the sweater dress & leather jacket

sweater dress = wearable blanket.

at least those are my thoughts. growing up i was always skeptical about sweater dresses but i've learned that the the key is to go loose and layer. this one was sent to me from @lillap! it has the cutest front pockets and a the v-neck hits at the perfect length. i actually wanted to style this sweater dress with a pair of over the knee boots #OTKs since i haven't done one this season yet, but it was a little too long for some OTKs #shortgirlprobs. next best thing was some pointed toe stiletto booties. the last thing this outfit needed was a layer -- scarves, sleeveless trenches/duster, a jacket, etc.. so enter the opportunity to finally wear this black leather jacket under $100. this jacket feels like it costs much more AND THE BEST PART is the gold hardware to match all my gold jewelry. i think that's why i barely wore my other one! 

side ramblings: over the new year holiday, i literally did NOTHING. i watched a few movies -- Wonder Woman (so good), The Big Sick (chick flick) and Pitch Perfect 3 (gotta love them pitches!) and lotsss of YouTube -- here's a clip of the one that had me rolling at 2AM Ellen in Steve Harvey's Ear #hysterical. yea, i probably should have worked on my YouTube channel.. but some lazy days are really needed. last week, i received an unexpected package from one of my favorite skincare brands, @TATCHA -- they sent me their newest The Deep Cleanse: it's a gel cleanser (my preferred type) and contains "natural fruit exfoliant that deeply but gently lifts impurities and unclogs pores, while leaving skin soft and hydrated." can't wait to give it a try. also, very random, but i can't stop wearing @AmandaDeer jewelry lately! gimme all the #daintyjewelry. i recently purchased the satellite choker which i can't stop wearing, everyday i look for an outfit just so i can wear this thing lol. pictures coming soon! ok, i'm OUT. xx

currently on my playlist: all the stars by Kendrick Lamar, SZA

the sweater dress & leather jacket -- jannadoan.com
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the sweater dress & leather jacket -- jannadoan.com
the sweater dress & leather jacket -- jannadoan.com
the sweater dress & leather jacket -- jannadoan.com

dress c/o | LILLA P cotton modal sweater dress in black (wearing size small) -- similar // similar with tie sleeves and $49 // similar in a mock neck // similar with a v-back
jacket | BlankNYC life changer faux leather moto jacket in black (TTS wearing size small, also avail in cognac) -- similar // similar in suede // similar by H&M and $60
shoes | Banana Republic magda pointed toe bootes in black suede (old) -- similar with a kitten heel // similar // similar by Topshop
bag c/o | Henri Bendel noho satchel in black pebbled leather -- same but more structured // similar and love this style because the handles fold down 
sunglasses | Karen Walker number one sunglasses in black
earrings | Kendra Scott tessa studs in clear
necklace c/o | BaubleBar aimee layered choker necklace (old) -- newer design
rings | Gorjana amara ring set // Amanda Deer c/o CZ solitaire ring // Amanda Deer c/o CZ accents midi ring
watch c/o | Daniel Wellington classic petite melrose 32mm in rose gold and white

rock the sweater dress (and possibly sleep in them too),
JD

photo credit: Brandon Hill

blush & burgundy

hello 2 0 1 8 !

ah here we are, first post of the new year so you know i had to go with a pleated midi skirt. :D in case you're new around here, i own probably eight pleated midi skirts. no joke. i LOVE them and they're actually my best selling item; so chic, so feminine -- SO ME. here's a throwback to my most hit page last year: the lace crop top & blush pleated midi skirt (actually.. it's pretty funny how i shot this current post at the same location...). let's talk about this color combo, blush (pulls more towards the nude side) + burgundy? #digginit. never thought to mix the two together, but love the two contrasting colors together and that little bell sleeve of the sweater really brings it all together. 

