the white denim dress

saying goodbye to summer fashion!

i couldn’t be happier to enter the season of fashion i love most, FALL! i think this might be my first denim dress. i’ve wanted one for a while but had the hardest time finding a style i liked. this one was very different and like an apron style. it’s an “open” dress and you literally wrap it on you and button it from the inside and outside if that makes sense. i’ve been a fan of the square neckline so this fit the bill! and the denim is actually hefty and not thin so A+ in my books. and.. y’all. it. has. pockets! it’s great for any kind of brunch or day-date outing. style it casually with an everyday tote and some casual style heels. PS—these are actually SUPA comfy and really light!

side happenings: @everlane is having pop-ins at @nordstrom!! at the bottom is a list of stores who will have the pop-in in-store. gah, y’all know my love for everlane is real (deep). pop-ins are great if you’re not sure on sizing or want to feel/see the items in person. need recs?! I GOT CHU!!! for the women’s picks i included items i actually own and have worn myself that will be featured at Nordstrom. i also included some men’s picks too :)
women | the day heel pump // the wide leg crop pants // the authentic stretch high rise skinny jeans // the cashmere turtleneck sweater dress (don’t own this one but may have to one day!)
men | the uniform bomber jacket // the waffle knit long sleeve henley // the modern flannel shirt

PS—it’s the fall 2019 @bloomingdales friends & family sale!! i always try to purchase anything off bloomingdales because it’s tax-free to TX!

@bloomingdales friends & family sale — fall 2019

who | bloomingdales
what | 25% off almost all regular and sale price purchases for women, men, kids, and home, items eligible are labeled 25% off. exclusions listed on bloomingdales.com. and FREE shipping for everyone! in addition, loyalists (their FREE reward program, so don't forget to join!) receive free shipping, no minimum, everyday! &&& TAX-FREE TO TEXAS!! #winning
when | 10/04/19 - 10/14/19 (online), 10/07/19 - 10/14/19 (in-stores)
where | bloomingdales.com or in store
use promo code at checkout | none needed!
own purchases | Marc Fisher yale chelsea booties in brown suede (i have these in black leather and they are DA BEST.)

currently on my playlist: pitfalls by sistek

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dress | J.Crew button front trench dress in stretch white denim — same but in blue denim // similar for $30 // similar but more fitted // similar with ruffles // similar but mini // similar with a fun asymmetrical button detail $59
shoes | Dolce Vita roman heeled sandal in caramel leather (available in four other colors) — similar // similar for $25
bag c/o | Everlane the day square tote in cognac (beautiful leather & holds shape quite nicely) — similar but in the CUTEST mini size // similar but taller // similar but larger
earrings c/o | BaubleBar capella drop earrings in white — similar and not as statement-y
necklace | Anthropologie monogram pendant necklace
sunglasses | Celine marta sunglasses in havana (my fave sunnies!) — newer design // similar by QUAY for $55 // love these for $99
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 all the denim dresses & white (even after labor day),
JD

photo credit: Steven Gunter

the floral wrap dress & retro accents

oh hi, hello.

i can’t tell you how many times i opened this post up to try and put something together but the only thing staring at me was the blinking cursor. like a good relationship (or ponytail), you just can’t force it. ya know? life was heavy. with the great loss of grandpa Doan and hearing about the loss of others all in the same month was… devastating. i cried for my loss and all losses. i spent a lot of time alone and days where i didn’t leave the house. before leaving to San Fran for my cousins wedding, i had this significant dream. in this short-dream i remember looking up at the sky and there she was… grandma Doan, smiling down at me, GRINNING with pure happiness. she didn’t say anything to me, she just smiled. then i woke up. i remember feeling comforted, relief, and what divine timing this dream had come to me at the right time when i needed it most. i don’t really remember my dreams and nor have i dreamt about grandma Doan since she passed away 13 years ago.

