a mini skort moment

mini skorts for the win!

in the last month or two i went on a little mini skort shopping spree and added not just one, but a couple to my closet! 🙈 my go-to length for skirts is usually midi as it’s just more comfortable to me length wise, and it’s stress-free (never thought i’d use that to describe a skirt but here we are) in terms of not having to worry when i sit down etc., however, this is where the skort part comes in. while the skort is a thin/nothing substantial, it serves its purpose. i’m on the hunt for a white one for summer but i do like how they style for winter with some knee high boots and layered with a coat or trench #soclassy. here, i chose a blazer! i can’t wait to style these in the spring with simple strappy sandals or even casually with sneaks!

side ramblings: news flash, i’m still not over Lovely Runner. it was SO. GOOD. it’s one of those k-dramas you watch that you immediately feel sad that it’s over. so i re-watched it again, ofc. and ontop of that, the huge news is i’m going to KOREA soon! i was feeling a little something in January — like i didn’t want to be here, so to cure the blues, i booked a trip to korea! 😆 even though i was there last summer, i’m going with a whole newfound love and lens while i’m in my #kdramaERA! i’m so excited!!! i’ll also catch the cherry blossoms which has been on my bucket list.

currently watching: Record of Youth

currently on my playlist: sudden shower by Byeon Woo-Seok (still on repeat 😁)

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top | Abercrombie + Fitch sweetheart mesh bodysuit (old) — sleeveless // love the one shoulder
blazer | Abercrombie + Fitch classic suiting blazer in cream (sized down to XS)
skort | Abercrombie + Fitch the scarlett mini skort in brown plaid (size S)
shoes | Sam Edelman uma knee high boots in black suede (old) — similar and newer style & avail in wide valf
bag | Loewe puzzle bag in sand grained calfskin (size small, the one i have has the older stitching that is inverted and i really prefer this look over the new style!! not sure why the changed it!!) — same but newer stitching // amazing Quince dupe for $140! // also comes in a REALLY adorable mini size i also debated too!
earrings | Mejuri charlotte bold hoops in gold vermeil — similar but a huggie style! // similar by Quince
watch | Michele 29 mm deco diamond watch in gold and silver
rings | gorjana diamond row ring in 14K gold // gorjana diamond stacking ring in 14K gold

until next time,
JD

photo credit: @janeyunphoto

the sezane harper dress & turning 40

first JDC post of 2025!

i think i say this every year, but whoa 2024 flew by! i’ve been meaning to write this post for some time now or even post on IG but december has been a go-go-go month that i just haven’t had time — i mean no complaints here. from my bday bucket list trip to NYC, my Emily in Paris themed brunch, xmas parties, family gatherings, board games, pickleball, eating grapes in the table (IYKYK), etc. but now i’m finally finding some time to reflect on turning 40 and on what 2024 was for me. more after the jump!

first, a moment for this #gifted Sézane harper dress — shes’s a beauty isn’t she? i don’t usually pick many Sézane dresses because they’re usually too long on my short 5’2” self. however, this one is the perfect maxi length. and those gold buttons on the side?! urm, yes! imo, it gives the dress a little more ooph and ahh. i sized down to an XS because i knew the knit fabric would stretch and i think the S (my usual size) might have been too long. it’s also a really great work dress as the slit isn’t high and the buttons are decorative — which i prefer. while i styled these with knee high suede boots, a strappy or block heel sandal also works!

currently on my playlist: sudden shower from Lovely Runner (on my list to watch next!)