side ramblings: 2018 is gonna be hard to top since 2017 was such a good year for me, i mean... i bought a freaking house #adultstatus!! i finally marked New York Fashion Week #NYFW off my bucket list. more importantly, as a person, i started to say no to more things i should have said no to in the past because i didn't want to be mean. on the flip side i also said HELL YES to things that i would normally be afraid to do. i started to carefully evaluate how my time was spent -- what i was doing and who i was spending it with. i started to draw boundaries when they were overstepped. i started to tolerate less BS. more than ever, i started to do so much for MYSELF -- if i wanted to go see or do something, i wouldn't wait around for anyone's schedule to align to go with me, i'd go alone, i'd eat alone. i've come to embrace the entity that is ME. cheers to 2018. the best is yet to come. 

currently on my playlist: new rules by Dua Lipa

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top | Banana Republic merino wide sleeve boat neck in burgundy (TTS, goes in and out of stock) -- similar // similar by LOFT
skirt | ZARA accordion pleated midi skirt in blush (old) -- similar // similar with a slit // similar but velvet and $23 // similar but maxi length
bag | Louis Vuitton pouchette metis in damier canvas -- similar by Rebecca Minkoff
shoes | Manolo Blahnik BB pump in nude patent -- similar by Sam Edelman // similar by Ann Taylor
rings | Gorjana amara ring set // Amanda Deer c/o CZ solitaire ring // Amanda Deer c/o CZ accents midi ring

rock the pleated skirt,
JD

photo credit: Brandon Hill

#2017bestnine

fall florals

or is it winter florals?

i do love me a good floral print, however, i don't own much of it and the pieces that i do own are all spring/summer colors.  so when i saw this i thought, why not?! it's black (my favorite color to wear) and it's floral. i thought i'd give it a whirl. #norhymeintended. plus, this dress has pockets, comes in petite sizing (ain't nobody got time for alterations), and it's work appropriate. my dilemma was really the shoes. normally, i wear floral print with flat thong sandals but that wasn't gonna cut it even for fall in texas! so the next best thing was my new leather pointed toe booties that i've lusted over for a while now. so glad i got them because they're such a great alternative to all my suede ones i own -- comfy/almost flat heel and perfect with this maxi, or jeans/skirts/dresses for a touch of edgy street style. trust me, you can rock em! 

i can't believe this is my last post for 2017. something about the new year always brings good vibes, new goals/hopes/dreams/beginnings. it's a good feeling isn't it? whatever change it is that you're seeking in your life, or whatever it is that you want to achieve... NOW is the time to make it happen. it definitely won't be easy but oh boy it’s going to be worth it in the end. sending you my mantra/hashtag #cantstopwontstop

SEE YA NEXT YEAR! xx

currently on my playlist: sunrise by Kygo ft. Jason Walker

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celebrating 33 years

howdy, 33!

this post is a tad late because i was too busy celebrating and stuffing my face last week. from dinners, lunches, brunch, snacks, sweet treats (LOTS), gifts, flowers, messages, etc... i have some pretty dang good people in my life. but really though, glad i took these photos before eating for 10 people... not joking. my thoughts (or more like ramblings) on turning 33 after the jump! 

THIS DRESS. i've always wanted a sparkly dress and this was a good first one because it is not full-on-sparkle. ALSO, it has a very pretty textured design to it which actually adds to the flattering fit. it is a little on the tighter side than what i normally wear, but what the heck, i'm 33. might as well; and hey nothing spanx can't fix! i love the long sleeve one shoulder and the fact that it is a midi that really hits at the right length (i'm 5'2" short). it makes the PERFECT NYE dress! this shoot was again one for the books, i mean look at that AUSTIN view -- looking good #ATX! oh, and my photographer, brandon, almost fell in the pool on this cold day, LOL. lastly, check out my instagram for a chance to WIN THIS DRESS! the giveways i've been running have been so fun, it feels so good to give something away for the holidays so i hope you'll join in! see ya next week, xx.

