the coral & chartreuse combo

cue the ‘watermelon sugar by Harry Styles’ for this post.

this color combo was so fun to put together! originally i wanted to style the coral pants with a white or cream top. at the last minute i decided on a more bold color combo and BAM! it all works out in the end amirite?!

the Ann Taylor kate wide leg cropped pants are a closet favorite of mine. the design continues to improve and launches in FUN colors ALL. THE. TIME. tbh, it’s hard for me to restrain from buying every color (me, hiding from the fall colors). there have been improvements over the years with these pants and i think this year is perfection. it’s finally a high rise (past my belly button) and the pocket placement and opening are perfect — before they would bulge out a little too much. i love that they come in a petite length because they fall just right on my 5’2” self. the material and amount of stretch is perfect. since they are high rise so they go so well with crop tops like this fun chartreuse one here. on the flipside, for safer-not-as-bold looks, i’d pair chartreuse with navy or white!

side ramblings: it’s crazy that summer 2023 is coming to a close. it only feels that way with school in session, but other than that, it’s still summer to me until i can put on a jacket (at the very least — and that… in TX is late OCT)! watching my niece & nephew go to school was bittersweet. they’re growing up so fast and with that means changes to our family time schedules due to all their extra circular activities! we spend SO. MUCH. time. together. but i wouldn’t have it any other way! #beyondblessed

currently on my playlist: watermelon sugar by Harry Styles

currently reading: the seven husbands of evelyn hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

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day to night in a LBD with Maggy London

warning: lots of pictures ahead.

as you may know, black is my FAVORITE color to wear. shall i count the reasons of why i love black?!: it goes with all colors... including MORE BLACK!, it makes you look slimming, it goes with my skin tone & hair, it is freaking classic. 

for this post, i teamed up with Maggy London to bring you the LBD one for the day (work wear, professional attire) and one for night (an evening out, date night) with tips on how to rock each. if you aren't familiar with Maggy London, they specialize in my favorite clothing item... DRESSES! their dresses range from casual, work wear, to dressy. there is something for everyone and not to mention they offer petite and curve sizing! #hooray! 

side happenings: i saw beauty & the beast! gah, it was so good!! they did such an amazing job making it match the animation! i think i'm still recovering from the go-go of SXSW but it was such an experience!! i cannot wait until next year. as always, thanks so much for stopping by. xoxo. 

currently on my playlist: you are the best thing by Ray LaMontagne

DAY

NIGHT

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DAY

keeping it professional with a full coverage dress (not low cut, below the knee length) with the daintiest contrasting bow detail. close toed pumps, a classic black work bag (tied scarf to add some classy-ness), studded earrings, and a 'my lips but better' lip color completed this workwear look. i also tried to channel my innter Jackie O with these oversized round sunglasses!

NIGHT

everyone LOVES this dress. i actually saw it on my gorgeous friend Michelle // @stylebeacon and had to have it! this makes a great event/date night dress because of the lace (front AND back), the cold shoulder detail, and the tighter fit (gulp!). honestly, this dress doesn't need much to make you stand out but i did add some red lips (you can't go wrong), a pair of strappy stiletto heels, and a minaudiere to polish it off. 

DAY

dress c/o | Maggy London the petite jackie midi in black (wearing a 4P for size reference) -- also available in regular sizing // avail in a curve midi // avail in navy // in red
shoes | Jimmy Choo abel pumps in black patent (old design) -- current design // similar // similar and custom!
bag | Henri Bendel uptown satchel in black with a twilly -- similar in a mini version 
earrings | Kendra Scott aston stud earrings in ivory
sunglasses | Prada round oversized sunglasses in black grey gradient -- similar by F21
watch | Michael Kors darci watch in gold (on sale!) -- avail in rose gold
bracelet | BaubleBar pearl taylor cuff (old) -- another great work option looks like David Yurman!
lips | MAC amplified creme lipstick in brick-o-la

