asymmetric & neutral

August 6, 2015

because sometimes, an asymmetric look adds a little flair.

howdy JDC reader! if you follow me on instagram you know i've been posting pictures (maybe one too many...) of this Rebecca Minkoff bag i scored from the epic Nordstrom anniversary sale last month. this bag was so worth it and a complete steal at $100 off from it's regular price of $295. it is still available at regular price now, which... really isn't bad. the port/burgundy color is beautiful, the gold chain complements it perfectly, but what sold me on this bag was two things 1) the chevron leather and 2) the versatility of this bag because you can unhook the chain straps from the D-rings and wear it as a crossbody or a shoulder bag. major points there. stay tuned, i'll do a post on ways to wear the bag and maybe a full review?!

this is actually my first asymmetric top. (wow). so i waited a while to jump on this bandwagon but loving it. also available in black. this outfit was literally put together at the 13th hour. i loved the way it turned out, the cream asymmetrical top, distressed jeans, burgundy bag, and nude pumps. i was all ready to go out. except it was only 7:30am.... #fail

top | H&M asymmetric top in natural white (and on sale for $15!)
denim | Hudson nico mid-rise distressed skinny jeans in worlds apart (old) -- similar
shoes | Manolo Blahnik 90mm BB pump in nude patent
bag | Rebecca Minkoff chevron quilted love crossbody bag in port
earrings | Kendra Scott carmela studs (customized at the color bar)
necklace | etsy custom monogram necklace in dearest daddy's initials
bracelet | Vita Fede mini titan crystal bracelet in gold -- similar from BaubleBar with arrows
rings | etsy stacking & midi rings / Kendra Scott ella ring in platinum drusy / BaubleBar tri bar ring
lips | MAC lipstick in brick-o-la (favorite MAC lipstick)

current lemmings -- summer stripes & wedges

August 3, 2015

01 | Topshop high neck wrap crop top/bralet in white -- i really like the crop top in the high neck style. this has a subtle yet sexy crisscross in the front. also available in black.
02 | Topshop scallop hem mini skirt in stripe -- love scalloped everythanggg! this is going to be a hot skirt this summer. also comes in white, black, and petite sizes.
03 | Halogen rena crisscross strap sandal in tan/leopard cognac -- the chunky low heel sandal is definitely in this summer. this is a great color and has a little leo action. also comes in an all black.
04 | J.Crew small jewelry tray in ivory metallic gold -- an adorable tray to store all your dainty (or not!) jewelry. it would make a great addition to any vanity.
05 | Andre Assous anie espadrilles wedge in black fabric -- loving the closed toe wedges that are buckle free!
06 | MANSUR GAVRIEL crossbody in cammello -- a birdie told me MG just came out with a crossbody. i was like WHAT?! here it is, and already sold out in all colors online. isn't it just the cutest thing?! comes in so many colors. the red is also so gorgeous! hope it comes back in stock soon!
07 | Madewell striped knit dress -- i've been looking for a striped dress in a shift style with 3/4 sleeves. it's like this dress was meant for me!

rock the summer stripes,
JD

AM skincare routine

August 2, 2015

start the morning off with a fresh, beautiful face.

i didn't realize how many products i use in the morning until i gathered the items for this product photo. LOL. nonetheless, this all takes less than FIVE minutes. i'd say that's a pretty good investment to make for your skin every morning. the steps are: exfoliate, tone, moisturize, and protect. pretty simple! so let's get to it!

01 | exfoliate

CURE natural aqua gel -- this was introduced to me by mama bear, who by the way, has the MOST FABULOUS skin. i've also seen the beautiful @BubzBeauty mention it one of her videos as well. you use this on a dry face, rub into your skin and the gel removes all the dead skin cells and starts flaking off your face. it's actually weird. but i can't live without this. not to mention, it's a very gentle exfoliator.

02 | cleanse

dermalogica special cleansing gel -- for a long time i was using foam cleaners and realized it was drying out my skin big time. so i switched to a gel cleanser. this has been my favorite by far, gentle, non-drying, and fragrance-fee.

03 | tone

SK-II facial treatment clear lotion and SK-II facial treatment essence -- can't rave about this duo anymore. CATE BLANCHETT. do i need to say more?!?! my review here.

