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 Express three-piece set

the set. for the. season.

move over two-piece set. today, we’re coming in hot with a three-piece set! i love sets, they make the task of getting dressed effortless — not having to think about matching at top and bottom (maybe that’s why i love dresses). but i mainly have two-piece sets and was looking for a three-piece. giddy with my fashion senses, i’m happy to say, yep, i found it. the set for this season! and there’s a couple things i wished it had, like petite sizing. but i loved it so much i had to make it work (which is unusual for me). you can tell the duster is very long. nothing i could do about that but it actually just adds more drama/movement to the outfit (the kind you want). and the skirt is also long, i tried to fix that by ruching it even more in the mid-section which makes it look even more flattering.

first, this set is SO SOFT (and not ultra body-hugging). i could sleep in it. it’s light enough for warmer months but also thin enough to layer with a thick coat in the colder months. you can also wear the tops, duster and skirt separately. while i styled it here for work, i actually bought another matching off the shoulder sweater top that’ll be great for a night out! you can also style this with pointed toe pumps, but i opted for these new knee high suede boots i’m lovin’!

side ramblings: we are approaching lunar new year (LNY) pretty quickly. year of the rabbit — read more about it here. this year is extra special since it falls exactly on my mom’s birthday (she’s extra excited)! besides all the LNY traditions, i love seeing beauty brands package things for LNY — in red. so naturally, i’m a sucker for it. i repeat. there is nothing special about it, it’s just packaged with red details. here are a couple i’ve seen: BIOSSANCE vitamin c rose oil, Charlotte Tilbury matte revolution lipstick in red-orange, SK-II facial treatment essence (heard they’re launching a year of the rabbit packaging soon!). on a local note, my friends, @thepapercraftpantry & @shopkathyphantastic are also throwing a lunar new year festival on 01/22 — details here. come out and #supportlocal if you can! lastly, i’ve also been on this puzzle-frenzy. during the holidays we did a couple (500 pieces: Austin, Kauai, Waikiki, 1000 pieces: Italy Cinque Terre). and i’ve continued on alone. right now i’m going through a mini-wooden puzzle series. as you can tell, i love @dowdlefolkart puzzles! the details are so fun to look at 🤓 #protip: they sell them at costco each fall for about $12!

currently on my playlist: daydream by Lily Meola

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would it even be a blog photo if i didn’t drape a coat?! 😆

top | Express ultra soft mock neck sleeveless sweater tank in grey (wearing size S)
skirt | Express high waisted ruched side midi sweater skirt in grey (wearing size S, could’ve sized down to XS)
duster | Express ultra soft balloon sleeve duster cardigan in grey (wearing size XS)
bag | Senreve maestra in pebbled noir (my work bag) — also avail in mini (great everyday size) & midi sizes
shoes | Sam Edelman uma knee high boots in black suede (these actually fit my wide calves!) — similar
earrings | Mejuri charlotte bold hoops in gold vermeil — also available as huggies!!
sunglasses | Karen Walker number one sunglasses in black/smoke mono - available in tortoise
watch | Michele 29 mm deco diamond watch in gold and silver

cheers to all.the.sets.,
JD

photo credit: @janeyunphoto

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 striped one shoulder romper

STRIPES. FOR. LIFE. 

hey y'all! it's been a hot minute. well, maybe more than a minute, but let's acknowledge the fact that is it HOT. REALLY HOT. which means less photos for me. don't be fooled i was sweating like a crazy person for these photos!! also, i've been MIA and focusing on other parts of my life, we all need that sometimes, ya know? 

i'm back with a striped one shoulder ruffle romper, WITH POCKETS. this one piece is SO. ME. the stripes, the ruffle, and the one shoulder. all the yasss-es please. it was sent to me from @shopmorninglavender, and if you haven't heard of them they have the cutest summer clothes at very decent prices (hellooooo tax-free shipping to texas too!!). the only thing about this romper is that it runs small, i sized up to a medium here and love the quality of how is it lined inside. and it's not your typical blue striped, it's actually black/very dark grey striped. because i'm actually starting to think i have way too many blue striped pieces. is there such thing?

side ramblings: YOU GUYS, i got my couch and dining table!! it is insane how these two pieces can make a place start to feel like home. between you and i, or whoever actually reads this, i might have shed a tear of happiness when i put the lamps in my master bedroom. something about feeling grateful for where i am in my life. also, i know... it is about time considering i've been living here for almost a year!! which....I CAN BARELY BELIEVE IT!! also, i CANNOT wait to go see Oceans 8!! have y'all seen it?! 

currently on my playlist: whatever it takes by Imagine Dragons

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the chambray jumpsuit

eeppp, it's September!!!