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turning 40/living for 4 decades is crazy thought. 40 is a big number. when i was younger i thought dang, 40 is OLD! ha, look who’s laughing now. jokes on me. i think it holds a great significance especially for women as 40 is the typical age it’s not really recommended to have children — and i think whether you wanted children or if you didn’t want children, it’s a hard pill to swallow. period. for me, i think it’s a little sad realizing/coming to terms that i probably won’t be having children; and you know what, that’s okay with me. maybe life has something else planned for me — or so i’d like to think. 40s is realizing you are actually aging. and um, i can attest to things not working as a normal 30 year old. somehow recovery takes longer, things ache, tolerance (for anything) is pretty low. on the flipside. there’s so much to 40 that i love. example. i am a hard no on manyyyy things and have zero issues saying no to things and people that don’t align with me. time is even more precious. i mean it’s sad to say but i’ve pretty much lived half my life — that’s if i make it to 80 :D

2024 was probably a year i’ll always remember. there were so many highlights and sitting here looking at the vision board i created 12-months ago, i smile and feel happy with how it all turned out. it was everything i wanted… and more. there were lots of check boxes on the bucket list. lots of manifesting from my vision board. btw, i save my vision board as a screen saver so i’m reminded of it on the daily and i highly recommend it! this year, i feel like i progressed professionally — from awards received, to promotions, to raises and merits (it was a fruitful year) and i never thought i’d be recognized in this way. it’s an honor. socially, i made more friends and expanded my circle just a teeny bit more. i dove into random hobbies/tried new things such as more mechanical keyboards, puzzles, mah jong, charms/beading, board games, trinket meet ups, blind boxes, pickleball, etc. i spiraled down and found a crazy love for k-drama (post coming soon!). i began to take care of myself by treating myself to massages and facials again. i started another IG with my friend. i planned quarterly dinners with friends i wanted to cultivate relationships with. i finally found peace with my single-ness. this is actually a big one for me; growth wise. unconsciously i’d always try to end my singleton life. but nowadays i’ve come to LOVE IT. i love the life i’ve built for myself that it would take almost a fictional guy (also fueled by k-drama) to take me off the single list. feels weird to say it at 40, but i feel like i’ve finally found my way 💖

i found my love for skincare all over again with routines & products i absolutely love — my skin looks more hydrated and plump than it has ever been. travel-wise, i visited A LOT of places — Japan (if you don’t already know, Japan is my fave place on earth), Korea, Vancouver, Seattle, NYC. that’s a lot for me! i went to NYC during Christmas and it was indeed magical, it was a bucket list item (also on my vision board) and i’m so happy i was able to mark it off my list. while the blog was slow, life was indeed amazing!!! i used to feel bad when i “neglected” the blog, but now i feel okay about it. i find that the other things & people i’m spending my time on also bring me so much joy. and even though the posts are less, hopefully they’re still quality posts 🫶 anyway, it’s time to wrap up this really long side rambling by just saying, i’m dang grateful and look forward to 2025 🥰 #letsdothisthang

thank you for your support & for following along my journey of life! xx

dress c/o | Sézane harper dress in black (sized down to XS and the length is perfect for someone who is 5’2”) — similar in the Hillary (buttons at the arms) // similar in the Erine (buttons at the shoulder)
shoes | Sam Edelman uma knee high boots in black suede (old) — similar and newer style & avail in wide valf
earrings | Mejuri charlotte bold hoops in gold vermeil — similar but a huggie style! // similar by Quince
watch | Michele 29 mm deco diamond watch in gold and silver

until next time!,
JD

photo credit: @janeyunphoto

the striped cashmere sweater & tailored shorts

hello, fall

wow, hard to believe it’s going to be november this week! it’s weird, part of me looks forward to fall, but i’m going to miss the long summer days. don’t get me wrong, i am not a fan of the TX heat, but i do love the longer days and having more light in the evenings (sounding like a grandma rn but proud of it 👵). i am looking forward to cooler temps and of course, all the fall fashion that comes with it!

the bag #gifted. this one caught my eye because of the shape. it’s so interesting! and not to mention mini bags are really the cutest! even though they are not always functional but sometimes you gotta choose fashion over function 😆 i’m pleased to report that the Sézane nano romie bag actually fits your everyday essentials (phone, keys, card case, lip balm) and this one is such a beautiful chocolate brown! i love how it pops on the black and white here.