getting back from SF, i fell pretty ill into the flu of sorts (turned into bronchitis now) which felt like a set back. i was so ready to get back to my “normal” life again. but of course, the universe had different plans. needless to say, the last few months were full of introspection, deep thought, and healing which led to more personal growth and a shift in perspective. i’m still trying to find my rhythm again, but i do miss my slice of the internet, so hence, here i am. thank you so much for sticking around. xx

while the fashion & retail world are all into fall fashion… i just can’t (yet). it’s still wayyy too hot here in TX. plus, i have a backlog of photos so it all works out :D of course this dress is sold out but what i loved most about styling this floral wrap dress was the retro accents — the clear acrylic bag & strappy strappy heels and all white for that 80s vibe.

currently on my playlist: by your side cover by Mat Kearney

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the white linen dress & sponsored content

summer linen.

there are a ton of summer fabrics, but linen is such a classic! it’s great for when you wanna change up all the gingham & eyelet textures. it’s also such a cooling fabric and rarely will you find a piece that is 100% linen like this one from @theory___! most pieces are are linen-cotton blend, so it felt super luxe to be wearing this. of course we had to find the best fairy-tale like background for it too! isn’t this place a gem? the v is actually low for my taste but the cap-sleeve design and slight A-line fit make it a #classy piece. and timeless i might add.

the downside to linen is that it wrinkles veryyy easy. think easy and x it by 10. this dress, worth the iron though. and while it does have a liner, it’s not enough which is usually the case with white linen pieces, you have to wear a slip. it’s an elegant piece and doens’t need much jewelry. i didn’t even wear my typical “J” necklace and my photographer thought something was wrong. :D

currently listening to: find u again by Mark Ronson ft. Camila Cabello

side ramblings: great things are on the horizon but i can’t share just YET. xx

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let’s clear the air on sponsored #SP material here on JDC (jannadoan.COM): isn’t it everyone’s goal to make money doing something they love?! duh. then why is it that influencers/bloggers get wrath for sponsored content? in general bloggers get crap all over the board. yes, there are people who ruin it for others but at the heart of the blogging community there are still genuine bloggers out there. by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) we are to disclose when something is sponsored, paid, or gifted etc… automatically people think, yea he/she just got paid for that so i wouldn’t trust him/her. here’s what i gotta say (you guessed it, bullet point format):

  • use your intuition about a blogger/influencer. if you think it’s fake… guess what? it’s probably FAKE! i know, i’m a rocket scientist. when you look at something really randomly posted and you raise one eyebrow like “what is this…” that’s your intuition “speaking.” listen to it. but hey let’s cut someee slack on all the toilet paper & tampon ads, maybe this is their full-time job? the bills don’t pay themselves (or so i hear).

  • because i’m old, i don’t do anything i don’t want to do. even if it’s paid. that may have not been the case when i was first getting started five years ago… but my greys have made me wiser. if i don’t like something i don’t post it. and i say NO to a lot of (really good) opportunities when it doesn’t align. aka: is not a #hellyes.

  • JDC is NOT my sole source of income. cause ya’ll… i WOULD BE BROKE AF. lol. blogging costs a LOT of money. every post i put out, i actually lose money. and i rarely make any sales based off commission via my links. i’m not a pushy enough saleswoman. just doesn’t seem authentic to me. since this is not my sole income, i don’t need sponsorships to keep this alive. instead, i just work an insane amount of hours at my other job(s). HAHA it all makes sense, i know.

  • there are still influencers/bloggers out there who carry themselves with integrity. the last time i looked up integrity in the dictionary my name was right next to it. :D xx

yes, my castle is right behind that wall.

