Whimsy

Topshop crop top // Topshop pants // Topshop shoes // Majorica necklace (similar here)// Vintage earrings // John Lewis headband

Hello, everybody! Welcome to XO, Katherine Nicole at my new url xokatherinenicole.blogspot.com!  I'm really happy with the first outfit I'm sharing on my new url. It was a bit of a spur of the moment indulgence, but it's really one of my favorite looks. Obviously it's not an "everyday" type of ensemble, but I couldn't resist creating something a little more eye-catching and whimsical. Normally I like to browse around on Topshop's website in my downtime, since it's easy to navigate and they almost always have something new. When I saw these pants I was immediately  compelled to create a look around them. Black and white, graphic looks have been really big lately, and I'm always one for a few polka dots. I also found the wide-leg cut of these pants especially cool, and a nice counter to the oodles of skinny leg looks that have been floating around recently (which, I confess, I enjoy very much as well). I added a lace crop top (natch) and some simple accessories, with a pop of color provided in the unique daisy earrings. I feel kind of strange styling a look in which the top, pants, and shoes are all from the same place, but I wanted to put together an outfit that would be fun to wear and have a bit of a retro feel to it, and I hope I succeeded. I know that if I could get away with this look on any given day I certainly would waste no time with it!

How have you all been? I hope you've been having a lovely March!
XO,
Katherine Nicole
  
"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. " - Psalm 118:1


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Spittin' Image: Ankle Boots

Sam & Libby // BP // Acne

Hi everybody! This week I decided to do an installment of Spittin' Image. The Acne Pistol Booties (pictured far right) have been "hot" for a while now, thanks to their simple, streamlined design that goes with anything. This is pretty much as basic as booties get and that's why fashionistas and starlets everywhere seem to like them so much. Although I'm sure the Acne booties are of exceptional quality (they look great even on the internet), I thought it would be useful to find some lower-priced alternatives, since not everybody wants to spend $570 on a single pair of boots.  The boots on the far left ring in at $50, and are by Sam & Libby. They're suede, unlike the Acne pair pictured here, but the Pistol booties come in a fairly wide variety of material and color combos (I've only ever seen neutrals). The booties in the middle are by Nordstrom's BP line, and have a stacked heel and gold accents I think are quite pretty. I also found a Steve Madden pair for $100 that replicates the stitching on the Pistols, but when I placed them next to the other pairs in the collage it seemed as if they didn't photograph as well as their counterparts, and looked a little "off" (however, they do look look nice on the website). On Black Friday, the Lucky Brand Parlei booties, which are fairly similar, were one of my only purchases. I'm very happy with them and have been wearing them quite a lot. They're currently for sale at a discount on Zappos, so go ahead and check them out!

Hope you all have been having a lovely week!
XO,
Katherine Nicole

"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." - Ephesians 4:2  

P.S. Don't forget "prettykeenkate.blogspot.com" will soon become "xokatherinenicole.blogspot.com"! Thank you, everybody, for the support!

Army Inspired

LC Lauren Conrad top / Romwe coat / Topshop jeans / Steve Madden boots (similar)

Hey ya'll! I'm back with my first outfit since my little hiatus. This one's fairly casual. skinny jeans, boots, and a button down top. What I really like about this outfit is the details. I quite like combat boots and I think they can really be worn in a lot of different ways, even if at first they don't seem like the type of thing to blend with many tastes. If you're a little wary of combat boots, a great way to make it a little easier to incorporate them into your wardrobe is to purchase a more lightweight pair, like the one shown here. It's a bit of a more feminine take on the classic Doc Marten style boots. Of course, buying them in a neutral is a wise investment, since they'll go with many different things. The top shown here is from Lauren Conrad's line for Kohl's. It's a simple chiffon button down but it's embellished with pearls, which is really lovely. Finally, the trench coat is a gorgeous army green and carries on the military inspired theme of the outfit.

How have you all been? Did you catch the inauguration on Monday? Have a blessed week!