the top. Quince has been one of my favorite places to shop. if you haven’t shopped Quince you are really missing out on the high-quality items that are ethically priced (and the pricing is transparent too). basically it’s elevated basics at a steal. i own two of these short sleeve cashmere sweaters. it’s a great transitional piece for esp during this time and the style is so versatile & elevated. it goes with all bottoms - here i styled them with some tailored shorts!

side ramblings: with two months left of the year, it’s about that time to do some reflecting! it’s been an interesting year, in the greatest way!! i did so much traveling and have one more trip left on the books this year 🫶 — a bucket list one at that too!!! cannot wait!! when i look at my vision board for 2024 i achieved almost all that i had set my little heart out to do at the beginning of 2024 — and that is pretty dang good i gotta say 👊 more on this in december. i recently went to a content creator meet up. my gosh it has been a LONGGGG time since i’ve gone to one of those. the community of creators just keeps growing and growing! i’m so glad i went because it was humbling to see everyone there chasing what they love doing and it inspires me! which i needed since JDC has been… slow. my focus and time this year was spent on things outside of JDC and i won’t deny that it was a grand time 😆😄 also, who reads this section anyways? yo viet, this one’s for you bud. 😁👋

currently on my playlist: queen of tears soundrack

currently watching: vincenzo

currently reading: hotel nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand

fall layers in texas - parisian style!

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top | Quince mongolian cashmere tee in striped (wearing size M, i usually size up in cashmere because i wash it… yes, you’re not supposed to wash cashmere, but i wash everything. i’m a rebel)
sweater | LOFT half-zip (old) — similar
shorts | Artizia effortless shorts in light birch — similar by A&F (i own both of these and the Aritizia is more luxe in terms of material)
bag c/o | Sézane nano romie bag in smooth chocolate — also avail in a regular size
shoes | Sam Edelman gigi sandal in cognac (my OG sandals)
earrings | Mejuri charlotte bold hoops in gold vermeil — similar but a huggie style! // similar by Quince
watch | Michele 29 mm deco diamond watch in gold and silver
rings | gorjana diamond row ring in 14K gold // gorjana diamond stacking ring in 14K gold

until next time!,
JD

photo credit: @janeyunphoto

the sezane pierro shirt

a little workwear inspo.

i’ve talked about the Sézane tomboy vs. max shirt in this blog post and i mention the pierro. well, i finally was able to add the pierro to my closet #gifted! as you can tell, the pierro is known for its printed designs. they come in usually bright and bold colors depending on the season of fashion. i loved this bright blue and the floral print. it went so well with these white wide leg pants for a #workwear look. professional, polished, and fashionable. for a bold look i’d style them with matching blue pants #gobold!

quick wrap up comparison below of all three Sézane button downs:

  • Sézane tomboy shirt — despite what you think the name would mean it’s actually classic & fitted. measurements listed below for a 36 or US 4:

    • measures 19.5” in width from one side seam to the other

    • measures 26.4” from the shoulder to the hem

    • complimentary embroidery available (you’ll see it after you click add to basket)

  • Sézane max shirt — oversized & relaxed. really great for super casual days, coverups at the beach or pool. it’s also longer and wider than the tomboy. measurements listed below for a 36 or US 4:

    • measures 24” in width from one side seam to the other

    • measures 28.9” from the shoulder to the hem

  • Sézane pierro shirt — the material of this shirt is a little more luxe & elevated, making it an easy pick for work. it’s also very classy & feminine with the pearl button details too! it’s soft, very lightweight which means it may wrinkle easily. measurements listed below for a 36 of US 4:

    • measures 20.5” in width from one side seam to the other

    • measures 26.4” from the shoulder to the hem

of course, it was the windiest day!

