The Luxi Look | LA based fashion and lifestyle blog

By Amy Zhang October 27, 2017 in Lifestyle, Style 23 Comments

How to Prepare for the Holidays

My goal is to be like a boy scout – always prepared. In all seriousness, my Type-A mind can’t wrap its head around being unprepared. Even though I’m focused on Halloween at the moment, I’ve already begun planning for the rest of the year. Namely, the holiday season. You bet as soon as November hits I’ll be decking my halls and swinging into full-on festive mode.

The end of the year is always crazy. Between Thanksgiving, holiday parties, and any other holidays you might celebrate, November and December tend to be jam-packed with events and to-dos. This year, I refuse to let the chaos get the best of me and plan on keeping my cool and doing it all. Goals, right? So with that said, here’s my plan of attack.

Holiday Prep Tips: How to prepare for the holidays

+ Boost your immune system:

There’s nothing worse than getting sick over the holidays when there’s so much going on. Some of my favorite immune system boosting tips? Get enough sleep, take Vitamin C packets, wash your hands religiously, and always stay hydrated! If I know I’m going to be having a particularly crazy week, I try to limit the alcohol and junk food as well.

+ Get a head start on errands:

Finalize your plans and book any remaining travel you have left. Have guests coming into town? Schedule a cleaning before they arrive and family time gets the best of you. Hosting a big dinner or party? Menu plan and prep in advance. Planning on giving gifts? Make a list and get a head start on your holiday shopping now. Chances are some things will be left until the last minute, but if you can get a sense of what needs to get done and what you can start on now, you’ll be better equipped to handle the craziness of the holiday season.

+ Stay organized:

To the point above, now is the time to get organized. Your calendar is your best friend! Make sure to write down important dates, take notes, and keep a to-do list. These will come in handy later.

+ Learn how to say no:

Rather than overcommit, be realistic in how many events you can attend. It’s ok to say no – it’s always better to follow through on your plans than flake or bail at the last minute. As much fun as the holidays can be, it isn’t worth it to run your body into the ground over a busy social calendar. There will always be more events, and nothing is more important than your health and quality time with loved ones.

In the spirit of thinking ahead, this look is definitely created with the holidays in mind! Shades of burgundy/wine are always a fall favorite, but throw in some velvet and all of a sudden you have a holiday party-ready look! This Free People dress is from Lulus and it happens to be comfortable (accommodating a large meal, ha!) AND festive (love love love the dramatic sleeve details). You really can’t go wrong with the selection of dresses from Lulus for all of your fall and holiday festivities!

I’ll be sharing more tips on getting your body and mind ready for the holidays over the next few weeks. In the meantime, what is everyone dressing up as for Halloween?! xx

dress: free people | shoes: who what wear x target | bag: gucci | earrings: similar

By Amy Zhang October 25, 2017 in Style 9 Comments

Three Simple Tips to Transition Your Look from Day to Night

My weekdays are often very go, go, go. I’m sure most young working professionals can relate. If I wake up early, I try to squeeze in a workout. If I sleep in, I take care of my dog (my child) and make sure the house is in order before I leave for work. LA traffic and a full day at the office make up the bulk of my waking hours, and my nights consist of vegging out on the couch + dinner with my boyfriend, catching up with friends, or some kind of event. You can probably guess my preferred evening activity ; ). When I get home, the first thing I do is immediately change into something comfortable. But what about the days I rush from work to something else? I need an easy day to night look that transitions from office to happy hour in a pinch. The easier, the better.

Three easy tips to transition your look from day to night

+ Accessorize:

I like to swap out my work tote for a clutch or smaller bag. If I add one piece of jewelry, it’s usually earrings. I really like hoop earrings or some sort of tassel statement earring. Right now I am really enjoying mixing and matching various pieces from Elizabeth Stone Jewelry.

