the maggy london sinclair work dress

see you later, 2019.

finishing 2019 out in my strong suit — #workwear! @maggylondon is always adding the perfect pieces to my work wardrobe; #luckygal right here. you know i’m a huge fan of all bows, the Jackie dress is one of my classic Maggy London pieces (throwing it back to 2017). however, the Maggy London Sinclair Midi is a more updated/similar version with sleeves and a fun contrasting piping detail that doesn’t make it your average #LBDworkdress. if you look closely the sleeves actually have a slight puff to them which elevates this just a touch more in a fun & elegant way. of course, i choose to style this dress with black patent pumps & a black work bag, because more black is always a good idea in my books. i read somewhere that, “you can never be under- or over-dressed in black.” WORD.

side ramblings: here we are, the last post of 2019. this year went by with a blink of an eye and tbh, i’m not sad about it. this is the time i sit and reflect on the last twelve months. 2019 was a real crappy year. generally speaking, when something grows, it hurts. it’s painful. think about a baby who is teething. imagine that a whole tooth that has to grow and pierce through gums?! OUCH. multiply that by xx. however, the end result is being able to eat/chew. as a foodie, that is essential. 2019 was just like that for me (it’s a great analogy, i know). my friend Anita // @wanderlustanita shared with me the cycle of years that we go though (note: a cycle is not necessarily years/12-months). she agreed that this was my year of growth and according to the cycles, the next “year” is the “year” of mastery for me. (insert huge grin). i mean, line it up with a new decade, AND it’s also the year of the rat in the chinese zodiac… #HELLYES.

currently on my playlist: got to give it up by Marvin Gaye

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dress c/o | Maggy London sinclair midi in black (wearing size 2 petite) — regular sizing // similar and available in five colors // similar in the Jackie design (i have it and love it!) // similar but colorblocked
shoes | Jimmy Choo abel pumps in black patent (old design) — current design // similar // similar by Ann Taylor
bag | Henri Bendel uptown satchel in black (old & they are out of business) — not the same but this would make a great work bag!! (use code “JANNADOAN” at checkout on senreve.com and receive $50 off, on any $300 minimum purchase)
earrings c/o | Kendra Scott jack gold hoop earrings in white crystal — similar but more everyday hoops // similar with a filigree design // larger hoop style
sunglasses | Karen Walker number one sunglasses in black — love these for $55
rings | | Gorjana amara ring set
watch | Michael Kors darci watch in gold

cheers to 2020 y’all,
JD

photo credit: Steven Gunter
a paid partnership by Maggy London.
dress provided by Maggy London, all opinions are my own.

holiday ready in Maggy London

‘tis the season!

are you looking for a holiday dress? i got chu! holiday attire can be stressful sometimes but one thing you can always lean on is the little black dress #LBD. i know i have an abundance of these in my closet. make it holiday attire with two simple things: some sparkly statement earrings and a good red lip and voila! when i reached out to my @maggylondon rep in excitement of creating some holiday content i was initially interested in their iconc Illusion dress. it looks AMAZING on everyone, so #classy. it’s a cap sleeve but the Carmindy, pictured here, is their newest twist on the Illusion dress featuring some long sleeves (also available in petite sizing)! it’s a hard toss between the two but either way you can’t go wrong. i also love the sweetheart neckline, along with the slight v-back detail. you’ll surely be turning some heads ;)

side ramblings: GOSH, what a weekend! it flew by!! this past week and this weekend i felt like i was running from one thing to the next. it was insane. i hosted my second ever event with @phlur and it was so great, i’m still humbled by how many people showed up and my gals who came by to support me. what a crew! i gotta haircut by my girl @elizabeth.jane.hair and dropped by a style social for @__lauren.elise__ x @evereve. PS— there i discovered the agolde sophie cropped skinny jeans that fit PERFECTLY (adding to wishlist)!! @pearlsnap_photography and i shot some epic photos i can’t wait to share. lately we’ve been playing with light and doing different things. i’m diggin’ it. it was such a great weekend to kick off #birthdayweek and i can’t wait for all the festivities i have planned. i’m going all out on the big 3-5! see you on the flipside xx

