The Luxi Look | LA based fashion and lifestyle blog

By Amy Zhang March 3, 2020 in Lifestyle No Comments

What I Want This Month

One way I’ve cut down on my shopping tremendously is to write down everything I’m looking to buy and keep it on a list for at least a week before pulling the trigger. This has helped curb a lot of impulse buys that my bank account is much happier about. Here are the items that are in my shopping cart this month.

What I Want This Month:

+ Olaplex Bond Smoother

Olaplex is one of my ride or die hair products. My colorist, Ashleigh, recommends their products to keep colored hair strong and healthy and used this styling cream before blow-drying. Olaplex Bond Smoother is a must for colored hair as it is already more prone to breakage and dryness.

+ Virtue Recovery Conditioner

Another product I was introduced to at the salon last month. I’ve been using the same shampoo and conditioner for years, but this conditioner left my hair so smooth and soft that I’m ready to make the switch to something new.

+ Gold Mirror

I’ve been on the hunt for a large mirror for the longest time. It doesn’t have to be specifically this one (although it’s stunning!), but a large gold or brass framed mirror with interesting details. For something a little more unique, local flea markets have great options. I need to visit the local flea market in the upcoming weeks!

+ Drunk Elephant The Littles

Some of my favorite skincare products in the perfect travel size containers so as not to take too much space in your luggage. Eyeing this set for my upcoming travels.

+ Pampas Grass

Although I think pampas grass should be used sparingly, I do love how it looks in the home. The local flower market sells it for cheap, but there are a lot of great Etsy sellers online if you can’t make it to a market.

+ Packing Cubes

I am so late to the packing cube game, but these are absolutely life-changing. They will change how you pack and how much stuff you can fit into a suitcase. You may think you’re an expert packer – but packing cubes will elevate your travel game. It also keeps you organized so everything fits just as easily on the way home as it did on the way over.

+ Travel Pouches

Stoney Clover Lane makes some of my favorite travel pouches. I put everything in them – makeup, skincare, brushes, medicine, tools, swimsuits, etc. They come in a variety of different colors and are customizable as well. I’m obsessed and want a million more to put everything in. They also make great gifts!

+ Black Denim

I reach for my straight-legged denim more often than skinny jeans, and have been searching for a pair in a darker wash. I wear my Re/Dones often enough that I feel justified in purchasing a new pair. Does anyone else feel the same way?

By Amy Zhang March 2, 2020 in Lifestyle 4 Comments

Weekly Trader Joe’s Grocery List

One of my goals for the year was to really improve my eating habits by cooking at home more. Even though I thought I was generally making healthy choices, I was truthfully eating more meals out than in and falling for my weaknesses, dessert and french fries, more often than I’d like to admit. Cooking at home has been such a gamechanger for my health and I can honestly say I’ve never felt better. There are also so many benefits to making your own meals – from better portion control and knowing exactly what goes into your meals, to saving a ton of money. I’ve gone from cooking exactly zero meals a week to now aiming to cook 80% of my own meals at home (I save a lot of my recipes under my Cooking highlights on Instagram).

The biggest misconception about cooking is that it takes too long.

As someone who sat firmly in that camp for many years, I can admit now that most healthy weeknight meals can be whipped up in 30 minutes or less. If you’re down to spend a couple hours meal prepping over the weekend, you can have a meal ready in even less time. That means NO EXCUSES.

More on easy meals later, but breaking down the barriers to cooking starts with a no-fail grocery list. I like to work backwards and plan my meals in advance (this helps to reduce food waste and eliminate unnecessary snacks making their way into my grocery basket), but if I don’t have time to do that these are the essentials I always pick up. We shop for our grocery list all over, but Trader Joe’s is a staple in our household. For specialty ingredients or meals, we’ll hit up the Farmer’s Market, Whole Foods, and the Korean or Japanese market, but for day to day I love Trader Joe’s. The prices are amazing and all of the portion sizes are perfect if you’re cooking for one or two people.

Healthy Trader Joe’s Grocery List

Produce

+ Spinach
+ Kale
+ Arugula
+ Broccoli
+ Onions
+ Garlic
+ Sweet potatoes
+ Lemon
+ Lime
+ Peppers
+ Cucumber
+ Spaghetti squash
+ Zucchini
+ Apples
+ Berries

I try to eat a green with every meal, so we usually alternate between some combination of different pre-washed greens in a bag. I love spinach in my smoothies and sautéed (the leaves shrink like crazy, so you can eat a TON of greens in just a few bites). In terms of vegetables, we try to stick with what’s in season and get as much of it as possible from the farmer’s market. When we don’t have time to do so, we’ll get whatever looks freshest at the store.

