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

If You're Happy and You Know It, Clap Your Hands!

The Dooney and Bourke Happy Bag

The other day I was shopping. Shopping for a dress. Inevitably, as soon as my mother and I set foot into the shop we got distracted by the nearest everything. After eventually trekking through almost every department relevant to women, we decided to pass through the purses. What I saw next literally stopped me in my tracks. It was classic. It was fresh. It was leather. And it was Dooney. The Dooney and Bourke Happy Bag is one of their newest arrivals and honestly one of my favorite pieces I've seen from them. It is available in the tastiest candy colors imaginable as well as muted neutrals - and let me tell you, the leather is magnificent. You can browse the full selection of Happy Bags here. Personally, I'm partial to the pink - which would you pick?

Happy June, everybody!
XOXO,
Kate


 "If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking." - James 1:5

Prancing About in Style

Paul Joe Sister top, $119
John Lewis Women vintage cardigan, £35
7 For All Mankind straight leg stretch jeans, £149
Marc by Marc Jacobs leather shoes, $200
Marc jacobs handbag, £430

A very smart look for spending time with friends and having a fabulous day out. Of course, the tie-neck makes a reappearance, this time adorning a simple black cardigan. Straight leg jeans are perfectly streamlined, and flats are just the right thing for wearing while running about town.

XOXO,
Kate

P.S. I'm a major fan of Tim Tebow, and I'm extremely excited about watching he and the rest of the Broncos "UNLEASH" tonight against the Patriots. Go Broncos!

Plaid Prestige

Pink blazer, £485
Wide leg pants
Christian Louboutin stiletto heels, £495
Marc jacobs bag, €995
Janis By Janis Savitt chain necklace, $569
Tennis bracelet, $24,995

Another sophisticated winter look, this outfit would work for a holiday party or any other occasion you'd like to dress up for. Plaid blazers are wonderful for Christmastime, and the pink tones and sharp tailoring of this one make it especially feminine. Wide-leg black pants balance it out perfectly, while the black bag and shoes extend the outfit's elegance. I've recently begun liking the look of layered chains...these add such luxury and drama. And diamonds, well, diamonds just go with everything, don't they?

XOXO,
Kate

"The Best Time to Wear a Striped Sweater is All the Time"

"the Best time to wear a striped sweater is all the time" by prettykeenkate featuring a cross body shoulder bag

Michael Kors merino wool sweater, £113
Ralph Lauren Black Label Denim mid rise jeans, £168
Franco Sarto flat shoes, $32
Dooney Bourke cross body shoulder bag, $298
Chain jewelry, $1,050

Hey all! Hope you've had a great week...and have an even better weekend! I decided to take a little fashion advice from Spongebob Squarepants himself and break out the trusty striped sweater for a chic weekend look. I kept it casual and accessorized this gorgeous Marc Jacobs top with dark wash, straight leg jeans, never-fail espadrilles, and a gold Tiffany key. This is a great look for shopping and lunch with the the girls, and as I'm partial to stripes and Dooney & Bourke all-weather-leather bags (patiently waiting for my first), one to pull out of the closet again and again.

Thanks for reading!
XOXO,
Kate

P.S. If you want to see where I got the title of my post from (and one of my favorite Spongebob moments) look no further than the video below:

P.P.S. A great alternative to the espadrilles found in this post are Soludos - only $28 - $36 a pair and super stylin' and popular!

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

Love is a Many-splendored Thing

Love is a Many-splendored Thing by PrettyKeen featuring ankle heels
A great utilitarian look that works any time of the year. The army green jacket works on all skin tones and is a great neutral. The skirt brings a playful and girly perspective in. For a more classic look, you can pair the jacket with khaki pants, jeans, or other basics. The gold accessories add interest and work well with the other tones of the outfit.
- Kate

Urban Expression

Urban Expression by PrettyKeen

A look that I created on polyvore that's funky-fresh for strolling about. The earthy gold tones showcased in this outfit look great on just about everybody. The bomber-jacket and straight leg jeans are wardrobe essentials that work well with the super-hip graphic tees, sparkly shoes, and quirkily cute jewelry. Check out the products that I used in it here.


Stay cool,
Kate :)

P.S. The shoes used in here are TOMS, which means that for every pair sold, a pair of shoes is given to a child in need. You can learn more about TOMS Shoes' "One for One" policy on their website.