2017 is wrapping up quickly! in Texas the temps don't really dip down until the end of October. so i got you covered with a chambray jumpsuit. gosh, the love for chambray is very real. why is it so dang soft?!?! i feel like there should be chambray pajamas. i digress. if you haven't checked out the who what wear line at target, it's a good one! i randomly found this jumpsuit on the sale section and it is so easy to wear on casual days. 

side ramblings: i'm OFF TO NYC! i cannot believe this is really happening. and here we are. the new house and move has entirely consumed my life right now so i haven't had much time to think or plan New York Fashion Week #NYFW. this should be VERY interesting. either way, i'll be in the city i love, and i'll finally get to meet all the inspiration i've friended over instagram! i cannot wait to share my trip when i get back but in the meantime feel free to follow on instastories! i will probably be blowing that up. #sorrynotsorry! signing off and frantically packing!! xx

currently on my playlist: empire state of mind by Jay-Z featuring Alicia Keys

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jumpsuit | Target who what wear wrap tie jumpsuit in chambray (sold out) -- similar but halter style! // similar // similar but OTS
shoes | Sam Edelman gigi sandal in saddle leather -- similar from Target
bag | Jade Tribe 3 pom basket tote -- similar from Etsy and $30 // same but in bold poms -- similar off etsy and $40 without poms!! 
sunglasses | Celine marta sunglasses in havana -- similar
earrings | Kendra Scott elle earrings in ivory pearl -- same from Nordstrom
necklace | etsy monogram necklace in dearest daddy initials (1.25" and 20" chain) -- similar by BaubleBar // similar in acrylic
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 -- similar // BaubleBar tri bar ring (old) -- similar // Cassandra Collections c/o mini ring
watch | Michael Kors darci watch in gold

rock the chambray jumpsuit,
JD

photo credit: Steven Gunter

alley test shots w/Steven

the chambray skirt

crisp white + chambray.

chambray is one of the softest pieces of clothing! it's like denim, but way more toned down in terms of texture and feel. that's why it's acceptable to wear denim and chambray together. but i digress. this chambray skirt comes from a boutique in NYC @LILLAP -- specializing in casual, effortless style. as much as i love to dress up, i do love to mix in some good casual styles. this chambray skirt is in a crosshatch texture making it a tad more unique than others i've seen. it's also a PULL ON STYLE! haha. yes, please. and it has pockets. it pairs perfectly with any tucked in or knotted summery top. one of my current favorite LILLA P pieces is this white one with a lil peplum hem, so pretty, perfect for some beach vacay.

and lastly, if you don't already know, i'm a HUGE @henribendel fan. i think i own about five Henri Bendel bags at this point... yikes. thanks (i think) to my blogger babe Michele, @classicandgray who made me jump on this bandwagon. high quality bags at great price points. this is my first hobo bag, it's got this huge statement tassel on it which i've come to love, its very roomy, and i love the neutral color (also comes in black) and the soft pebbled leather! my current picks for HB if you're looking into the brand: the warren street chain shoulder bag (i actually own it in white..) and the west 57th carryall. 

PSSTT... i have some pretty exciting news to share but more next week!! thanks again for stopping by!! xx

currently on my playlist: no promises by cheat codes ft. demi lovato

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i. cannot. laugh. gracefully. 

when Steven tells me to do my thing. :D

the lemon print jumpsuit & straw hat

lemon x lemon.

what is it with lemon print?! i cannot be the only one with a minor obsession with it! on a random walk into Anthropologie (JUST TO BROWSE) my eyes immediately spotted this lemon print jumpsuit from across the room. i am not kidding. two second thought process: lemon print + jumpsuit = BUY. okay!

there are certain occasions when i will purchase something at a shocking price tag (aka: regular price), this is one of them. to justify, the lemon print is done very tastefully on this jumpsuit. not to mention it goes very well with the light blue. the material is light and breezy and what tops it off is the sash. i also walked into J.Crew and saw these lemon earrings on sale... so... this outfit was MEANT TO BE! i just saw this to be something i would not come by again and how much wear i would get out of it. i feel like i should be on a beach somewhere with it #needavacay.

lastly, this straw hat via @gigipip is going to be such a summer staple! i had the hardest time picking one hat because there are so many to choose from -- straw, baseball, felt etc... when the Jill straw floppy hat arrived i was thoroughly impressed. it arrives wrapped in plastic (in case it rains!) and the box has a mechanism that protects the hat from being crushed #saynotocrushedhats! the inside of the box it says, "here's to the woman who wears many hats, and embraces them all. this one's for you." all #details thought out and i am someone who appreciates that! the quality of this hat is unlike any other that i own. you can feel the craftsmanship of it. soo.. i went to purchase the Faye boater hat (i was in the market for one!) with my own promo code. LOL #noshame. the next on my list is the Emma! check out gigipip.com and use code "JANNADOAN" for free shipping. good luck picking one!

special thanks to my blogger babe @mrsjenfrick (who has one of the prettiest feeds) for introducing me to GIGI PIP! xx

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jumpsuit | Anthropologie Maeve lemon grove strapless jumpsuit -- same in solid hot pink & orange // similar in palm print for $52
hat c/o | GIGI PIP jill floppy straw sun hat (use code JANNADOAN for free shipping!)
bag | J.Crew Factory rattan clutch in natural pale gold -- similar
shoes | Sam Edelman gigi sandal in saddle leather -- similar from Target
sunglasses | Celine tilda sunglasses in dark tortoise -- similar but more cateye (great brand, really fits well!)
earrings | J.Crew lemon tree earrings (sold out) -- similar with oranges! // similar in a hoop style // 
necklace | Anthropologie monogram pendant necklace -- similar 
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 -- similar // BaubleBar tri bar ring (old) -- similar // Cassandra Collections c/o mini ring
lips | MAC amplified creme lipstick in brick-o-la

rock the lemon print everthannggg,
JD

photo credit: Katie J Photography.
a post done in collaboration with GIGI PIP. 
hat provided by GIGI PIP, all opinions are my own.