currently on my playlist: meant to be by Bebe Rexha ft. Georgia Line

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BUT hold up... wait a minute.. 33?! come on.. forealzzz? where the hell did three decades + three years go?!?! you know what's funny is when you ask and answer the question of where you see yourself in five years and then when you find yourself there, life looks completely different than you imagined five years ago. well, that's been my. whole. life. basically. it has never turned out as planned. like. nothing. (insert nervous laughter). so the best plan is to not have one; solid advice, i know. at least for life. everything that went "wrong" led me right here -- i have to say, it's a pretty good spot. i thought i'd be married -- maybe? have children -- possibly? am i anywhere near that? um...... no. my life is completely different from all my friends i grew up with; they have all seemed to move on with the typical life progression. there is no denying that our lives have become un-relatable and vice versa. no ones fault. but i guess my journey is just different and i can't help but to believe that there is beauty in that. or at least.. that's what i'm sticking to!

my friend sent this to me ages ago (thanks GF you know who you are), i frequently refer to it when i need some perspective: 

It takes six million grains of pollen to seed one peony, and salmon need a lifetime of swimming to find their way home, so we mustn't be alarmed or discouraged when it takes us years to find love or years to understand our calling in life.
Everything in nature is given some form of resilience by which it can rehearse finding its way, so that, when it does, it is practiced and ready to seize its moment. This includes us.
When things don't work out - when loves unexpectedly end or careers stop unfolding - it can be painful and sad, but refusing this larger picture keeps us from finding our resilience. Then, sadness can turn into discouragement, and pain can spoil into despair.
As the many grains of pollen birth the one flower and the many eggs spawned birth the one fish, each person we love and each dream we try to give life to brings us closer to the mystery of being alive. So, we must try as many times as necessary until our many loves become the one love, until our many dreams become the one dream, until heart and path feel the same. // the book of awakening

i have to remind myself this all the time, but i think it's really important to focus on the "things" that i have in my life and the things that are going right versus the things that i don't have or aren't going "right." sometimes you gotta put blinders on and not pay attention to anyone around you but yourself and the path ahead that is meant for you. one foot in front of the other, one day at a time. some days it can be hard, but other days it can be so gratifying. there is something to be said about going on a path completely alone, without any co-dependency, and no one to turn to at the end of the day except yourself. it sounds a little sad, but by golly, it makes you one hell of a strong person i tell ya. so cheers to the road less traveled, cheers to the little victories, & cheers to 33 -- i plan on crushin' it. xx 

dress c/o | Maggy London zipporah midi (TTS, wearing a size 2) 
shoes | Jimmy Choo abel pumps in black patent (old design) -- current design // similar 1 // similar 2
bag | DVF lytton clutch in black quilted leather (old) -- similar and $68 // similar 
earrings c/o | BaubleBar eve hoop earrings in white -- similar but with sequins // another great holiday option
sunglasses | Le Specs air heart 51mm sunglasses in black & gold -- similar but more cat eye // similar but more rectangular (love these)
bracelet | Vita Fede mini titan crystal bracelet in gold -- similar
lips | Christian Louboutin velvet matte lip color in rouge 001M (FAVE RED) -- similar in a matte liquid
rings | Gorjana amara ring set // Amanda Deer c/o CZ solitaire ring // Amanda Deer c/o CZ accents midi ring

#cantstopwontstop,
JD

photo credit: Brandon Hill
a post done in collaboration with Maggy London. 
dress provided by Maggy London, all opinions are my own.
special thanks to the Westin Austin Downtown for the backdrop!. 

an austin blogger holiday

cue the christmas music! (or play it below).

happy holidays!

i know it feels a tad early to be thinking of holiday stuff. but not really! this month is going to FLY by, so i thought it would be best to share this holiday shoot that i was so graciously invited to be apart of. these gals have become good friends to me and i am pretty blessed to have cultivated so many good friendships over the past year. #grateful. 