04 | moisturize

Caudalie S.O.S. vinosource S.O.S. thirst quenching serum -- this is a light serum, smells divine, and my HG (holy grail) moisturizer. i've used it for so many years. it's good to use alone in the summer, but on days where i need the extra boost, i will top it off with the TATCHA moisture rich silk cream which is a has almost a whipped like consistency. (pictured is a travel size which comes in the TATCHA ritual discovery kit which is a great deal to try a few of their amazing products). it is important to note: moisturize YOUR NECK! this step is often missed or forgotten. your neck is the first thing that will usually start wrinkling. don't let it happen to you.

Skinceuticals AOX+ eye gel -- eye treatments are pricey but when you think about it, you use the tiniest amount of this product. it should last you pretty close to a year. i love using this eye gel in the morning as it is really light and brightens the under eyes. it claims to help with puffiness, under eye bags, combat fatigue, and fight the signs of aging. honestly, i can't say i've seen huge results but it's important to note that there is no miracle eye treatment. results on this type of product cannot be seen until years down the line, it's all about prevention and consistency.

05 | protect

MDSolarSciences mineral creme broad spectrum SPF 50 UVA-UVB sunscreen -- it is hard for me to find a product that is a primer, has SPF, and is matte. (i mean is that too much to ask for?!) finally we met and it's been great ever since. i can't stress wearing SPF. it is SOOOOOO important. i never tan. (the main reason why i am so.. as my sister says, "alabaster"). the sun is really damaging and it will age you exponentially. and you may not see it now, but you will down the line, and EARLY. so protect yourself! people think that you don't need to apply sunscreen if you're just driving to and from work. but that time in the sun really adds up. TATCHA just came out with a sunscreen that i can't wait to try soon that meets all my requirements, TATCHA silken pore perfecting sunscreen broad spectrum SPF 35!

in summary,

let a product absorb into your skin before putting the next on
moisturize your neck down to your clavicles
use an eye treatment
wear SPF
be consistent

the time for a good skincare routine is NOW,
JD

real vs. steal -- the chloe drew bag

July 27, 2015

REAL: Chloe drew bag (mini) -- $1,650.00 USD
STEAL: Forever 21 faux leather lock cross body -- $22.90 USD

SAVINGS: $1627.10 USD

the Chloe drew bag is REALLY hot right now. every blogger and their mom has one! while i always agree on quality over quantity, there are just some items that you don't really want to spend gobs of money on for various reasons. 1) can't afford it; 2) might not be in style long; 3) don't believe it is reasonably priced; 4) rather spend that much money on a different designer item... are to name a few. this is where real vs. steal comes into play. however, it is important to keep your expectations realistic on the "steal" items because you are paying for what you get. it's usually not going to made of the highest quality material and it probably won't last you as long as the real deal.

what i like about this bag is the shape, pebbled leather, chain strap, large hooks at the top, and the metal lock. it all goes so well together. the metal lock on the real bag is much more intricate, but you can't really expect much from a $23 bag. in my opinion, i think this is a great hands-free bag for going out when you don't want to carry anything expensive and have to worry about it getting dirty, or drinks spilled on etc...

grab one because it is going FAST!

distressed shorts & eyelet top

July 23, 2015

shorts weather. i love thee.

while i love my J.Crew chino shorts, it's good to have some denim ones. but gee, maybe it's just me but i can never seem to find a pair that fits right or that i like!! so... you can imagine my excitement when i saw these at H&M... and for less than $20!! they also come in three different denim washes! (the light wash might or might not be in my shopping cart right now...) not to mention there is a good amount of distressing, and i do love the button fly for a change, sometimes i feel like the button fly makes denim shorts look a lot better. maybe it's just me and my weirdness with denim shorts.

these espadrilles were a STEAL. mainly because they look like the CHANEL ones at a fraction of the price from good ol' Target. unfortunately, they are sold out already but i linked something similar below.

lastly, we attempt the messy wave-y look and borrow mama bear's handbag for this one. she-so-stylish.