+ Touch up your face:

If I know I’m going somewhere after work, I try to bring my makeup bag and leave it in the car. At the very least, I keep an extra lip pencil or two in my car. If I have more time, I like to touch up my concealer, amp up my highlighter, and add a swipe of eyeliner. If my hair needs a touch up, I’ll use some Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray or just throw it up into a messy top bun.

+ Switch up your footwear:

During the day, I usually choose to wear a flat shoe because you never know if you’ll be walking around a lot. At night I like to wear something with a heel. A little extra height never hurts, am I right? Luckily in LA I’m usually driving around in my car, so I can keep an extra pair of shoes or two in my trunk.

Just a few easy and small changes can really help you transition your outfit from daytime to evening. Something like this wrap dress is perfect because it works for both situations. After hours, all I had to do was add a clutch and earrings, add a swipe of lip color (Nars velvet matte lip pencil in “Damned”), and throw on a pair of heeled mules.

Speaking of these shoes, I just have to gush for a minute. How cute are they?! If you’re going to get one pair of shoes this fall, make it a pair of white shoes. I get so many compliments on these shoes every time I wear them and no one can believe they’re from Target! Who What Wear’s collaboration with Target hits all the right notes and you can’t beat the price anywhere. These mules were $35 and one of my favorite purchases this season. Who What Wear x Target, I love you.

So there you have it! The easiest way to switch up your look from day to night (you can do all of this in your car in under 5 minutes). Perfect for the busy girl on the go. xx

dress: van de vort | shoes: who what wear x target

earrings: elizabeth stone | necklace: elizabeth stone

clutch: gigi new york from box of style

By Amy Zhang October 23, 2017 in Style 17 Comments

Extra! Extra! Read All About It – Fall Style with Lulus + My Daily Reading List

Fall Style with Lulus | by The Luxi Look

One of my resolutions this year was to read more books. My commitment to reading unfortunately comes and goes in waves, when life gets busy it’s one of the first things to fall off. Looking back at my reading list from the beginning of the year, I realized I’ve made a sizeable dent but have also added many more titles to the list. Maybe one day I’ll get through it ; ).

Easier than reading books for me is consuming content through the form of podcasts, news articles, and blogs. Although I don’t think digital content can ever entirely replace books (and they shouldn’t!), it’s easier to take in bite-sized pieces of content throughout my day. And as you can tell from these photos, print magazines will always have a place in my heart.

Some of my favorite daily reading list and listening list:

Podcasts

+ The Daily

A must listen. 20-30 minutes every weekday, with each episode going in depth into one or two stories for the day. Even if you don’t read the news, you should listen to The Daily. This is podcasting + storytelling + journalism at its finest.

+ How I Built This

I don’t know what’s more motivating than hearing the stories of some of the most successful entrepreneurs in the world and how they built their companies. Talk about Monday Motivation! Whether you’re an entrepreneur or not, this podcast will inspire you to get out and tackle every challenge head-on.

Media + Blogs

+ New York Magazine

For culture and news. I especially love The Cut for all things lifestyle related (especially the “How I Get It Done” column featuring badass, successful modern women) and the curated lists from The Strategist.

+ Who What Wear / Byrdie / My Domaine

Fashion, beauty, lifestyle. In that order. Fast, easy reads that’ll get you up to speed on all the latest trends in the time it takes you to finish your morning coffee. Or yerba mate ; ).

+ Goop

Say what you want about Gwyneth and Goop, but I’ve come to really enjoy parts of her lifestyle site. Especially the recipes. My boyfriend and I have made several recipes off Goop and each one has been a major hit. Some of our favorites: cauliflower risotto, lettuce wrapped turkey burgers, and turkey shepherd’s pie.

+ The Skimm

Not technically a blog, but still one of the few emails I open in my inbox on a consistent basis. I try to actually read the news, but when I’m in a pinch The Skimm is a lifesaver. You’ll always know what’s going on in the news and be able to contribute to any conversation. I’m sorry, but ignorance and being uninformed is not cute. Take 10 minutes of your day to understand what’s going on in the world. You can sign up here.