side ramblings: it’s been a while so this may be a long one… hope you have a cup of coffee in hand ☕ does anyone ever talk about how hard it is to adjust to life after japan? listen, i know it’s #FWP, but it’s seriously harddd. while i still have so much of the world to see, japan really holds a special place in my heart. in june/july 2024 i went to japan (second time) and korea (first time). two weeks flew by. i realized i never did a recap on my first japan trip in 2023 so i’ll recap them both #comingsoon! korea was such an experience. my sister and i went to every Olive Young in sight. it was a skincare. heaven. — if those exist! i lugged home a suitcase full of korean skincare products and have since converted a good chunk of my routine to k-beauty.

soon after coming back i actually went to vancouver and seattle too — an escape to cooler weather! it was another great trip before my niece and nephew went back to school (hard to believe it’s already time). i was happy to make and take home all those memories with me and i look forward to more family trips together. lately i’ve been thinking about how quickly time passes, situations and people change. that no matter how hard you try to re-create them, it will never be the same. i mean, it’s obvious, people change and grow. we’re never the same but i guess the kid inside me wishes it wasn’t the case sometimes. it’s a good reminder to soak of the current moment no matter how mundane. 💗

since coming back from korea, i’ve been on a k-drama kick too. it’s been… just as i thought. i never watched them because i had a feeling it would be like the old chinese movies i watched when i was in middle school on VHS (showing my age y’all). i remember having to fan the VCR player back in the day because my sister and i watched so much during the summer. fast forward to now… i’m obsessed with k-drama. it’s so different from american television. how do i put it? it’s wholesome and innocent — and let’s face it, i’m a sucker for a cute-make-you-cry-kinda-love story. from the couple that i’ve watched, they do a good job telling the story too. my UF (ultimate favorite) is Crash Landing on You 🫰 it was my first k-drama and still holds the number one spot. i HIGHLY recommend it. all this means i haven’t done much reading this year, but i mean, reading subtitles count, RIGHT?! asking for a friend.

i’ve also fallen in love with korean music all over again, just like the highschool days when i went through a phase of kpop. i also started beading with my friend and beginning to make some bag/phone keychains! it’s fun since i love all things crafty. tbh, i love this era of my life for me.

event-wise, i was invited to the @sundayriley masterclass where Sunday Riley herself went though her skincare routine. it was such an amazing event. i don’t usually get invited to something at this level so it was such a treat. as someone with sensitive skin, i didn’t have any reactions to Sunday Riley products as we tried almost all of them in the masterclass. speaking of skincare, i updated my day and night skincare routine in an easy shoppable format! it’s a lot of products but i rotate them daily. 😁

currently on my playlist: crash landing on you soundtrack

currently watching: what’s wrong with secretary kim

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top c/o | Sézane pierro shirt in gran fortina (wearing size US 4 and could have sized down to a US 2) — similar in the omboy shirt // similar in the max shirt
bottom | Aritzia the effortless pant in birch (wearing size 6) — similar in the A&F sloane tailored pant
bag | etsy woven bag in apricot (old) — similar by Quince // similar by Quince in a woven hobo bag
shoes | Manolo Blahnik BB pump in nude patent — similar by Ann Taylor // similar by Sam Edelman
earrings | Mejuri charlotte bold hoops in gold vermeil — similar but a huggie style! // similar by Quince
watch | Michele 29 mm deco diamond watch in gold and silver
rings | gorjana diamond row ring in 14K gold // gorjana diamond stacking ring in 14K gold

until next time!,
JD

photo credit: @janeyunphoto

the sezane gillyne skirt and graphic tee

happy May friends!

hard to believe that summer is here!!! i’m looking forward to the longer days with more sunlight into the evening hours. probably my only favorite thing about summer since i’m not a huge fan of the extreme heat — not looking forward to that at all! for this post i was super excited to shoot with my girl again @janeyunphoto, since it has been quite some time. she always makes me look amazing!