last year, i went with the classic holiday red. this year, i decided on the next christmas color... GREEN, but more of a hunter green! it's not a color i wear often but gosh, i think i should, especially hunter green. i picked out a lace off the shoulder dress with a classy length. it's actually a one-piece dress and the bottom is a little fuller than i thought it would be but it ended up looking very pretty! i'd say the only thing this dress is missing is pockets. the ivory earrings went perfectly with the gold clutch & dark nails. altogether i say this was a huge win, ESP since my dress arrived the day before (gotta love that ASOS 2-day shipping)! also, this gold clutch gets so much wear, it's def a staple for the holidays and any occasion (you can even see me wearing it in last year's photos)!

side ramblings: it's december.. which means... it's #BIRTHDAYMONTH! (insert happy dance). 

currently on my playlist: it's beginning to look a lot like christmas by Michael Buble

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the gangs all here!! (all clickables)

(ok, minus Hilary // @byhilaryrose and Michelle // @stylebeacon)
click on the photos for some insta-style-inspo!

the suede skirt & sock booties

documenting my first pair of sock booties.

after some wear i have decided that sock booties are the perfect WORK bootie! something a little dressier than your average flat bootie and the chunky/block heel makes it a comfy pick for an 8 to 5 workday. while the shaft on these aren’t as tall as normal sock booties it works for me because i’m 5’2” short and anything taller would make me look shorter (if that makes sense).i love making workwear a little more trendy, so when i saw this suede skirt, i had to snag it for obvious reasons -- the length is so work appropriate. and hey doesn't hurt that it's in a beautiful olive color too! 

also, fitted mock turtlenecks are my staple in the fall/winter because they go with ALL skirts & are SO EASY PEASY. they’re so good i have probably four plain black ones! it's a pretty solid base layering piece and goes underneath sheath dresses too! speaking of work, i've been wearing this pebbled leather satchel as a work bag, it's a little different from my other structured work bags because it's made of slouchy pebbled leather and although the handles don't fall down, there's plenty of space & pockets. i've grown to love the pebbled leather slouchy-ness. 

side ramblings: it feels good to be back. i haven't shot much at all but now that it's getting cooler, IT IS ON. my holiday photos will be up on Monday, be sure to stop by! xx 

currently on my playlist: just give me a reason by P!nk ft. Nate Ruess

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top 5 sales for black friday

no fancy pictures. just SALE info.
HELLO FALL WARDROBE!!!

all the fall feels.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!
navigating black friday sales is pretty.. hmm. what is the word... #OVERWHELMING! so i'm keeping it short & simple (like myself, ha) -- i linked my top 5 sales below for ya inlcuding picks that i have personally bought or are on my wishlist. just skip the rest. i won't steer you wrong. all the deets after the jump. 

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01. ASOS.com // 30% off // code: EPIC 30 (until 11/28/17)

one of my favorite places to shop online. NO TAX. FREE SHIPPING. FREE RETURNS. = winning. also, get 2-day shipping for one year for $19. sizing is a little strange, it's the one that makes you feel like you are a whale. i am normally a 4 in bottoms and a 6 in everything else. when in doubt buy both and return one. PS -- 30% off is a pretty dang good deal. i don't see this much.

02. BananaRepublic.com // 50% off // no code needed (until 11/25/17)

soo many good dresses here. especially for work if you're in the market for any! and work sweaters as well. 

03. LOFT.com // 50% off // code: THANKS (until 11/23/17)

great casual/everyday sweaters right now!! but really, i'm loving the sweater options this year over Ann Taylor, also the skirts!

04. Nordstrom.com // extra 20% off sale items // no code needed (until 11/27/17)

a hodge podge department store items! but great shoes and tons of fall/winter staples -- bags, jackets, and jewelry.

05. ZARA.com // 30% off // no code needed (until ???)

the ZARA black friday sale should start tonight/tomorrow. and although it isn't apart of my affiliate links, it is too good not to share! ZARA is a tad more trendy, but they have some great less trendier pieces for people like me!

happy shopping!, 
JD