XO,
Katherine Nicole

"Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples." - John 13:35

P.S. Don't forget "prettykeenkate.blogspot.com" will soon become "xokatherinenicole.blogspot.com"! Thank you everybody for the support! 

I'm Still Here!

Hey ya'll! How are you? I know I've been gone for quite some time, so I'd like to let you all know that I'm still here. I haven't had as much time as I would have liked to work on the blog, and on top of that my Polyvore (the website and account I use to create and edit my sets) has been wacky lately. I haven't been able to edit or publish anything new, and if any of you know how I could fix this situation (or any other formats I could use to make something similar) then please let me know!

Secondly, I'd like to inform you of a decision I've made recently. I'll still keep my blog, but recently I decided to make a few changes. The main (and basically only) change will be to the name of the blog. I've decided to change the name from "Pretty Keen Kate" to "XO, Katherine Nicole." (Don't worry, you can still call me Kate if you like.) I felt it was a better fit for me and just made sense. To help you all adjust to this change I've updated my blog's banner and a couple of other things. I haven't changed the blog's url yet because I still want you guys to be able to find me, but expect it to become xokatherinenicole.blogspot.com sometime in early February. This year I also plan on experimenting with OOTD posts and maybe a couple of product reviews. I'm excited to see what's in store and hope you all will enjoy it!

Thank you all for following, reading, commenting, and supporting my blog! I hope your new year is fabulous!

XO,
Katherine Nicole

"Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin." - Zechariah 4:10

Double Take: Alexa Chung in Metallics

BCBG Max Azria dress // Lucky Brand flats (on sale!) // Brooks Brothers bag // Tom Ford lipstick //

As many of you already know, Alexa Chung is the fashion world's resident It Girl, and has been for a few years now. Her style is prim and classic, but not in a predictable way. Everything she wears is decidedly fresh, and the confidence with which she wears it comes across as nothing short of cool. Recently I've been paying more and more attention to what she wears, and I'm (unsurprisingly) liking what I'm seeing. Not too long ago Alexa stepped out to a shop opening wearing a metallic lace dress, Mary Jane flats, a straw bag, and tousled hair. Well, as a part of a new series here on the blog I decided to see what I could do to come up with my own version of her ensemble. The look I created features a similar dress with beautiful fluttered sleeves. Although Alexa mixes metallics in her look, I kept the shades of the shoes and dress pretty similar in mine, although I wouldn't mind trying a gold or bronze shoe with it as well. I accented with a gorgeous cross-body bag from Brooks Brothers to mimic Alexa's laid back purse and a soft lip by Tom Ford. 

XOXO,
Kate

"Promise me, O women of Jerusalem, by the gazelles and wild deer, not to awaken love until the time is right." - Song of Solomon 2:7

Hearts Aflutter

LC Lauren Conrad Sweater // Topshop skirt // J.Crew shoes // Fossil bag // Kate Spade earrings

Hey, ya'll! Today I'm back with a post that's great for a casual and cozy weekend out. A simple, black skirt is a wardrobe essential, and this pleated version is cute with a bit of a preppy feel. The neutral sweater I picked is sweet and a bit whimsical. This leather carryall by Fossil is great for work or casual purposes. On the subject of the shoes: as soon as I saw these babies I was head over heels. The metallic detailing makes them that much more perfect. Finally, I rounded out the look with some pearl earrings with timeless gold detailing. Très chic.

XOXO,
Kate

"Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed." Proverbs 16:8

Hello, Autumn.

Delia's jacket // Repetto flats, $280 // Marc by Marc Jacobs bag // See Thru Soul Jeans

Hey, you all! Today's look is a bit more casual and touches on the military trend. Personally I think a nice military jacket is a great closet staple to have - they can be so versatile! Recently colored jeans have been quite prominent, and this gray pair is a nice neutral to add to one's collection. Simple black ballerina flats and a dreamy yet practical bag contribute to the outfit's utilitarian feel. Hope you all are doing well!

XOXO,
Kate

"But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith." - Galatians 3:13-14