the hoodie sweater dress

March 6, 2023

hello, spring!

SPRING HAS SPRUNG! whooo here we are.. hopefully on the other side of TX winter storms… but now worrying about hurricane season. it’s always something! i’m a little late on this post but i thought it would be fun to style a hoodie dress! i've always like the look of a hoodie under a blazer combo so when i saw this sweater dress i thought it’d be fun to style it under a coat for a dressy outing but ALSO, it can be styled casually like sporty spice!

to style this sweater hoodie dress casually, pair it with some white sneakers and a belt bag to make it fun. this one adds additional texture with the sherpa! for hair, i’d put it up in a high ponytail and aviator sunglasses. to style it for a night out, trade out the sneakers for some knee high suede boots (again, more texture adds dimension!) and layer it under a jacket with hoodie out! also trade out the belt bag for something more elevated like a leather bag.

i have always wanted photos infront of “Austin” and lucky me, @janeyunphoto agreed and made it happen (she’s great!) despite all the construction going around there with the Blanton Museum.

option 1 // casual style/sporty spice with white sneaks & sherpa belt bag for added texture!

side ramblings: UM, so much. first, i think the universe nudged me pretty hard to stop talking about launching my styling business and to actually do it. the time is now, right?! thanks universe! haha. i turned in a couple of “deliverables” over to my first two clients and it’s been a process. coming up with tools and workflow processes (while over-thinking it all, the INFJ in me). nonetheless, i found myself looking forward to it — i’ve missed it. second, home improvement projects have commenced (i’m telling you, it’s something to do with spring that makes you want to get back to work!). team daddy & i changed out the dining room light and in the process of replacing hallway and bedroom lights to recessed lighting! lastly, some #hellyes collaborations opened up with

@Sézane — french clothing brand, i LOVE everything and choosing an item made me miss paris so much! i picked out the Asianne dress! it’s a pretty blue floral dress and looking forward to styling it two ways. i’m all about the versatility!
@DavinesNorthAmerica — hair product company known for sustainability. they sent me one of the biggest PR packages i’ve received in a while!! here are a couple of hair care products they sent me to try (the whole box smells so divine!):
- OI shampoo & conditioner — contains roucou oil for soft and voluminous hair! it’s one of their bestsellers and i’m excited to try it. i think the oil will help with frizz and overall health & body
- natural tech well-being shampoo & conditioner — a gently daily shampoo and conditioner for healthy hair
- natural tech calming shampoo — for irritated scalp (me!)
- medium hold hairspray — it’s almost like they knew i was about to run out of the one i was using! can’t wait to try this one
- invisible dry shampoo spray — absorbs oil and refreshes the hair

currently on my playlist: all for nothing (i’m so in love) by Lauv

currently reading: the unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren! i also finished black cake by Charmaine Wilkerson since the last blog post and it was so good. reminded me of real hardships our parents faced back then. in my 30’s i have an even greater appreciation for what my parents went through. it’s funny i planned on documenting their life story and this book was yet another gentle nudge by the universe to DO IT!

option 2 // date night. styled under a coat (hoodie out), knee high suede boots and a leather bag (so much textured goodness!!)

option 1 // sporty spice

dress | Amazon ribbed and hooded sweater dress in light brown (wearing size S)
bag | lululemon everywhere belt bag in light ivory — great amazon dupe for $23 // non-sherpa amazon dupe for $15
shoes | Keds ace sneakers in white leather — also eyeing the Veja // target ones with a little platform for $35!

option 2 // date night

dress | Amazon ribbed and hooded sweater dress in light brown (wearing size S)
bag | Red Dress Boutique polished and poised bag in black — similar on amazon in a more classic leather pattern
shoes | Sam Edelman uma knee high boot in black suede (i also loved them so much i got them in the bootie version) — similar in the Ursula on Zappos // similar in the Ursula on Sam Edelman

thanks for stopping by!,
JD

photo credit: @janeyunphoto

march favorites

April 11, 2022

a look back at march faves!

i can’t believe we’re in mid-April already! a quarter of 2022 gone. this is my second post of this new series, see first one here. there are some good gems explained in detail so don’t wait another second on clicking the read more button below!