currently on my playlist: glow by Brett Eldredge

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dress c/o | Maggy London carmindy illusion dress in black (wearing size 2 petite) — same but regular sizing // same but cap sleeve
jacket| H&M faux fur jacket in black — similar but collarless // cute spotted one // i love this cropped one & have it in a milk chocolate color
shoes | Jimmy Choo abel pumps in black patent (old design) — current design // similar
bag | DVF lytton clutch in black quilted leather (old) — similar and a good Bottega dupe
sunglasses | DIFF eyewear ruby 54mm polarized sunglasses in black grey — similar and love these for $55
earrings c/o | Lisi Lerch tassel earrings in disco (avail in almost every color you can think of! and a post and clip-on option as well!) — similar 1 // similar 2
lips | Christian Louboutin velvet matte lip color in rouge 001M (FAVE RED) -- similar in a matte liquid
rings | Gorjana amara ring set

get festive & rock all the holiday dresses!,
JD

photo credit: Steven Gunter
a paid partnership by Maggy London.
dress provided by Maggy London, all opinions are my own.

the navy sheath dress

for the love of navy.

it feels so good to be working with brands again! my OG brand i love working with, @maggylondon sent me a few dresses — two work dresses and one holiday dress i can’t wait to share but they are all GEMS. this is the Jay Sheath dress and of course i gravitate towards it because its navy. but the elbow length sleeves and the subtle yet classy detail of the pleats along with the highER-neck are A+++. for sizing reference i’m wearing a 0, so sized down in this one. i’m 5’2” and fluctuate from 115-120 lbs. it’s a really nice fitted dress (not too tight or loose) to add to my work wardrobe and especially on a day when i want some sleeve coverage that isn’t necessarily a long sleeve. here i paired it with nude pumps, but for a pop of color i’d even go with white or fuchsia or leopard print. it’s one of those dresses you can put on and feel completely put together (even when that may not be the case haha).

side ramblings: GUESS WHAT?! i’m hosting a holiday party with @phlur!! phlur is a clean-based fragrance in ATX and i’ve tried all their fragrances, my fave is Ameline. click here to RSVP for Saturday, 12/07/2019 from 3-5PM & come by and say HOWDY! as an introvert, you must know i’m nervous yet excited at the same time! on another note, life has been insane lately. i landed a gig that i’ve waited months and months for!! when the time is right, i’ll get to sharing :D on another note, i’ve been photographing people more and gosh it has been so fun. i’ve always been a creative behind the camera and it’s something i really enjoy doing! can’t wait to share some shots from yesterday’s shoot with @herfashionedlife. i hope you enjoy your thanksgiving & quality time with family (i know i will!). not sure if i’ll do a black friday sale round-up but we shall see! if not, see you next week as we enter… #birthdaymonth!!!

currently on my playlist: higher love by Kygo & Whitney Houston

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dress c/o | Maggy London jay sheath dress in navy (wearing size 0, use code “SHIPFREEJD” for free overnight shipping until 12/04) — similar but colorblocked! // similar but short puff sleeve & tie neck detail // similar but v-neck
bag | Louis Vuitton medium neverfull in monogram canvas
shoes | Manolo Blahnik BB pump in nude patent — similar by Ann Taylor // similar by Sam Edelman
earrings c/o | Kendra Scott colette hoop earrings in gold (winter 2019 collection, light as a feather!!, been wearing them non-stop!) — similar but in a fun design // more dainty with some sparkle!
sunglasses | Celine tilda sunglasses in dark tortoise (old) — a more updated version // amazon knock off for $15
rings | Gorjana amara ring set
bracelet | Vita Fede mini titan crystal bracelet in gold
watch | Michael Kors darci watch in gold

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

the tuxedo dress

one dress. two ways.

last year i took a poll on my IG regarding the tuxedo dress. everyone voted a hard NO. well, you know me… i had to try it for myself. i’ve always been drawn to it due to the very powerful statement it makes. it isn’t for the faint of heart but have no fear i got chu! here’s a couple of reasons why you should wear this tuxedo dress: A) you can wear it casually!, B) you’ll look better than your man, C) you will surely turn heads or have people doing double-takes on ya, D) you don’t have to wear a strapless bra (and i say that is a huge win). when i saw that @MaggyLondon came out with the Toni tuxedo dress, my gal immediately sent me one (she’s such a doll)! as we were chatting she told me that it actually goes on as a coat almost so #lightbulb i figured i would style it two ways (plus, these are my favorite kinds of creative posts)!