dress c/o | Theory pure linen deep v easy midi dress in white — similar from J.Crew with pleats // not similar but love this one // shirtdress style // not similar but striped! // i have this in yellow!
shoes | Target Merona marcella low block heel ankle strap sandals in tan (old) — newer style // similar but higher heel // the original by Steve Madden
bag | J.Crew Factory rattan clutch in natural pale gold (really old) — similar at J.Crew
earrings | Kendra Scott diane statement earrings in gold — smaller design in the didi // similar but in matte colors // smaller design in the didi with pearl
sunglasses | Celine marta sunglasses in havana (my fave sunnies!) — newer design // love these for $99
rings | Gorjana amara ring set // Amanda Deer c/o CZ solitaire ring // Amanda Deer c/o CZ accents midi ring

rock all the linen,
JD

photo credit: Steven Gunter
a post done in collaboration with Theory.
dress provided via the last of my Theory gifted giftcard funds, (paid $100+ out of pocket for this baby!)
all opinions are my own.

the best petite maxi dresses

hellooo july!

well, i totally skipped may… and june… on JDC… i was reminded by a few people about how my last post was in april, whoops.. so here we go! getting back in the swing of things and talking about one of my favorite places to buy maxi dresses for #shortgirlproblems. go to the tailor? ain’t nobody got time for that. enter @bananarepublic! they are my go-to for maxi dresses because they offer a great selection of petite maxi dresses! i picked this one due to the faux wrap and the ruffles (of course, you know ya girl is ruffle obsessed). it also a features a flattering high-low hem which i am totally a fan of. kinda gives some leg action, more movement in the dress, and by golly how about some ventilation in this TX heat? oh nelly. it’s gonna be a long hot summer and ya girl is not looking forward to it!! #grumypants

side happenings: REAL TALK after the jump but let’s see… here is what most people would be interested in — Vegas was a whirlwind. let’s just leave it at that. ;) i met with the team at @phlur and was amazed by the company and the people. i can’t wait to show you what we’ve collaborated on! i’ve sampled all their fragrances and my fave is Ameline, it is DIVINE! PS — they’re ATX-based so they are automatically get extra points on brand-coolness. @thecandlebar.co opened at the @domainnorthside and they invited me in to experience their candle pouring class. y’all, i was a kid in a candy store. haha, i can’t wait to gift this experience to my gals! @kendrascott sent me way too many goodies from their summer 2019 collection but these are my fave. saving the best for last — but @tatcha sent me the biggest PR package i’ve received in a long time. it reminded me of what a true partnership should feel like and how lucky i am go get to work with a company that realizes my value. #grateful

currently on my playlist: ME! by Taylor Swift ft. Brandon Urie

gotta love that @pearlsnap_photography direction :D

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LIFE UPDATE: i’ve been absent for so many reasons. but mainly because i was beginning to feel that the time i was pouring into IG trying to grow my business was not going anywhere. instead of getting ahead i was actually falling more and more behind. don’t get me wrong, i love supporting all my boss babes… but something about spending hours and hours everyday scrolling, liking, commenting was adding up to almost two hours a day based on my IG insights. that’s about 14 hours a week… UM… that was eye opening. DO YOU KNOW WHAT I CAN DO WITH 14 HOURS?!! oh, let me tell you: watch re-runs of my favorite old show (The Office) & laughed hysterically; watch a ton of movies; i saw Always be my Maybe haha, soooo cheesy; watch Ellen Degeneres & Ali Wong’s stand up comedies (thanks bro for the Netflix haha); read a book (The Untethered Soul: the journey beyond yourself by Michael A. Singer) a must read; re-arrange my office; crossed some things off the never-ending-home-to-do-list aka: daddy-can-you-help-me list haha jk; cleaned & conditioned my hardwood floors (ps my dad literally told me, “sometimes you just gotta get on your knees and put some elbow grease into it haha, gotta love the man); went to Vegas; worked a ton; quality time with friends & fam; oh, and how can i forget… SLEEP (which was really the most important thing i needed). it was all glorious but it feels good to write this post and be back & find my own rhythm again. plus, i have a backlog of old photos at this point (yikes) and i have a few brands i can’t wait to work with again.