NIGHT

dress c/o | Maggy London eileen cold shoulder midi in black (wearing a 2R for size reference)
shoes | LuLu's elsi single strap heels in black suede -- similar // similar with a stacked heel at Target
bag | DVF lytton clutch in black quilted leather (old) -- similar // similar but round & velvet
earrings | Kendra Scott quincy delicate earrings in crackle crystal (old) -- similar
sunglasses | Celine caty sunglasses in black -- similar in tortoise
watch | Michael Kors darci watch in gold (on sale!) -- avail in rose gold
bracelet | Vita Fede mini titan crystal bracelet in gold -- similar by Vince Camuto and on salefor $25!
rings | Gorjana c/o shimmer stacking ring set // Gorjana amara ring set // Gorjana mini stackable ring set // Etsy stacking & midi rings // Gorjana candice CZ ring // BaubleBar ice chevron midi ring (sold out) -- similar // BaubleBar tri bar ring (old) -- similar 
lips | Christian Louboutin velvet matte lip color in rouge 001M -- similar in a matte liquid

rock the LBD,
JD

photo credit: Brandon Hill
a post done in collaboration with Maggy London. 
dresses provided by Maggy London, all opinions are my own. 

how to wear culottes

culottes: (noun) how to pronounce it here: women's knee-length trousers, cut with very full legs to resemble a skirt.

i've been saying this word wrong for a while, so now that i have it down, let's post about it and share how to wear these thangs! it's either a love or hate. i happen to love them!  through trial and error, here are my four things i look out for when picking culottes:

  • go for the high waisted fit, it is just way more flattering and not to mention classy. 
  • flowy material vs. cotton. if it looks like a skirt, even better. that's the point -- for them to look like a skirt but they are actually wide leg cropped pants. how's that for mind games?!
  • length: you also don't want to go with a pair that is too long or too short, you're going to want them to hit mid shin. 
  • lastly, since they are basically cropped pants give it an extra feminine touch with a sexy pair of heels or pumps! 

but... be adventurous -- try a monochrome look, play with prints & textures, try dressing them down in a street-style kind of way!

top style tips: spring/summer: pair with a dressy cami, sleeveless crop top, lace top, off the shoulder, lightweight silk blouse. winter/fall: long sleeve crop top, turtleneck, layer a cami with a tissue turtleneck, chunky/off the shoulder sweater. still not sure how to wear em? go with a culotte jumpsuit -- cold shoulder and a long sleeve lace one (perfect one-piece to take the headache away of how to style culottes).

i have so many exciting things happening right now that i cannot wait to share with you. i feel humbled where this blogging journey has taken me! stay tuned and as always, thank you for stopping by! xoxo.

currently on my playlist: i feel it coming by The Weeknd & Daft Punk

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top | ZARA off the shoulder sweater in black (avail in four colors) -- similar // similar with lace trim // similar and a convertible cowl neck // similar but striped
pants | Ann Taylor high waisted culottes in camel (sold out) -- similar with a tie waist // really fun striped ones!
shoes | LuLu's elsi single strap heels in black suede -- similar // similar with a stacked heel at Target
sunglasses | Le Specs air heart 51mm sunglasses in black & gold (love the fit of this brand!)
bag | Louis Vuitton pouchette metis in damier canvas (borrowed from mama bear)
watch c/o | Klasse14 42mm volare rose gold watch with mesh band (use code "jannadoan" for 12% off)
earrings | BaubleBar pinata tassel drops in ROSE GOLD! -- similar but mini version // similar from the Sugarfix line at Target
rings | Gorjana c/o shimmer stacking ring set // Gorjana amara ring set // Gorjana mini stackable ring set // Etsy stacking & midi rings // Gorjana candice CZ ring // BaubleBar ice chevron midi ring (sold out) -- similar
lips | MAC amplified creme lipstick in brick-o-la
nails | Smith & Cult polish in kundalini hustle

rock the culottes,
JD

the cobalt blue midi skirt & black lace

happy early valentine's day! <3

this is my take on a non-traditional valentine's day look. instead of red/pink i went with cobalt + black lace. instead of romantic curls, i went with straight sleek hair (well, as straight as my natural hair gets without brushing it. LOL, i don't own or brush my hair). but i did go with fun splashes of hot pink with my nails and lips! despite the lighting struggle, i loved how it turned out. y'all know how much i love midi skirts, this is just another fantastic one with pockets to add to my wardrobe. and my lip bracelet from BaubleBar?! i mean how could i pass up the opportunity to wear that cute thing?