first, of course, i chose to wear the tuxedo dress as itself. GAH, what a statement and tons of compliments strolling on south congress haha. for the second look i went casual style as a statement layering piece or even a COAT to get you to-and-from. we always want versatile items like this in our closet, it makes the price per wear even betta! for casual style i went with my new @everlane cheeky jeans (they are AMAZING y’all) in a high waisted, straight fit (skinny jeans also work), light wash paired with a lace satin cami (half tuck) to balance this look out. as you can see, it drapes and flows very nicely. for shoes, no matter which way you wear it, you want to avoid anything clunky/chunky, go for a streamlined strappy stiletto heel instead or even a pointed toe pump. warning: you will be photo bombed if you hit the read more button. but it was a fun one!

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dress c/o | Maggy London toni tuxedo dress in white (also available in black, runs a little large, i sized down to a 0)
denim | Everlane cheeky jeans in sky blue (has stretch so i sized down to a 25 ankle so perfect for my short gals = no hemming needed) — similar but 90s style
cami | H&M satin & lace camisole top in natural white — similar // love this one
bag c/o | Brahmin pipp topsail in navy — similar in croc // love this style!
shoes | Stuart Weitzman nudistsong in adobe patent (comes in different widths too) — similar by Sam Edelman $100 // similar by Steve Madden $80 // more strappy at Target $30
earrings c/o | BaubleBar celestial drops in gold
sunglasses | Celine marta sunglasses in havana (old) — newer design
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   
bracelet | GUESS twisted metal cuff in silver — similar and a set of three

photo credit: Steven Gunter
a post done in collaboration and sponsored by 
Maggy London.
dress provided by Maggy London, all opinions are my own.

the silk scarf & sheath dress

#workwear

is my specialty. when i dress for work i go for classic pieces such as the sheath dress. why? the length is always on point of hitting below the knee (my preferred length), it’s fitted but not too tight like a bandage dress or too loose like the bottom of an A-line or shift dress. i have quite a few ranging from sleeveless, short sleeve, 3/4 sleeve. it’s a TIMELESS piece and therefore my go-to work dress. what i love about sheath dresses is that they make you look super classy but you probably rolled out of bed, didn’t brush your hair (ahem), and put on a dress that makes you look so put together. all the yesss-ess. lastly, sheath dresses can stand on its own but they make the perfect canvas to add a dash of your own flair just like the Lois midi sent to me via @MaggyLondon. simple tips on how to jazz up your sheath dress after the jump. i always gravitate towards a silk scarf because hellooo #classy. everyone always turns heads when i wear these because you don’t see many women wearing them these days. how do you style a sheath dress?

side happenings: Y’ALL it’s already #SXSW!!! i can’t believe it!! i have some festivities i’ll be attending this year but everything always happens so. last. minute. either way, i can’t wait to participate in the frenzy! this past week i was able to attend the The Kindness Campaign // @tkckindness open house and still so amazed by what the organization does! i went to bed with such a great feeling knowing that there are people doing good & making a difference in the world. you’ve heard me talk about them a lot and on social. meeting the founder, @AndraLiemandt, was such a pleasure. just talking to her i can see how passionate she is about what they do and that makes me want to contribute & help more. ideas are brewing so stay tuned! xx

currently on my playlist: girl on fire by Alicia Keys (takin’ it back old school)

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simple ways to add some flair to a sheath dress:

  • belt — a waist belt to be exact that will further accentuate your waistline, love my Gucci one // good dupe

  • brooch — great option because they come in so many shapes/sizes and designs! it can also be a very personalized piece and a great way to show off any hobby you have etc.. i like thrifted ones but here’s a good one from Macy’s and Banana Republic! also found a pretty good CHANEL dupe

  • silk scarf — my go-to! these are versatile because you can also tie them onto handbags or even your wrist as a bracelet. but when wearing them around the neck there are so many ways to tie them (just google or youtube!). here are my current favorite ones from H&M

