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

Spittin' Image: Collared Dresses

Left to Right: Kohl's ($36) //  Alice + Olivia ($297) // Victoria Beckham ($925)

Hi ya'll! How have you been? This edition of spittin' image I'll be featuring a classic that's recently been everywhere. Peter pan collars and collars in general have been super popular recently, and upon seeing all of these dresses independently I decided a "Spittin' Image" post was in order. I spotted the Victoria Beckham beauty on the right on Louis Tomlinson's girlfriend Eleanor at the VMAs (click here and here for a couple of pics). Soon after that I saw the Alice + Olivia creation in the middle on Blair Edie of Atlantic-Pacific. I finally saw the Kohl's deal on the left (super similar to Blair's, and actually the perfect hybrid of the two pricier options) while browsing online. I don't know about you, but all three of these frocks are right up my ally. Which one would you go with?

Happy Friday!
XOXO,
Kate

"You have given me your protecting shield; your right hand has upheld me; you stooped to make me great." - Psalm 18:35 

Down by the Boardwalk

Jack BB Dakota dress / ALDO sandals / LL Bean tote bag / Design Darling bracelet

Today I decided to center a look around a classic shirt dress. Vibrant colors are a great way to add life to your wardrobe, especially in the summer. If you're a little leery of making a statement with such attention-getting hues, try sticking to classic, clean shapes (a great decision anyways)  and it will be hard for you to go wrong. This dress is a great example. Sleeveless shirt dresses and button downs are great for when it's hot out, especially on days you know you'll be going outdoors. A preppy belt gives it shape - and how cute is this navy and white version? I also chose flat cognac sandals - great for running around in. This tortoiseshell bracelet is from the Design Darling boutique - and it really is darling. Recently I've realized how versatile tortoiseshell is - you can wear it with silvers, golds, blacks, browns, you name it. It's a great neutral. Finally, a classic boat tote is perfect for lugging around your essentials - sturdy, preppy, and monogrammable (did I just make up a word?).

Happy hump day!
XOXO,
Kate

“I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands.”- Psalm 119:60

Safari Style

Mulberry dress  / J.Crew sandals (similar here) / Milly tote (similar here)  / Marc by Marc Jacobs gold watch

Hi guys! Today I decided to go with a sophisticated and clean look. Monochromatic outfits are some of my favorite and I'm really happy with how this one came out. The dress is safari inspired and can be a casual or elegant as you want it to be, which is great when looking for summer essentials. Cognac is a great color to invest in when purchasing shoes and these heels are sexy and still casual enough to wear for a day out. A delicate gold watch adds just the right amount of adornment while a bright orange bag livens up the outfit with a nice pop of color.

Hope you all had a lovely Fourth of July! 
XOXO,
Kate 

"Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." - John 14:6

A Sunny Day Out

Topshop dress

Madewell top
Banana Republic shoes
J Crew bracelets (Crystal one here; Orange sold out - similar here)

One of my favorite closet staples is a nice chambray shirt. You can wear it with so many different things and one of the more inventive ways is to wear it open as a sort of mock denim jacket. Since it's more fluid than a jacket (it is a shirt after all), you could even tie it at the bottom for that extra flirty touch. The delicate sundress I paired it with (from Topshop) is absolutely adorable - who doesn't like a good polka dot? I knew I liked it the minute I saw it. To complete the look I added classic braided wedges I first spotted on Sarah Vickers' blog and a couple of statement bracelets to add some color and pizazz.

Happy first day of summer!
XOXO,
Kate

"Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." - Colossians 3:12, NIV

Summer Breeze

Quiksilver dress

Elizabeth and James blazer
Ralph Lauren Collection sandals
3.1 Phillip Lim 31 hour bag
Lilly Pulitzer bangles

Hey guys! Today I'm back with a great look for almost any occasion over the summer. This light, airy dress is a perfect LWD (little white dress) that can be easily dressed up or down. I decided to pair it with a classic but on-trend mint green blazer, which adds the perfect amount of structure. To top it off I chose cognac sandals and a a beautiful minimalist Philip Lim bag. Can we just take a minute to enjoy how luxe, timeless, functional, and buttery-soft it is? Absolute perfection. Bright, cheery bangles bring in the rear and continue the sherbert color scheme.

Hope you guys have a great Memorial Day weekend!
XOXO,
Kate
  
"I will praise you forever, O God, for what you have done." - Psalm 52:9

Let's Do Luncheon

Juicy Couture dress

Sperry Top-Sider wedges
Emporio Armani watch
Tiffany necklace

Today's outfit is perfect for a day out. The simple printed dress is girly and effortless at the same time and will last season after season. The cork wedges are a wonderful basic you could pair with nearly any sun dress. I accessorized lightly with a dainty necklace and silver watch. To top it off I included a picture of a voluptuous half-up do I thought would look especially good with this outfit.