Protein

+ Salmon
+ Ground Turkey
+ Chicken Thighs
+ Shrimp
+ Eggs

Pantry

+ Quinoa
+ Brown rice/risoni
+ Black beans
+ Tuna
+ Coconut milk

Frozen

+ Blueberries
+ Mango
+ Pineapple
+ Shrimp

Other

+ Almond milk
+ Hummus
+ Kombucha
+ Almond Butter

By Amy Zhang February 16, 2020 in Wedding 2 Comments

Saying Yes to the Dress – How to Find Your Dream Wedding Dress

Finding your dream dress is one of the most exciting and stressful parts of wedding planning. Whether you’ve had a vision in your mind since you were younger or have no idea where to start, there’s a lot of pressure to look and feel your best on your wedding day. As much as I loved shopping for wedding dresses, there are many things I wish I knew going in. Ultimately it all worked out and I found a dress I love. But if I were to do it all over again, these are the things I would keep in mind when shopping.

Do’s and Don’ts for Finding Your Dream Wedding Dress

DO: Set a budget.

As with all things wedding-related, budget tends to be the main limitation around the choices you make. By now you should already have a wedding budget created, and hopefully, you carved out a budget for your dress. When shopping for a dress, make sure you are clear with bridal consultants on your budget (range you are hoping to shop within, and absolute max). They’ll respect your budget and help you find a dream dress that falls in that range. Be sure to have a buffer in your budget for alterations and accessories – many brides are surprised when they learn of additional costs they weren’t anticipating. More and more brides are also opting for multiple wedding looks. So make sure you account for that in your planning as well!

DO: Have a plan.

You don’t have to go in knowing exactly what designer and silhouette you want. But the more research you do in advance, the more smoothly the dress shopping process will go. Even high-end bridal salons tend to keep appointments to an hour – and trust me, the time flies by! As tempting as it may be to try on every single dress, you’ll most likely only be able to try on between 5-10 gowns during an appointment. If you have the time, going online or through Instagram to find current and past season styles you gravitate towards will help your bridal consultant tremendously when it comes to pulling dresses off the rack. Trust me, once you’re face to face with racks of gowns in various shades of white, you may not know where to even begin!

DO: Schedule appointments.

Most bridal shops won’t take walk-ins, especially on weekends. Be sure to schedule at least a few weeks in advance, and try not to do more than 3 appointments in a day. After a while, you will hit dress overload and all of the looks will start blurring together.

DO: Take photos.

Even if you can’t decide at the moment, you’ll want to go back home and revisit the photos as you make the decision. I know I personally didn’t have a moment where I found “the one” and started crying. But taking lots of photos (and videos!) helped me see the dress from every angle and begin to visualize how it would look on the day of. Also, some dresses look beautiful in photos but not so much in person, and vice versa. Ideally, you want to find yourself a dress that does both!

DO: Consider your venue.

There are no hard or fast rules when it comes to your dress. At the end of the day you want to find a dress that fits your personality and event that just screams YOU. When dress shopping, consider the environment and setting of your event. Bigger events tend to command bigger dresses, but if you want something with lots of drama for a smaller affair, by all means, go for it! Are you getting married on the beach in the summer or having a winter wedding? Keep these things in mind when choosing silhouettes and details.

DO: Choose your crew wisely.

Dress shopping can be incredibly stressful, especially when multiple opinions get thrown into the mix (let’s take a moment to admire how bridal consultants tend to refrain from throwing in their personal opinions). Some brides want to go shopping with all of their bridesmaids and important family members, others keep the group intimate and tight. Personally, I did most of my dress shopping alone. I knew I wanted to take my time trying on dresses and ended up revisiting a few stores multiple times. I also knew that I was set in what I wanted and didn’t want too many other opinions in the room influencing my decision. It also allowed me to be incredibly efficient and choose my wedding dress quickly.

DO: Be open-minded.

As much as you may go into dress shopping with a clear vision in your mind, there’s a good chance you may end up gravitating towards something completely different from your initial vision. Even though I thought I knew I didn’t want certain styles, I still made sure to try them on, so I could either eliminate them or be pleasantly surprised. I told every bridal store what I liked and thought I didn’t like, but that ultimately I wanted to be as open-minded and diverse in the dresses I tried on as possible.

DO: Look for discounts.