side ramblings: the JD x @J.Crew Spring Styling Event was a success in my books! if you dropped by, thank you! it’s still crazy that i was given this opportunity. i am so grateful - it’s the little victory i needed to keep going. because sometimes, in this arena, it’s easy to get lost and feel as though your content or words aren’t making a difference, or going as far as you want them to, or it’s getting lost in the algorithm. but it just takes that ONE person to see your worth & what you bring to the table. and that ONE person can change the game for you. sounds a lot like relationships and job interviews too! so keep your head up, keep going, keep working, and keep doing you! on another note, here’s my latest contribution to @thesavvylife.co on onigiri!

noteable sales: not sure if this is going to be a permanent section on the blog, but @abercrombie is having a 25% off sale, use code : AFLTK at checkout until 04/12. if you follow me, i’ve been wearing a lot of their clothes!!! here are some summer tops (& others) to get us ready for that 100F weather 😐 but A&F has really stepped up their game the past couple of years. i find myself browsing their site frequently and they have sizing for petites and tall so far! here are some tops i purchased and/or eyeing:

A&F ottoman rib twist tank in yellow
A&F polo collar tank in white stripe
A&F seamless fabric sweetheart top in black
A&F slinky ruched bodysuit in white
A&F elevated knit soft v-neck tank in light orange
A&F double-layered seamless fabric corset bodysuit in black
A&F ultra high-rise ankle straight jeans in white destroy
A&F dressy tailored shorts
A&F tailored wide leg pants

currently on my playlist: every second by Mina Okabe

01 | Paddywax candle in palo santo suede

this. smells. so. good!!! i purchased this at Austin Gift Co. (BTW, if you haven’t been here it is a mecca! a great place when you’re looking for a gift for someone. they also feature a lot of local small businesses!). it smells so good that i haven’t burned it. i know it’s crazy but everytime i smell it, it makes me so happy. top notes include: african ginger, lemon zest, bergamont, crushed red pepper; base notes: cedar, sandalwood, dark teakwood. there used to be a @paddywax here but unfortunately it closed during the pandemic. i loved the make your own candle class so much! but at least you can still purchase them online.

also avail on amazon // re-packaged in yin & yang // and blue glass // this one looks interesting by Target

02 | lululemon everywhere belt bag in pale blue

so… i actually have two of these now. only when something is really good do i purchase another in a different color. this bag went viral on tiktok so i had to see the hype. during the holidays i was able to snag the sherpa one and i ended up loving it more than i thought i would. it fits my mini wallet, puracy hand sanitizer, keys, and there’s a back zipper pocket that fits my iPhone 12 perfectly for easy access. i usually wear it as a sling bag but it goes great with athleisure and the hands-free is SO NICE.

03 | Peace Out retinol eye stick

i looked at a photo the other day and the lines are becoming more prominent around the eye area. so i took immediate action with this retinol stick. i use an eye treatment twice a day but this one has retinol to target the eye wrinkles and the application is interesting being a stick. i warm is up on my ring finger and then slide it across my lower eyes, then i’ll rub what on my ring finger into the same area. i use retinol moisturizers but i think there needs to be one that can help those areas closer to the eye. this is just for that! so far no breakouts or irritation!

04 | Natrium the glow getter multi-oil body wash

it’s crazy to think how much oils are in my routine. after testing out the Le Labo mandarin shower oil, i was on the hunt for something more budget friendly. i found this brand that i’ve heard good things about in regards to the cleansing balm, but i noticed they had a shower oil && they sell it at target!!! it’s not as thick of an oil as the Le Labo but it will do. i’m not super crazy about the smell, it smells like peaches? but it dissipates quickly and seems to leave my skin more moisturized. i can see it coming super handy in the winter.

05 c/o | True Botanicals renew nourishing cleanser

i’ve been using this for a couple of weeks as a morning cleanser and like it! True Botanicals has very relaxing smells to their all-natural products and this one is no exception. it’s the perfect relaxing way to start the day IMO. it has a milky consistency that feels very hydrating on the skin. again, i love the amber glass packaging — so luxe on the vanity!

until next time!,
JD

jdc turns four

September 3, 2018

nothing worthwile is ever easy.

in theory, i couldn't think of a better way than celebrating FOUR years of jannadoan dot com (JDC) with @theory__! #nopunintended. being able to work with Theory was one of the handful of highlights/life's little victories lately. til this day, i am still pinching myself with thoughts of "is this real life right now?" a brand so selective, streamlined, minimal, SO luxe and classy wanted to work with me?! SAY WHAT? i thought the email was addressed to the wrong person for a second. #grateful. what a year it has been. lots of breaks were taken, but in the end here i am still chugging/typing/snapping away four years // 1,460 days later. (insert huge grin). my reflections, janna-style after the jump.