my other picks for a v-day look:

currently on my playlist: love yourself by Justin Bieber
because it's all about that #selflove <3

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top | LOFT lace mock neck top in black (sold out) -- similar / similar / similar with long sleeves / similar
skirt | SheIn flared midi skirt in blue (there is no stretch with this material, runs small, size up)
shoes | LuLu's elsi single strap heels in black suede -- similar by Steve Madden stecy
bag | CHANEL 2.55 classic double flap bag in black lambskin -- similar by Tory Burch / dupe from F21 / cute quilted clutch / in tweed
sunglasses | Prada round oversized sunglasses in black (love the simple sides on these over the baroque design)
earrings | Kendra Scott tessa studs in clear crystal (love these studs, i also have them in iridescent drusy which is a neutral sparkly gemstone!)
watch | Michael Kors darci watch in gold (favorite MK watch that is lightweight and has a flat face)  -- also loving the new one with a blue face!
bracelet | BaubleBar lippy bracelet -- similar
rings | Wanderlust + Co loop ring in rose gold from rocksbox (get one month for FREE using code "jannadoanxoxo") / Kendra Scott cora cocktail ring in cobalt / Etsy stacking & midi rings
lips | Christian Louboutin velvet matte lip color in bengali 100M (a great matte hot pink) 
nails | essie nail polish in watermelon

rock the vday look,
JD

the black off shoulder top

a little off shoulder action.

the off shoulder top has been a huge craze this summer. i tried to snag the exact same one in white, but no dice so black had to do. the ruffle on this top made it really fun and flirty, so instead of dressing it up, i went #casualstyle by pairing it with stonewashed jeans, cuffing the hems up and adding a pair of strappy heels. my Kendra Scott sophee drop earrings have gotten a lot of wear (they go with everything!) and was a great addition to this outfit along with my BaubleBar coordinate bar pendant necklace in dallas (for the memories i had when i lived up there!). i've gotten a few questions about these LuLu's elsi black suede single strap sandals, in my opinion, they are not comfortable for my un-trained feet, they are also 4" which is a tad high for my taste. #torturemechanisms. i highly recommend my favorite Dr. Scholl's for her ball of foot gel inserts (these are life savers!) to help ease the balls of the feet and i wouldn't go walking long distances in these heels either. (aka: drop me off at the front please).

while i'm not a HUGE fan of knock offs, this bag was in my first real vs. steal post and a pretty good replica of the Chloe drew bag. it's from Forever21 so i don't expect it to last very long. however... i was able to find EXACT dupe at $109 USD of the Chloe drew bag (retails for $1,080 USD) -- the Unita Wony chain bag available in EIGHT beautiful colors!! 

oh, and this Tom Ford lip color in casablanca got me like... 

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top | ASOS Warehouse off the shoulder gypsy top in black (sold out) -- similar with crochet detail from Nordstrom (available in white, black, plum and royal blue)
denim | Hudson nico mid-rise skinny jeans in bohemian wash (old) -- similar in the strut wash
shoes | LuLu's elsi single strap heels in black suede -- similar by Steve Madden stecy
bag | Forever21 faux leather lock crossbody (sold out) -- EXACT dupe of the Chloe drew crossbody / the real Chloe drew crossbody
watch | Michael Kors darci watch in gold (favorite MK watch that is lightweight and has a flat face)  -- also loving the new one with a blue face!
earrings | Kendra Scott sophee drop earrings in gold
necklace | BaubleBar coordinate bar pendant necklace in DALLAS! (also available in many other cities)
rings | etsy stacking & midi rings / BaubleBar tri bar ring (sold out) -- similar / BaubleBar diana midi ring / BaubleBar wrap arrow ring
lips | Tom Ford lip color in casablanca
nails | essie cashmere matte nail polish in wrap me up (loving this color and the matte finish!)

rock the off shoulder,
JD

the striped midi skirt & basketweave clutch

a little striped obsessed at the moment. 