Let’s face it, wedding dresses are EXPENSIVE! Fortunately, there are a couple ways you can save some money. First, most designers will do trunk shows where they will give a 10% discount on their dresses. If you have the time, definitely try to purchase your dress during a trunk show! These are typically held twice a year and can be found on bridal sites and social media accounts. If you’re not sure when the next trunk show will be held, you can shoot the shop or designer an email directly. They will be more than happy to share.

Another great way to buy a discounted dress is through secondhand shops and websites! These outlets offer designer dresses at steep discounts – be sure to read the measurement details carefully before purchasing, but if you are looking for a couture wedding gown at 50% off, this is the best way to do so!

DON’T: Hold other people’s opinions too highly.

As vocal as others might be during the dress shopping process, at the end of the day your opinion matters most when making your decision. Sure, some well-intentioned feedback may help steer you in the right direction, but you ultimately want to choose a dress that you feel comfortable in and love.

DON’T: Rush the process.

Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to make appointments and ultimately decide. If you aren’t the most decisive person to begin with, try to follow the wedding timeline of purchasing your dress 8-10 months before your big day. Made to order dresses also need at least 6 to 8 months lead time. So you’ll want to buy your wedding dress far in advance to avoid any rush fees.

By Amy Zhang February 10, 2020 in Style 4 Comments

Questions to Ask Yourself Before Buying a Designer Handbag

When it comes to handbags and accessories I love a good bargain, but I’m also willing to spend more on quality. So often, we talk about designer bags and accessories as investments, but the truth is most of them are not (and should not be viewed as such). Most designer handbags do not retain their value well, and you are likely to lose a lot of money when it comes time to resell them. This doesn’t mean you should never buy a designer item – it just means you need to be smart when shopping and make sure it’s the right fit for you. Read on for important questions to ask yourself before splurging on a designer handbag, and how to go about reselling it when the time comes.

Questions to Ask Yourself Before Buying a Designer Handbag

Can I get this item on sale?

Why pay full price when you don’t have to? Most bags, with the exceptions of classic bags (Chanel flap or boy bags, Louis Vuitton, Hermes, etc.) or the “it” bag of the season (past season Gucci and Dior, this season Bottega Veneta), go on sale. If you’re willing to be a little patient and strategic, you can get a lot of designer bags for 20-40% off. Another great way to buy a bag is to buy it abroad – with the VAT refund, you can save some serious money shopping abroad.

Do I plan on keeping this bag forever?

Everyone’s opinion on this is different, but you should have a general idea of how trendy or timeless a particular item is, as well as how functional it is. Of course, our tastes and preferences change over time and we may change our minds, but this is a good starting point. It’s totally ok to buy a trendy bag with the intention of trying to sell it down the road – but try to do some research in advance on potential resale value (more on this below).

How often will I use this bag?

Again, personal preferences come into play here. Some people might want to spend more on a work tote and less on a going out bag, and others vice versa. Others don’t want to overspend on something they’ll chuck around or put on the floor, and will only spend on special occasion items. Personally, I find myself reaching for small to medium-sized bags most often during the day, so I am happier to spend on these pieces and use them as much as possible.

I also find certain designers and styles to be too formal and less wearable for day-to-day use – for example, Chanel flap bags are often regarded as “holy grail” bags, but in actuality, they are not the most practical bags for day to day (depending on your personal style). I know I don’t frequent red carpet events, so I haven’t splurged on a small clutch for black tie events. It’s really up to your personal tastes.

How would I feel if I stained or damaged the bag?

Are you the type of person to baby your bags, or do you believe in the philosophy that your belongings are meant to be used, and a little wear and tear show character? When evaluating a bag, think about if it is something you can afford to replace if something happened to it, or if you’d be willing to pay to have it repaired. Also keep in mind that if a bag is too precious, you might end up babying it and never wearing it (which could be great for reselling!).

Do I anticipate trying to sell this bag in the future?

This is tricky, because obviously the more used a bag is, the lower its resale value. If you plan on buying a bag and wearing it into the ground, you probably won’t think about reselling it. But if you’re after a trendy piece and looking to sell it after a few seasons, you may want to be more careful with how you use the bag. Dustbags come with purchase for a reason!

If you’re looking to sell your bag, there are steps you can take to maximize the amount you recoup.

