takeaways (So You Don’t Screw Up)
- Contrast Textures Win: Hard denim + soft knit + rich tweed = chef’s kiss.
- Jackets Are Heroes: Seriously. Throw a sharp blazer or boucle jacket over almost anything simple with these jeans and you instantly level up.
- Less Metal = More Chic: Unless the jeans are the main event, keep jewelry restrained. Let the Chanel details on the jeans or jacket breathe.
- Fancy Shoes Anchor It: Flats, loafers (especially chunky), or elegant pumps. No runners with these unless you’re really going for chaos (I wasn’t brave enough).
- Comfort Matters Only slightly less than style. That denim softened up a bit by afternoon, thank god. But sitting down? Yeah, still pretty rigid. You accept this.
So yeah, spent hours falling over tripods, trying sweaters inside-out, yelling at my timer. Found maybe two, three solid looks worth keeping? The boucle jacket over the drapey cardi + cami is definitely the winner. Feels like me, but somehow fancier. Mission sorta accomplished? Still terrified of trying double denim. Maybe next time. I need help.