  • statement necklace — when in doubt, add a little bling! here’s a good one from J.Crew Factory

  • cropped jacket — also serves as a great layering piece for the chilly office environment! been eyeing this one at H&M

  • collared button up — if it’s a sleeveless sheath dress and it’s chilly, wear a button down underneath, work that layering game! i love doing this in winter, love the ones at Banana Republic

dress c/o | Maggy London lois midi in oyster (also available in two other colors, wearing size 2 for reference, my true size but this runs a little large so i would size down) — similar but longer sleeves // similar with ruching // similar but sleeveless // NOT similar but love the statement of a tuxedo dress
scarf  | LOFT summer scarf (ancient) — similar but in a chain or leopard print style (great length to wear draped on both sides 90” x 90”. and yes, i do have them haha) // love this one from Ann Taylor // great B&W option from Ann Taylor (the Ann Taylor sizes are better tied around your neck vs. draped on both sides, 25” x 25”)
shoes | Stuart Weitzman nudistsong in adobe patent (comes in different widths too) — similar by Sam Edelman $100 // similar by Steve Madden $80 // more strappy at Target $30
bag | Celine micro luggage tote in navy — good dupe
earrings | Kendra Scott kirstie stud earrings in ivory pearl
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   
bracelet | Nordstrom BP love knot cuff in gold (ancient) — similar by Kate Spade // similar by LC $10

a post done in collaboration and sponsored by Maggy London.
dress provided by Maggy London, all opinions are my own.
photo credit:
 Steven Gunter

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 
necklaceAnthropologie 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
watchMichael 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. 

austin fashion week in maggy london

peplum hem sucker. right hurr.

while looking for something to wear for Austin Fashion Week #AFW, i came across this beauty! being in the midst of fashion, i had to look somewhat presentable and went a little more formal with this white dress (perfect opportunity to wear white in my opinion). all i can say is, i LOVE the floral texture on this dress! and the peplum hem adds just a touch more glam than just a regular fitted white dress. ALSO, as wedding season is among us, this is a great rehearsal dinner dress! classy, sleek, and not revealing at all. #familyfunctionapproved

i'm pretty much standard when it comes to wearing white = nude shoes & gold bag. you CAN'T go wrong. check out any of my previous posts and you'll see i'm rocking the same color scheme with any white dress. #habit or just old??! proof/throwing it back: lace white dress // the little white dress 

side ramblings: last week i attended Austin Fashion Week #AFW, my favorite designers included: @shopmilesdavid & @lindenmayercouture -- timeless/classy sleek designs that are right up my alley! also i spent this past Sunday at the @crafthermarket (like an etsy in real life) with PIC @wanderlustanita supporting our really talented gal, @kathyphantastic (really though, check out her skills!). lastly, the @sezane pop-up is here at @nordstromdomainnorthside! beautiful french inspired silk-wear, i'd love to take it all home with me. ok, but really... lastly, the @sprinklescupcakes LEMON MERINGUE cupcake comes out tomorrow!!! MY FAVORITE. you know where i'll be. xx

currently on my playlist: kings & queens by Mat Kearney

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dress c/o | Maggy London carter flounce dress (TTS, wearing size 2) -- their classic LBD version with a peplum-ish hem 
bag | Kate Landry pyramid metal hardframe clutch (old) -- similar and $59 // similar and a bottega dupe for $39
sunglasses | Celine marta sunglasses in havana -- newer design // similar by Le Specs
shoesStuart Weitzman nudistsong in adobe patent (comes in different widths too!) -- similar and $60 // similar but a chunky heel
earrings | Kendra Scott Diane earrings in blush pearl (borrowed from lil blogger sis @simplyyvan)-- also avail in hammered gold
ringsGorjana amara ring set // Amanda Deer c/o CZ solitaire ring // Amanda Deer c/o CZ accents midi ring
bracelet c/oKendra Scott tiana pinch bracelet set in gold

rock all the peplum,
JD

photo credit: Steven Gunter
a post done in collaboration with Maggy London
dress provided by Maggy London, all opinions are my own.