How to Sell Your Designer Handbag

Looking to resell a designer handbag? You’re in luck. The secondhand designer market has erupted over the past few years, with more resellers than ever before. Gone are the days of having to scour high-end vintage and thrift shops for hidden treasures. These days, many high-end consignment shops have their own physical locations and websites that are incredibly intuitive to use. Here’s where you may quickly find that designer handbags are not an “investment,” as more often than not you will lose money on reselling (between depreciation and sellers fees to platforms, you’re looking at recouping 30-60% of a handbag on average).

I sold my Gucci Marmont and Chloe Nile bags (both trendy pieces, in my mind) about a year after I bought them, and was able to recoup about 50% of each bag back. Could I have made another $100-$200 per bag? Maybe, if I was more patient and invested more time and energy into reselling them. I sold both on Poshmark, which takes a 20% cut of all purchases. Sites such as Tradesy, The Real Real, and Rebag take even more.

Some Tips

Apart from Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Hermes, you aren’t likely to make money off of a used handbag – and even then, you might find yourself taking a slight loss. Personally, I consider most Chloe and YSL bags “trendy,” and the amount you can resell for varies a lot based on several factors. In general, black tends to have the best resale value, followed by neutrals. This makes sense, but we can only have so many black bags. If you bought a colorful bag but fall out of love with it, unless it’s a highly sought-after color or limited edition piece, you might find yourself getting less back than you anticipated.

The secondary market is also constantly fluctuating. Whereas you could resell a like-new Gucci Marmont a couple of years ago for almost retail price (keep in mind if you sell it on a marketplace you’re not going to get that full amount back), today that amount is much lower. Remember the Balenciaga city bag? Those are going for $400-500 on resale sites currently. However, sometimes you can get lucky! Before Dior reissued the Saddle Bag, they were going for around $200 on eBay. When the bag was re-released, it sold for upwards of $3k. Now that the hype has died down a bit, you can find it online for around $1,000.

However, with the increase in designer consignment and resale also comes the chance for fraud. Always be sure to authenticate items yourself before purchasing, and not necessarily going off of the site’s authentication (certain sites are known for having lax policies and allowing fakes onto their sites – eek!).

Are you a handbag lover? What’s your philosophy on buying handbags? xx

By Amy Zhang February 4, 2020 in Style 7 Comments

I Tried Rent the Runway Unlimited. Here’s My Honest, Unbiased Review.

“I have nothing to wear.” Words that literally come out of my mouth every week. Let’s face it, we’d all love to have a brand new wardrobe with rotating options for every brunch, date, dinner, conference, wedding, etc. As much as I am a proud repeat outfit offender, my dream closet would enable me to never wear the same thing twice. Believe it or not, you can basically have this for $159 a month. You may have already heard of Rent the Runway Unlimited.

“Unlimited” is the subscription service of the popular one-time clothing rental company Rent the Runway (reviewed here before). Rent the Runway Unlimited’s tagline is: “Buy less, wear more, see the difference.” It’s really the best of both worlds – buy fewer pieces, spend less money on your closet, never feel like you have nothing to wear ever again, and save some money (and the environment!) while you’re at it.

How Rent the Runway Unlimited works:

For a monthly membership fee of $159 (there are other tiers, but I recommend this option to get the most bang for your buck), you’re able to rent out 4 pieces at a time, hold on to them as long as you want, and when you’re ready, return them in exchange for new pieces. I’d always been curious about the service, but it wasn’t until my month of flying between LA and NYC that I realized I really needed a rotating closet.

Let’s face it, “business casual” means two different dress codes on the opposite coasts. Not to mention it really helped me cut down on how much I packed in my carry on every week. I was totally on board with the idea of more than doubling my wardrobe while not spending my entire paycheck on buying a bunch of new clothes I’d only wear once or twice. So here’s my honest take on Rent the Runway Unlimited. There are aspects of the program I LOVE, and some that could be improved.

The good…

+ Variety of brands and items

As someone who loves designer clothes but doesn’t love the price tag that goes along with them, I was initially most intrigued by Rent the Runway’s value proposition (and the promise of no dry cleaning!). The best part is you can find something for every occasion. Have a special black-tie event? Your Unlimited Membership covers it, so you don’t have to shell out $300+ for a dress you’ll wear once. Going away for a trip in the middle of the winter? Check out the resort section for all of the warm weather clothes and accessories you need. Want to refresh your work wardrobe? There’s something available for every office dress code.

Even though my first foray with Rent the Runway was through their special occasion dresses, I found myself using the Unlimited service for blazers, jackets, and dresses for work more than anything. I’ve never received so many compliments on my work wardrobe!