when i saw the Sézane gillyne skirt online #gifted i was drawn to the texture and the fun front pockets with button detail. the brick color ended up being a more toned down burnt orange (and more wearable imo)! i styled it with a simple graphic tee and some white booites which make it the perfect gameday outfit in Austin! #UTLonghorns #hookem

side ramblings: strawberry season is in full swing and i’ve been oogling over all the tj’s strawberry goodies and strawberry treats in general! if you haven’t already, definitely check out the Sézane pop-up on SoCo before September. they invited me in for breakfast this past weekend 😊 such a treat to work with an amazing & generous company — they always send us home with a bouquet of flowers! this time i was also gifted the Sézane pippa dress in olive. this is my second pippa dress and i highly recommend it. it’s hard to find a good t-shirt dress that doesn’t cling to your everything and looks elevated the tie knot detail really brings it all together for me. it also comes in a sleeveless version called the Sézane pippaé dress too (i also own this as well. it’s that GOOD).

currently on my playlist: what was i made for? by Billie Eilish

currently reading: the true love experiment by Christina Lauren a spin off to the soulmate equation

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top | J.Crew Factory le weekend t-shirt (so old) — similar Paris one! // similar by J.Crew Factory
skirt c/o | Sézane gillyne skirt in brick (wearing size US 4) — similar
jacket | Old Navy denim jacket (very old) — similar by Quince
earrings | Mejuri charlotte bold hoops in gold vermeil — similar but a huggie style! // similar by Quince
shoes | Dolce Vita timone booties in white (old) — similar
watch | Michele 29 mm deco diamond watch in gold and silver
rings | gorjana diamond row ring in 14K gold // gorjana diamond stacking ring in 14K gold

until next time,
JD

photo credit: @janeyunphoto

the sezane tomboy vs. max shirt

hello april!

a button down is a staple in all capsule wardrobes. why? because it’s versatile. you can mix and match it with a variety of bottoms (denim shorts, jeans, skirts), dress it up (french tuck) or down, layer it (over a dress), or even wear it as a beach/pool cover up. Sézane has many beautiful collections, but i typically go for the staples like the tomboy and max shirts! i’m glad they’ve been added to my collection. in summary, the difference between the two:

  • Sézane tomboy shirt — despite what you think the name would mean it’s actually classic & fitted. measurements listed below for a 36 or US 4:

    • measures 19.5” in width from one side seam to the other

    • measures 26.4” from the shoulder to the hem

    • complimentary embroidery available (you’ll see it after you click add to basket)

  • Sézane max shirt — oversized & relaxed. really great for super casual days, coverups at the beach or pool. it’s also longer and wider than the tomboy. measurements listed below for a 36 or US 4:

    • measures 24” in width from one side seam to the other

    • measures 28.9” from the shoulder to the hem

Sézane tomboy shirt in ecru/camel stripes

the only iconic one i’m missing is the Sézane pierro shirt — which is next on my list to try. the fit seems similar to the tomboy but the pierro is in pretty prints that’ll look great with some solid wide leg pants!

i included pictures here of both so you can get an idea. ironically they are in stripes since i’m having a striped moment over here && i styled them both with white bottoms!! which one should you pick? depends on the FIT. for classic, go with the tomboy. for oversized go with the max. you can’t go wrong with either! i love that it does not require ironing once washed (thank goodness, because i rarely pull out my steamer/iron). personally, my style leans more towards the tomboy (as i also have it in plain white) but the max is a fun one to have for certain style vibes. if you don’t own either, i recommend going with the tomboy first as my rule of thumb is to always go with classic first, then build on that with more fun & trendy pieces. more pictures after the jump!

currently on my playlist: lose control by Tom King (i like this cover more than the Teddy Swims original)

currently reading: the island of sea women by Lisa See

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Sézane tomboy shirt in ecru/camel stripes

