The Luxi Look | LA based fashion and lifestyle blog

By Amy Zhang October 11, 2018 in Style 4 Comments

Shopping Abroad: Everything You Need to Know about VAT and Saving When You Shop

If you’re looking to make a big shopping purchase and planning on traveling abroad around the same time, you’re in luck! If you haven’t heard of VAT before, you’ll want to keep reading. We’ll get into what it is, where it applies, and how to get sometimes huge refunds on purchases made abroad. For those of you that aren’t familiar with VAT, it stands for “value-added tax” and is a general tax that is added to goods and services in certain countries, most notably in the European Union.

Essentially, this tax is added to the price of a good when you buy it, and you are able to get it back as a refund if you follow a particular process. The percentage of tax added varies by country. You can find a full list of countries where you can get a VAT refund here. As an American citizen, this is most often utilized when shopping in Europe. Particularly when purchasing luxury goods.

Tips for Shopping Abroad and Claiming Your VAT Refund

+ Purchasing luxury goods abroad and claiming a VAT refund can make a huge difference in price. Be sure to do your research in advance. Look up the price of items you’re interested in at home and abroad. Some brands keep their pricing relatively consistent across various exchange rates, but certain brands still have fairly large price discrepancies based on where you buy the item!

For example, luxury handbags such as Louis Vuitton and Chanel can run for up to $1k less if you buy them abroad (VAT refund in Europe is typically between 12-15%)! As a general rule of thumb, designers are often cheaper in their original country. Shop for Louis Vuitton, Celine, Saint Laurent, Chanel, etc. in Paris, and browse Gucci, Prada, and Missoni in Italy. (I can verify that Missoni in Italy is SO much cheaper than it is in the US. I honestly was so sad I didn’t have more room in my suitcase to bring home all the insane home decor back with me).

At the same time, try not to impulse buy just because you’re abroad and may be getting 12% back. It can be tough to resist temptation, but you’ll be much happier if you splurge on a wishlist item you’ve been dreaming of for a while.

+ Always use a credit card without foreign transaction fees:

You don’t want to save money abroad only to pay some of it back in credit card fees.

+ In a similar vain, it’s always best practice to choose the local currency:

You’ll get a better exchange rate than if you elect to buy items in your home currency.

+ Follow the VAT process closely! This is important:

You don’t just automatically get the tax back when you leave the EU. You have to make sure you get the proper paperwork filled out when you purchase your item and then file it correctly when you leave. Otherwise you won’t get your refund. The process can be a little tricky if you aren’t familiar, but as long as you follow the instructions it should be fairly straight forward.

First, make sure you get the appropriate paperwork. Most luxury stores will take care of this for you. You’ll just need your passport when you make your purchase. Make sure you keep each individual receipt and corresponding paperwork organized.

On the day you leave the EU, you will need to file the paperwork at the last stop (country) before you exit.

Every airport is different, but they will have different counters for you to file your VAT paperwork. Be sure to allot sufficient time for this process. Lines can be extremely long, and the last thing you want is to miss filing your paperwork because you ran out of time. The counters can be before or after security. Look online before you go. It’s best to keep expensive items in your carry on anyway, but make sure you have the items on you when you go to the counter. Sometimes they will ask to see the items and make sure they are new.

Also, different stores process VAT refunds through different vendors, so you may need to account for going to different counters to file paperwork. The two big ones are Global Blue and Premier Tax Free. The counters will stamp your envelopes and then you will select your preferred method of payment. You can choose to get cash (Euros) on the spot or wait for the refund to process on your credit card (this can take 2-3 months).

If you elect to get cash back, you’ll get a little less back than if you wait for the refund on your card. I’ve read stories online of people having terrible experiences with getting their VAT refund back, so if you prefer to get it done then and there and have peace of mind, you may want to get cash back. Then you need to make sure you actually mail the envelopes so they can be formally processed.

Happy shopping! xx

sweater: nation ltd | belt: b-low the belt | denim: hudson | shoes: matisse | bag: similar

By Amy Zhang October 7, 2018 in Beauty, Lifestyle, Travel 2 Comments

Red Eye Essentials

I’ve mentioned briefly on the blog that I started a new job over the summer, but what I haven’t written about yet is travel on the job! Traveling for work is not new to me, my first job out of school in consulting required being on the road every week from Monday to Thursday. I’ll admit, it wasn’t for me and it made it very difficult to balance work, a relationship, my health, and any semblance of a social life. When I got the job offer for my new job, I knew there would be some travel involved – but I also knew I would have more say in when I travelled and how often.

For the past few weeks I’ve been flying from LA to NYC every week and although it’s been a lot of time spent on a plane, it’s also been incredibly invigorating and exciting. One thing that has been a challenge though is figuring out the best time of day to fly to New York. If you fly during the day, you essentially lose most of the day with the 3 hour time difference. The most efficient option I’ve found is often the red eye. I can’t say anyone loves a red eye, but I’ve been trying to figure out a routine that works. Here are the red eye essentials that help me get as much sleep as possible and come off the plane somewhat refreshed and ready to go!