top | Madewell eyelet top (old, see it styled here on my very FIRST post on JDC!) -- current version / similar
shorts | H&M high waisted distressed denim shorts in dark denim blue
kicks | Target Mossimo dianne espadrilles (sold out in cream) -- similar in white & navy / similar by Tory Burch
bag | Louis Vuitton pouchette metis in damier canvas (borrowed from mama bear)
sunglasses | Ray-Ban RB3025 (62mm) original aviator in black/green (polarized)
necklaces | etsy custom monogram necklace in dearest daddy's initials / Nadri initial monogram necklace (old) -- similar by kate spade
earrings | BaubleBar caesar ear crawlers (sold out and waitlisted)
bracelet | Vita Fede mini titan crystal bracelet in gold -- similar from BaubleBar
rings | Kendra Scott skylen ring in turquoise (sold out)

rock the distressed everythanggg,
JD

current lemmings -- summer beauty

July 20, 2015

01 | Hourglass ambient bronzer -- huge product release this summer and a great addition to the Hourglass powder family (which, by the way are amazing). these are going to give you a luminous sun-kissed glow. it comes in two shades: luminous bronze light (for fair/light complexions) and radiant bronze light (for medium/deep complexions). great reviews and swatches on @Temptalia / @thebeautylookbook / and @TheBeautyProfessor.
02 | Lipstick Queen lipstick in jungle queen -- (try saying i 3x fast). ever since seeing this on the utterly beautiful @ICovetThee (who by the way, has the sexiest accent ever! her youtube videos are amazing) last year, it's been on my list. i might have to cave sometime... it's the perfect summer coral-ly red orange... purchase this tax-free from spaceNK.com or bloomingdales.com.
03 | Sephora formula X nailpolish in thrilling -- tried this on in store, it's such a beautiful neutral taupe-ish color. the formula is supposed to enhance color and overall shine while providing a long lasting finish. on the website it is described as a "cloud gray." hrmmm....
04 | Kevyn Aucoin matte bronzing veil -- this a good alternative for those who do not like shimmery bronzers. available in two shades: desert days (fair/light complexions) and desert nights (medium/dark complexions).
05 | Cle de Peau Beaute the lip serum -- i've been looking for a good lip treatment for use at night. this might be a good option, but it is very new so i haven't seen any reviews yet. yes, this is a very $$$$. but i've read many good things about the CDP skincare line so i don't think this will disappoint.
06 | Becca x Jaclyn Hill shimmering skin perfector in champagne pop -- a blogger's/youtuber's dream is usually to partner with a brand and create their own exclusive item. talented girl Jaclyn Hill does it with this beautiful highlighter. #champagnepop seriously, just look up that hashtag and you'll see the CRAZE about this product. great review and swatches on the hilarious and friendly neighborhood beauty addict @TheMakeupAndBeautyBlog. this won't last long, so snag it while you can.

stay tuned for more summer beauty faves,
JD

the black lace midi & studded heels

July 16, 2015

happy thursday!

the sweltering texas heat has caused me to rise at the break of dawn to take pictures #fortheblog. as i'm driving to this shoot, its 6:30am on a saturday, i'm wearing a black dress and red lipstick. i think to myself, 'yep, i'm a little crazy... or dedicated... yea, i'm gonna go with dedicated.' these pictures were tough, it's a small window before i start sweating and my hair gets all big and frizzy trying to make friends with the texas humidity. #hairproblems

this dress is great for any occasion and snagged it when it went on sale. i love the scalloped lace detailing on the front and back not to mention the midi length. the scuba-like material on this dress makes it effortless to wear. the shoes... oh the shoes... these sold out on Solesociety.com within a few hours and i was lucky to get my hands on a pair the first time around! however, they are back in stock now!! they are the best (not to mention high quality) dupe of the Valentino rockstud t-strap pumps at 1/15 of the price! red lips were a must for this look. this time i pulled out a red i haven't used before that is apart of the Tom Ford matte lip color collection in ruby rush. you've heard me rave about my first red lipstick from Tom Ford in cherry lush before, but to compare the two, cherry lush is a blue-red with a shiny finish. ruby rush is a true red that is completely matte in a reallyyy good kind of way. red lips + black dress + oversized round sunglasses = G.L.A.M. even if it is 7AM. rock it.