it's ironic that i call myself a fashion blogger because i don't keep up with trends that much. as a woman in her 30s i realize that not all trends are for me. i dabble in some but most trends have me scratching my head. i know i'm not the only one. the fanny pack has always been questionable to me. actually, very questionable unless it's the 70s and you're a dad/mom going to a theme park, but even then! enter a belt bag. now this i can get on board with but it's NOT functional. it's sleek, minimal, and zero space for anything because the point is, you don't want it to look chunky. you want it to be there without actually being there. ya feel me?! i have nothing in it in the photos below haha (i hope someone is reading this).

instead of buying a belt bag, i got creative and made my own with items i already had. it's actually a crossbody bag (see it styled here), i removed the leather strap and used a minaudiere gold chain to strap it onto me. VOILA. not gonna lie, it was a genius moment i'm pretty proud of. paired with a silk jogger style jumpsuit? (#protip: if you have #shortgirlproblems like me, avoid hemming pant jumpsuits with a jogger style one that cuffs at the bottom). this is as trendy as it is gonna get here on JDC. lastly, the silk of Theory is unlike any other silk i've touched. it's so soft, smooth, comfy that i actually want to sleep in it. i guess it would be wrong to sleep a $300+ jumpsuit. there has to be a market for Theory pjs.

currently on my playlist: whatever it takes by Imagine Dragons

kudos to all the other women doing the same out there. it. ain't. easy. i mean it looks easy and glamorous but it's the exact opposite. and i don't even have a child! so kudos to blogger moms out there holding it down!! it takes a few things i have to highlight below in bullet format, because... you know how i roll.

confidence -- the ability to do your THANG no matter what. as a shy person by nature, i will shoot photos in the middle of places with high traffic if i have to. it takes some dang confidence to have other people either stare, laugh, honk, (insert other verbs) at you. #awkward. not everyone can do it so i give myself some major credit here. also, the ability to attend events when you might not know anyone. that takes guts, i don't care what anyone says. one of my mottos is "suit up and show up." figuratively and literally.
courage -- in a world where everyone is trying to keep up with the latest and be the greatest, it's hard not to lose sight of YOU and your purpose. by this i don't necessarily mean have the courage to be different but have the courage to be you. seems pretty DUH, but in 2018, it must be said.
persistence -- the ability to push through and strive to do your best; even when everything seems to be going wrong/backwards or when people bring you down. it's like walking through mud (or a better analogy is pushing a lawn mower through wet grass). it's not fun, is futile, and makes you question what the heck you're doing. but if you have the drive & passion, put those blinders on (or really oversized sunglasses) and keep going my friend. #cantstopwontstop, ya know?!
planning -- i never thought i would need to consider what side a building faces and where the sun will be at a certain time on it. also planning way in advance i.e., shooting fall stuff in 100F weather, or planning IG posts/blog posts, content creation. the planning never stops.
appreciation -- of the five, this will get you the farthest. defined as: the recognition and enjoyment of the good qualities of someone or something. expressing appreciation and gratitude to those who helped me get to where i am today and believed in me enough to give me an opportunity is something i never lose sight of. and besides, it's just really who i am.

through life, i've been told that it is important to always take a step back and reflect. it's hard to find the time these days especially with the 2018-pace-of-life. but when you do, you'll realize HOW far you've come, what you've accomplished, what you've learned along the way. bottom line: it fills you with #GRATITUDE. we can always use more of that, am i right?! i'm a firm believer that a little gratitude leads to greatness. to be honest, the past year has not been the most fruitful for my site on all accounts -- amounts made on commission, traffic, social media, brand collaborations etc... everything has actually declined and gone downhill. my followers have remained stagnant, i've made less in commissions, constantly rejected by brands, and my traffic is at an all time low. however, it would be remiss if i didn't acknowledge the things that i did accomplish: this past year i signed and negotiated my first PAID sponsorships! WAH HOO! i mean only took this long! haha. i created my first invoice. OH, how can i forget?! I FILMED and EDITED MY FIRST YOUTUBE video (i know... i only uploaded ONE and i'm really behind on others) but that's a huge accomplishment and i'm sticking to it. cheers y'all! xx