Red Eye Essentials You Need:

+ Noise Cancelling Headphones – you don’t realize how loud planes are until you’re trying to get a halfway decent night’s rest! Noise cancelling headphones are travel must haves to block out noise in the airport and on the plane. They also come in handy in the event you have a crying baby next to you…

+ Silk Eye Mask – I’ve written about slip eye masks before (and pillowcases) but I honestly can’t stress how much I love them!! The material is so comfortable and it really helps if you’re trying to sleep in a public space or even at a hotel. I can’t travel without mine, I love them so much I have multiple masks that I keep around the house.

+ Emergen-C – planes are full of icky, gross germs. Ever get off a plane feeling a little congested or with a slight tickle in your throat? All of the recirculated air on planes is seriously gross – your immune system definitely takes a beating on a cross country flight. Combat this by chugging Emergen-c or taking a vitamin C supplement.

+ Cozy Sweats – maybe you’re one of those people that dresses up for flights. Maybe even red eyes. I am not one of those. If I’m not wearing full on pajamas, I’m definitely wearing comfy sweats. I mean, you’re trying to sleep!

+ Moisturizing Face Mask – if you’re ready to go all out with a full on sheet mask, try a super hydrating face mask (and drink tons of water on the flight!!). I like this one because you don’t even have to wash it off, and it has Sephora’s clean beauty seal!

What are your red eye essentials?

By Amy Zhang September 24, 2018 in Style 4 Comments

Fall Trend Alert: Slip Dresses

Slip dresses have been trending for a while now, but they are continuing to have a moment this season. I love slip dresses for their comfort and versatility, they work for a night out but I’ve also been known to wear them to the office. Even though my office dress code errs on the side of casual, I still like to work in trend focused pieces so I get more bang for my buck.

I’ve really been making more of an effort to buy more quality, timeless pieces this year and it’s made me entirely rethink how I shop for clothes. Regarding slip dresses, they really run the style gamut from very slinky and short to long and classy. It’s up to your personal style but I guarantee you can find one that works for you! Linking some of my favorite slip dresses below as well as some ways I’ve been wearing mine.

Slip Dresses

How to style a slip dress

+ Wear on its own. Slip dresses look great on their own, paired with a wide brimmed hat during the day or your favorite heels at night. It’s an extremely versatile piece that looks great by itself or layered. I especially love this midi version from Cami NYC.

+ Under a big sweater. I love this look for fall – pairing a silk slip dress with a big cozy fall knit. At the end of the day, comfort is always key for me, but that doesn’t mean you have to look like a slouch.

+ Layered with a tee. Fashion girls have been dressing down their slip dresses for a while now, pairing them with a casual white tee for daytime.

+ Paired with faux fur or leather. Especially as the temperatures drop, it helps to throw a faux fur or leather jacket over your favorite slip dress.

How do you like to wear a slip dress?

By Amy Zhang September 13, 2018 in Beauty 4 Comments

Charlotte Tilbury at Sephora

In case you haven’t heard, Charlotte Tilbury products are now available at Sephora! As if you needed another reason to love Sephora, but if you have never tried Charlotte Tilbury products now is the perfect time. To say the brand is anything short of iconic would be doing it a huge disservice. Not only does the brand scream luxurious, old school Hollywood, it’s a favorite of makeup artists and beauty gurus alike. I was so excited to have the opportunity to try out some of her products prior to the launch, and I can honestly say I love each and every single one. This is rare for me as I am not an expert when it comes to makeup. My daily look is extremely low key, and I was worried Charlotte Tilbury’s products would be too glam and done up for me.

Not only is everything in the line beautifully packaged (they look gorgeous in my makeup bag and on my counter), they really are all extremely high quality products. The lipsticks, blushes, and eyeshadows are long lasting, vibrant, and highly pigmented, the skincare products are just a dream, and dare I say, I’m now a lipliner convert?! See below for my “natural glam” look from Charlotte Tilbury, as well as my favorite products from her line.

My must haves from Charlotte Tilbury:

Legendary Lashes Mascara – doesn’t clump, adds tons of drama and volume to your lashes. Layer for your ideal look for day or night.

Cheek to Chic Blush – although I don’t normally wear blush, I found the shade “Ecstasy” to be extremely flattering on my skin tone. I didn’t feel like I was “wearing blush,” if you know what I mean.

Lip Cheat Lip Liner – “Pillow Talk” will forever be in my makeup bag. Whether you’re overlining your lips to make them appear fuller or smoothing out a more dramatic lip look, this is the perfect nude lip liner to always have in your purse.

Wonderglow Face Primer – I love this highlighting primer so much, I wear it every day over my moisturizer even when I choose to skip the highlighter. I just love how healthy and radiant it makes my skin naturally look.

By Amy Zhang September 12, 2018 in Style 6 Comments

Fall Trend Alert: Leopard Print

Spotted everywhere at NYFW and on the street – leopard print. This fall, leopard is back with a vengeance in so many fabrics and pieces. Forget any previous misconceptions you may have on leopard print – it’s not too loud or out there. In fact, it’s basically a neutral this season, and anyone can wear it. They say a leopard never changes its spots, but I beg to differ. Leopard print has completely won me over this year!

This House of Harlow leopard sweater from Revolve caught me eye and has become a weekday and weekend staple. Because it still feels like summer during the day, I paired it with a denim mini, but you can just as easily wear it with cropped jeans or leather leggings.

See full outfit details below and some of my favorite leopard picks for this season.

Leopard Print Picks for Fall

Outfit Details:

sweater: house of harlow | skirt: similar | belt: b-low the belt

shoes: similar | bag: gucci