lastly, my grandpa has been ill for quite some time now and was recently hospitalized for an infection. he’s suffers from dementia and it always breaks my heart to see him. can you imagine a life where you don’t even remember who you are or who anyone else is? i think he’s taking a turn for the worse and it’s so sad to see. speaking of health issues (less severe), i also went through some major abdominal pain. think, sharp, stabbing-like pain (luckily i haven’t actually been stabbed before but you get me). yea, it sucks. but could be worse. trust me, a CT scan isn’t really high on my to-do list but that’s life right?! on the flip side, perhaps my body isn’t digesting #punintended stress well as it used to so it’s coming out in the form of knife stabbing-like pain?! IDK. oh well, still trying to figure out the cause but one thing is for certain — i gotta take it easy.

so here’s to all the ebbs & flows and finding more balance in this crazy life.

and… if you’ve read this far you should give yourself a pat on the back or treat yourself to a scoop of ice cream for being a caring person to read the endless ramblings of my life. :D

behind every good photo shoot is a kid running around with his mom chasing after him :D

dress | Banana Republic floral ruffle wrap maxi dress in navy blue (also available in soft blue & of course the petite is sold out at this point) — love this pleated red one & colorblocked
bag | J.Crew Factory rattan clutch in natural pale gold (really old) — similar at J.Crew
shoes | Sam Edelman gigi sandal in saddle leather — similar from Target for $16
earrings | Kendra Scott sky earrings in white pearl (old) — larger version // similar
sunglasses | Celine marta sunglasses in havana (my fave sunnies!) — newer design // love these for $99
necklace | Anthropologie monogram pendant necklace
rings | Gorjana amara ring set // Amanda Deer c/o CZ solitaire ring // Amanda Deer c/o CZ accents midi ring
watch | Michael Kors darci watch in gold

thanks for stopping by!,
JD

photo credit: Steven Gunter

the eyelet wrap dress

eyelet + ruffles.

while i’m such a fall/winter gal at heart, i love all the spring texture and prints. from floral to gingham print. to seersucker and eyelet. i try not to buy more eyelet (especially in white since the #LWD collection is growing fast) but each time spring creeps around, i can’t help it. i love the texture of eyelet and it’s great for those casual spring/summer days, a brunch, a picnic, a day date to a local winery. throw on some flat cognac sandals for comfort and you got yourself chic in 5 mins. bonus points if you add a boater hat and a straw bag! this dress has a pretty good wrap to it so you won’t have to worry about flashing anyone on a windy day, and it also helps that it’s a midi length as well. but two gripes about this dress: the top a tad big, but that’s my usual problem with wrap dresses, even when sizing down it’s still a little big AND wish it had pockets. but the ruffle detail and no-skimping on the bow/sash material makes up for it.

side ramblings: FINALLY! the @sprinklescupcakes lemon meringue cupcake is hereeee!! come to mama!! well, until 4/28. it’s my fave seasonal one so you should def give it a try! also, a real quick word on the @kendrascott Give Confidence jewelry trade in program that runs until 4/30: bring in any gently worn Kendra Scott jewelry to a KS store, and in partnership with Dress for Success, KS will donate this piece to a woman who deserves a little extra sparkle! in return, you will receive $15 off any purchase. just a good way to find a home for pieces you aren’t currently wearing. LASTLY, the @sephora spring bonus sale starts on 4/26 for ROUGE members and 5/2 for everyone else (20% off for ROUGE, 15% off for VIB, and 10% off for insiders). GET YO CARTS READY. haha. mine is because i’m a skincare nerd and one of my money saving tips is to never buy skincare or beauty products at regular price. wait til a sale and stock/try new things! sharing my list soon. until next time, xx.

currently on my playlist: sideways by Citzen Cope

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floral on floral

can it be fall already?!

well, it's almost september but we're still in the triple digits in TX, #halp. fall fashion is in full swing on every retail site and it's really dreadful to look at sweaters right now... there is no secret that fall fashion is my JAM, can't wait. but until then i'll settle for this floral print strapless dress (with pockets!). this is actually my second RED dress. it's a tad nuts actually. i never wear red dresses because i find them to be too dressy. the floral print toned down the red and i'm a sucker for all tie-front-anything! 