XOXO,
Kate

"How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word." - Psalm 119:9

I'm Back!

Hey dolls, I've been really busy and I apologize for not posting as frequently as I should have been. In any case, I'm back and in this post I'll make up for the absence by showcasing three different looks. Here we go!

See by Chloe long blouse, $185
Fringe moccasin, £25
Chiarugi Handmade Brown Genuine Italian Leather Crossbody Bag, $228

Carven cap sleeve cocktail dress, £220
Dolce&Gabbana platform pumps, €313
Wendy Nichol oversized handbag, $575
Anita Ko rose gold bangle, $4,850

Juicy Couture blue cardigan, €109
Uniqlo chino pants, £30
D G flat, $243
Mikko tote handbag, $88

Hope you all have been having a wonderful week, and just wondering, which is your favorite look? Of course I like them all, but I'm particularly smitten with the last outfit, which features a cardigan very similar to the one from my "In the Winter...In the Summer" post.

Have a lovely day. 
XOXO, 
Kate 

Cognac Clad Cutie - Cognac Boots, Three Ways (Part Two)

Cognac Clad Cutie by prettykeenkate featuring quilted handbags

Color block dress, $95
Corso Como sports shoes, $199
Lanvin quilted handbag, $1,199
White gold stud earrings, $1,200
Tory Burch chunky bangle, $195
American Apparel hair bow accessory, $14

In my second installment of "Cognac Boots, Three Ways," I'm featuring a precious outfit that's great for when you want or need to look a little more dressed up than usual. I really like the sophistication the simplicity of the dress gives this look. The draping is gorgeous, and the boots work with it perfectly - proof that riding boots can be dressed up or down in a snap! I accessorized with a coordinating Lanvin happy bag, gold charm bracelet (another very versatile piece), and diamond earrings. The bow is a really cute touch I think would look darling in many a whimsical girl's hair on a day out. How about you?

Happy Saturday!
XOXO,
Kate

P.S. Check out part one of this series here.
EDIT: Part three is now up, for those of you who would like to take a look. Thanks for stopping by!

Pops of Color on a Friday Night

Pops of color by prettykeenkate featuring high heels

Oscar de la Renta shift dress, $2,490
Jessica Simpson high heels, $79
3 1 Phillip Lim locking bag, $425
Timex watch, $60

Great for going out, this outfit is attention-grabbing in all the right ways. Gold totally functions as a (satisfyingly sparkly) neutral, and with it you're free to accessorize as you please. This is a great dress to wear for a night out on the town or for any dinner parties you may be attending during the holiday season. Any past readers probably know how devoted I am to nude heels, and the Jessica Simpson pair shown here is nicely reasonably priced. As the title suggests, the pops of color give the outfit youthful character. With this preppy navy blue/pink combination, you will almost never go wrong. The bag is simple, structured, and luxe - and Timex always does a great job of providing classic and on-trend watches at superb prices. So cute!
Happy socializing!
XOXO,
Kate

Color Me Kate

Color Me Kate by Pretty Keen featuring handcrafted earrings

Old Navy espadrille shoes, $17
Proenza Schouler leather handbag, $1,990
Kate Spade gold plated bangle, $55
Kate Spade handcrafted earring, $45

Since my last post was about how much I admire Kate Spade, I thought it would be appropriate for me to showcase a couple of her pieces. First off, the dress is beautiful. Its color-blocking recalls some of Prada's recent work, and the shape is simple enough to handle its bold combination of hues (not to mention flatter nearly every figure.) The bow and cap sleeves are cute, girly touches. The bracelet is also Kate Spade, and I like how it's a bit playful but still sophisticated enough to not distract from the frock. I kept all other accessories subdued, opting for season-appropriate espadrilles, a straw bag, and sweet pearl studs. Have a happy spring and great Resurrection Sunday! :)

Hugs and Kisses, 

Kate

She's So Stylish: Hailee Steinfeld

She's So Stylish: Hailee Steinfeld by ShesSoStylish on Polyvore.com

I am super excited to finally do a post about Hailee Steinfeld, because her looks really do exhibit some of the things I aim to reflect in this blog. I first spotted Hailee when I saw photos of the True Grit premiere a while back, and I thought to myself, "Wow, she's a well-dressed kid." Little did I know what was to come. Throughout the entire whirlwind of awards shows and appearances these past few months have brought her, Hailee has continued to steal the spotlight with her grace, beauty, and style -  especially at the Academy Awards (center photo). She stunned in a gorgeous Marchesa creation, which she actually had a hand in designing! Amazing. She was definitely best-dressed pick for the night, closely followed by Michelle Williams. I really think Hailee (as of now) should be christened a mascot of sorts for this blog, because her looks really display what I think is classic with a twist: youthful radiance and interest while maintaining a timeless look. 

Ciao! 

P.S.: Hailee has already been featured twice as Nylon blog's best-dressed: once here and again here. :)