Although I wouldn’t say everything available for rental was exactly my style, I was able to still find several pieces that I really loved. I thought the service was really great for on trend pieces – such as this gingham oversized blazer (worn in these photographs) or a leopard printed Equipment blouse. I know that if I were to purchase any of these items, I would probably only wear them a few times over a season and then they would start collecting dust in my closet. I’ll say I loved trying new styles, fits, and trends through Unlimited. The program also helped me redefine what pieces in my closet are actually basics or essentials – the pieces to buy and make sure they’re high quality, because you will wear them over and over again.

+ New inventory added regularly

To the point above, it seemed like new items were being added to the catalog every single day. This is great because as the program continues to grow, they will need to have sufficient inventory on hand to make sure women of all different sizes and personal style are able to find exactly what they need. You have to be a bit of a hawk on the app (more on that below), but if you check the app regularly, you can oftentimes rent brand new items with the tag still on.

+ The app

I found the app to be seamless and super easy for me to favorite items so I could save them for a future date, organize them into different occasions, and exchange returned items for new pieces. On this note, be sure to save items you have your eye on (popular items tend to be unavailable, and when they appear in your size you want to be ready to snag them!). There are so many items available now, you do have to do some digging and have a good amount of backup options ready to go when it’s time to choose new pieces.

+ NYC Flagship Store

If you live in NYC and haven’t tried Unlimited yet, I highly recommend it!! Their brick and mortar retail store in the city makes it so easy to pick up and return items. Not to mention if you don’t want to wait for something to be shipped to you, you can shop directly in the store! Inventory is slightly limited, but it’s honestly perfect if you’re in a pinch. You can drop off items in the morning and pick up in the afternoon – no dry cleaning necessary.

+ NYC + East Coast Experience

In general, Unlimited is best on the east coast. Logistics have been locked down to a T and shipping turnaround times are super fast. If you plan accordingly, you can really maximize the number of items you are able to rent and exchange every month, making the program as cost effective as possible. (If you rent 4 items a week every week = 16 items/month = $1,600 – $5,000 in clothing and accessories a month, while only paying $159.)

+ The Price

This one may be a con, depending on your monthly shopping budget today. If you enjoy contemporary and higher-end brands that are often found in boutiques and department stores, chances are purchasing even just one item a month (on sale!) will run you more than $159. Doing the math quickly, it’s easy to see how an Unlimited membership would help you save on clothes. On the other hand, if you don’t spend as much on clothing, you might have a hard time justifying spending $159 a month and not having anything to show for it. It really depends on your budget and lifestyle.

…& the bad

+ West Coast shipping times

While I loved Unlimited in NYC, it’s an entirely different story on the west coast. With the shipping times as long as they are today, I have a hard time justifying the cost. I’ve had several shipping/logistic errors that have made the wait times in between items even longer. In fact, the very first order I submitted from Unlimited ended up being canceled multiple times (!!) due to items being out of stock after I had placed my order and received a confirmation. Resulting in a week-long wait before I received any items from Unlimited.

At this rate I would be able to receive two shipments a month – which really isn’t worth the $159/month price tag. I felt like I was waiting for items to arrive more often than I was actually wearing them. I know improved shipping times are in the works, so I am holding out hope that this will improve.

When I know I have a lot of events in a month, it’s still worth it to me to use Unlimited, even if I know I’ll only get a couple shipments. It all depends on your schedule and what you’re looking to get out of the clothes!

+ Out of stock items

A lot of styles that I had in my “favorites” were always out of stock. Yes, there is a lot of inventory, but if you’re slightly picky or particular about what you wear, you may have a hard time getting pieces you truly love from the program.

+ Customer service

This is a tough one to write, but I honestly have not had great experience with the customer service. It’s a bummer, because there were times when I really did feel like the company messed up and offered no apology. Again, this doesn’t take away from the overall experience so much – I’ve learned to maximize my Unlimited membership for ME and still find a ton of value in it.

At the end of the day, I really enjoyed Rent the Runway Unlimited. I also really look up to and admire their founders – Jennifer Hyman and Jennifer Fleiss. If you have the chance I highly recommend Jennifer Hyman’s episodes on How I Built This. She is SO inspiring.

If I lived in NYC I would highly recommend the program. Hopefully, they figure out how to ship items to the west coast more quickly ; ). If you’re on the fence, I would definitely recommend trying it out. You can use my code RTRAMYZ for $100 off a 30-Day Trial of Unlimited and give it a try yourself. Let me know how you like it!

Prev 1 … 12 13 14 15 16 … 96 Next Page 14 of 96