Sézane max shirt in striped blue

Sézane max shirt in striped blue

top c/o | Sézane tomboy shirt in ecru/camel stripes (wearing size 4 US)
top c/o | Sézane max shirt in striped blue (wearing size 4 US, i could’ve sized down to a 2 in this but i wanted it to be truly oversized)
denim | Everlane kick crop jeans in white (very old) — similar by Madewell // similar by J.Crew Factory // loving these wide leg ones!
pants | Ann Taylor kate wide leg cropped pant in white (wearing size 2P, hands down the best wide leg cropped pant everrrrrr)
bag | Loewe puzzle bag in sand grained calfskin (size small) — dupe on Amazon // also comes in a REALLY adorable mini size i also debated too!
watch | Michele 29 mm deco diamond watch in gold and silver
rings | gorjana diamond row ring in 14K gold // gorjana diamond stacking ring in 14K gold

until next time,
JD

the wide leg pant roundup

the pant that’s here to stay!

for the last year or two, wide leg pants have been IN. my own collection of wide leg pants also grew and lately, i find myself reaching for them over jeans or dresses (shocking, i know since i am a total dress girl). jeans are a great bottom option, but there’s not many colors to pick from. with wide leg pants there are endless colors and materials to pick from! and ahem, they are more forgiving than denim jeans - extra handy when the food baby kicks in 😆 the tricky thing about wide leg pants, for me at least, is the length. i’m short at 5’2” and hemming usually needs to happen which deters me from purchasing a lot (guess this is good thing). i rarely do alterations unless it’s something i just can’t live without. the good news is that wide leg pants can be cropped (whoo!) and there are retailers that offer short/petite sizing to help with this!

in this post, i round up my favorite wide leg pants that i wear over and over. they are staples in my closet and it’s really hard not to buy all the colors! more after the jump.

side ramblings: #SXSW kicked off last week and it does feel a little strange to not participate this year. there’s always next year! i’ve been watching Golden Girls and i love how the show (aired in 1985) is still hilarious and relevant in 2024. a true classic! and similar to Modern Family, there’s a nugget of wisdom in each episode 😊 also, can we take a moment to discuss daylight savings? what is it about the one-hour time change that can really screw with you?! 🫠

currently on my playlist: good thing going on by Mat Kearney (another solid hit by my all time favorite artist)

currently reading: about to finish hook, line, and sinker by Tessa Bailey and start my book club read the island of sea women by Lisa See

wearing the Aritzia the effortless pant in light birch (runs small, so size up! wearing size 6)

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01. Aritzia the effortless pant

these pants are LUXE and dressy. they are made from a japanese crepe material and they are probably my favorite. i own two pairs and the shorts too 😉 unfortunately, even though these come in a short length, they’re too short imo. so i purchase the regular length and get them tailored (so that tells you how great they are). they are also high-waisted so perfect with crop tops!

sizing: runs small, so size up! i usually purchase a 6 regular.

great for: a night out with a dressy top with low strappy heels or for work with a button down or sweater.

02. Abercrombie & Fitch sloane tailored pant

these pants were all the rage in 2022 and 2023. so much that it still remains a staple today. they were viral on tiktok when they first came out so it was hard to find sizes. i have them in three colors? i love that they’re easy. but i have read that they pill which is sad. i haven’t run into this issue yet. the material of the sloane is not as luxe as the Artizia’s but they are a great alternative when you’re looking for fun colors! i purchase these in a short length and they are perfect! these are also high-waisted.

sizing: runs small, so size up! i usually purchase a 27 short.

great for: cool girl brunch vibes with a casual crop top or tee with white sneakers or flat strappy sandals (add a baseball cap for good measure!)

03. Ann Taylor the kate wide leg crop pant

these are my OG intro into wide leg pants. of course, they are cropped but still, they count! i have these in over 8+ colors. it’s so hard when they come out with new colors every. season. they’re a great casual-cotton-cropped pant and literally go with everything. these are also high-waisted. each year they refine the design a little more and they’ve really perfected it.

sizing: true to size. 2 petite.

great for: casual friday, with a t-shirt for errands when you want to look put together with sneakers.

rock all the wide leg pants!,
JD