side ramblings: shout out to my friend Jane // @atasteofkoko who launched her retail shop shop.atasteofkoko.com, of course she celebrated by putting together the #museumofdonuts this past weekend full of instagram-able moments! #donutgetmestarted. so young and such a freaking BOSS i love it! the @sephora appreciation sale is going on right now and the BEST time to stock up on some favorites or try something new! i'm all about saving money so RARELY do i ever buy any skincare products at regular price. #protip: always wait for a sale/coupon code and stock up on items you love because every little bit counts! here are some new skincare products i'm looking to try for the first time: Drunken Elephant virgin marula luxury facial oil and the BIOSSANCE squalane + phyto-retinol serum (curious about this plant-based retinol, i've never used retinol before but this would be a good start since it seems to be WAY less harsh). things i'm re-stocking on are: SK-II facial treatment lotion (used in conjunction with my HG SK-II facial treatment essence), and my fave dry shampoo Bumble & Bumble dry spun (not labeled as a dry shampoo but does the exact job as one without an overpowering smell!). 

currently on my playlist: moving on by Mat Kearney

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the pom pom maxi

summertime pom pom fun in Maggy London!

thanks to @MaggyLondon i was able to add this first square neck line pom pom maxi to my closet! (try saying that 5x fast). first, i don't own many maxi dresses because when you're 5'2" maxi dresses that don't require alterations are hard to come by. thank goodness @MaggyLondon offers petite sizing! i picked this maxi dress because i don't own anything like it AND because it's not your average summer dress. although striped, it's a black and cream stripe with fun gray pom poms vs. your typical summery bright colors/prints. in addition, the straps fit perfectly and no alterations were needed (wearing a size 2 petite for reference). #styletip: now the SASH really brings it together. if you're short you want to pick maxi dresses that have a cinched waist so that you don't look like you're wearing a paperbag. (i can't rock that look at least). it's not a complete maxi length on me which i really like so you can still see your shoes/sandals of choice. lastly, this is a great, lightweight maxi for any summery occasion whether it be a baby/bridal shower, a brunch outing, or you know.. just to take pictures in a 7AM and forget to bring the mosquito repellent spray... #me! haha. plus, Austin is such a casual city this dress is gonna get so much wear with any woven bag & flat sandals for comfort!  

side ramblings: last week was BUSY but full of good food & friends. i can't imagine how i would balance everything out if i had kids!! finally, Austin gets another bubble tea shop @shareteaaustin! my girl @kathyphantastic painted the mural on their wall, so basically i know a celebrity!! also i attended the #ATXBloggerMixer at @erincondren which made me pause to think, man, i wish i was a pro at bullet journal-ing... or something..! #nerd

currently on my playlist: breathe by Jax Jones ft. Ina Wroldsen

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sometimes you gotta laugh & smile even when you're being eaten alive by mosquitos! escaped with 9 bites :D

dress c/o | Maggy London danni maxi in black & cream (wearing size 2 petite) -- similar // similar in gingham
bag | ZARA woven bag in natural -- similar for $21 // similar but circular // similar
earrings c/o | BaubleBar capella drop earrings in white (also available in four other colors) -- similar and love these 
necklace | Anthropologie monogram pendant necklace -- similar 
shoes | Shein cut out slides in cognac (old) -- similar by Steve Madden // similar for $17
sunglasses | Celine marta sunglasses in havana (old) -- newer design // similar by Le Specs
hat | GIGI PIP faye boater hat -- similar and $39 // similar for $11
rings | Gorjana amara ring set // Amanda Deer c/o CZ solitaire ring // Amanda Deer c/o CZ accents midi ring
bracelet | Nordstrom BP knotted cuff (old) -- similar by Stella & Dot
watch | Michael Kors darci watch in gold

rock all the pom poms,
JD

photo credit: Todd White
a post sponsored by Maggy London. 
dress provided by Maggy London, all opinions are my own.