this Topshop striped midi skirt is everythanggg y'all! when it came in, i was in love. (there is such thing as love at first sight). i like all midi skirts, but this one was perfect due to the thick stripes, pleats, and... POCKETS. while it is a little on the expensive side, it looks just like the Tibi escalante striped skirt ($690 USD)!! #purchasejustified. i love the way it flares out perfectly and the material is excellent quality with a bit of texture to it. this skirt is so beautiful, all it needed was a simple dressy cami. 

i chose to add more texture to this outfit by pairing it with my first Clare Vivier clutch in basketweave leather. this clutch came out back in 2014 and i was late on snagging one. in the 2014 design, the basketweave was woven in a straight fashion, in the latest (as seen in this post), it is in a diagonal fashion and in my honest opinion, it looks sooo much better. i'm glad i missed out on the first release. any bag or clutch that is woven in a basketweave fashion is super classy, just think Bottega Veneta.

PS--this week i was featured in the @MariaBonitaMexico online magazine! what?!? what?! check it out! life is crazy and i'm truly blessed to be among some great talent. #sogratefulbeyondwords

y'all have an awesome weekend now! i'm off to NYC!! (to eat!). 

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top | H&M woven camisole top in black (on sale for $20!) / similar from Topshop
skirt | Topshop striped midi skirt / Nordstrom Topshop striped midi skirt / similar from LuLu's
shoes | LuLu's elsi single strap heels in black suede / similar by Steve Madden
bag | Clare V. basketweave foldover clutch in black leather / similar from SoleSociety
sunglasses | Prada round oversized sunglasses in black
earrings | ASOS big faux pearl and stone swing earrings (old) / similar in silver metal
necklace | BaubleBar ice scallop pendant
bracelet | BaubleBar athena grid cuff
rings | BaubleBar tri bar ring (sold out) similar / BaubleBar gemini pearl ring / etsy stacking & midi rings
lips | MAC lipstick in brick-o-la
nails | Sephora formula X in thrilling (can't get enough of this color!)

the white lace midi dress

another little white dress...

this is the second white dress in my wardrobe. the first was the LuLu's lead a charmed life midi dress. i'm guessing i have a thing for white dresses at LuLu's! then, i realized why i didn't have any white dresses until recently. it's because a white dress is usually only worn to 1) all white party, 2) your own bachelorette/engagement party... that's all i could think of. but decided to add 3) take pictures #fortheblog. LOL! nonetheless, this one is beautiful and sold out in a few hours upon it's release. it has been re-stocked since, but sizes are limited (also runs large, see my comments below). although the white + nude + gold combo will never fail, i decided to add a touch of color with my cobalt blue Kendra Scott delilah earrings and the Kendra Scott cora ring. this set is one of my favorites from Kendra Scott. 

this LuLu's pinnacle of prestige lace midi dress reminds me of the Self Portrait azalea lace dress (love their style!) but at 1/5th of the price! it's also not your typical 'lace,' it's a lace cut out with a nude slip underneath. this dress also comes with white detachable spaghetti straps. what i like most about this dress is where the slip stops to the bottom of the dress. it's see through. and i mean that in a good-classy-kinda way. the only problem i had with this dress was that it had no form to it, i had to use dressing tape for the top... in hindsight, the detachable straps would've helped here. dressing tape is amazing for those stubborn clothing items! the ones i use are by Fashion Tape Shapes and you can buy them at Ulta apparently. this pack is great because it has different shapes for different areas too! i've used them before, and trust me when i say it works, the dress/top isn't going anywhere!  

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dress | LuLu's pinnacle of prestige ivory lace midi dress / same dress sold on morninglavender.com the chole white & taupe lace midi dress (love their clothes!) note: this dress runs big, i'm wearing an XS from LuLu's
shoes | Manolo Blahnik 90mm BB pump in nude patent
bag | Louis Vuitton sofia coppola clutch (borrowed from SS)
earrings | Kendra Scott delilah geometric drop earrings in cobalt (old collection) -- similar from the classic collection
cuff | BaubleBar network cuff
rings | etsy stacking & midi rings / Kendra Scott cora cocktail ring in cobalt (old collection) / BaubleBar diana midi ring
lips | MAC lipstick in brick-o-la

rock the white lace midi dress,
JD