Am I the only person who still loves to read blogs? I hear all the time from people that blogs are dead and no one reads blogs anymore, but I disagree! Honestly I think blog content is so much richer and more in-depth than social media. I still follow a bunch of blogs on Bloglovin’ and browse through my feed when I have a chance. I love fashion, food, beauty, fitness, health and wellness blogs. Feel free to leave yours below and I’ll check it out!

Now onto this “news” inspired outfit! I’m so excited to partner with Lulus again today to bring you my take on some fall trends and fall style. As a huge lover of hats, I can’t believe it took me so long to get on board with the newsboy cap trend. I was hesitant to try it out for the longest time and couldn’t decide if I thought it looked silly or cute. My take on trends is either to skip entirely or try with an inexpensive version.

As always, Lulus came through with an affordable yet chic version of this trend and I’ve been testing it out with various looks over the past several weeks. I really love it paired with this striped mini dress and these sock boots. I also added a little plaid to mix prints with a layering piece.

This entire look is from Lulus, and everything is under $150. Most items are under $75! Who says you have to break the bank to look good? This is true of most items on the site, which is a MAJOR WIN in my book. Stay tuned for a holiday season inspired look as well later this week! xx

This post was sponsored and written in partnership with Lulus. As always, all opinions are my own.

dress: amuse society from lulus | jacket: bb dakota from lulus | hat: lulus

shoes: lulus | earrings: lulus

By Amy Zhang October 20, 2017 in Fitness, Lifestyle 11 Comments

Why Interval Training is the Best Thing Ever and How You Can Add it to Your Fitness Routine

If you know me, you know I love a good fitness class. But the fact is, I simply don’t always have time to get ready and go to an hour long class – and you probably don’t either. And though any length of workout is absoltuely better than nothing, there are times when I want the most bang for my buck. A result-based workout that can be done quickly, for busy weeknights or when traveling.

I’m a HUGE fan of interval training. I have found nothing gets me results faster than incorporating intervals into my fitness routine. As someone who used to run long distances regularly, intervals have been a godsend. No more hour long sessions on the cardio machine at the gym for this girl!

Why Interval Training is the Best Thing Ever and How You Can Add it to Your Fitness Routine

HIIT is a good example of that, and after taking classes regularly at Barry’s Bootcamp, I wanted to talk more about intervals. Interval training in general usually means you’re getting a great workout, and is why successful gyms like Barry’s are advocating for it. They’re definitely onto something worth sharing.

What are intervals?

To sum it up, intervals are working at different paces & intensities for a set amount of time, over and over. Working out in intervals keeps your body from feeling “comfortable” during your workout. When you disrupt it every minute or so to pick up or slow down your pace, you end up burning more calories and strengthening your heart, among other things.

Who should do intervals?

Anyone and everyone, though it’ll look different for each person. Intense intervals are something you build up to after spending a few months getting in shape. If you’re a newbie, find the variables that work for you (maybe you’re jogging instead of running – more on this below). Don’t push yourself too hard. Definitely don’t get down on yourself if your intervals don’t look like the person next to you.

Believe me, I wasn’t nearly as strong as a lot of people at Barry’s, but I still felt great after each workout (and kinda dead, in a good way). You’ll get to where you want to be after consistently doing intervals a few times a week. Some benefits of interval training: better endurance for long runs, other cardio workouts, improved cardiovascular health, more calories burned, and the biggest one for me – losing belly fat!

How do I incorporate intervals into my workout?

One of the most common ways to incorporate interval training into your everyday workout is to hop on the treadmill. I definitely understand the treadmill can be a bore, but stay with me here, it’s worth it! And yes, you can totally do intervals off a treadmill, but personally, I appreciate the effectiveness that a treadmill provides (a time clock, ways to monitor speed, stay efficient, etc.).

When you’re ready to take your workout to the next level, start adding in intervals by varying your speed on the treadmill. Make sure to get completely warmed up at a slow pace before you begin to increase your speed (avoid those injuries!) and then determine what your “fast” pace will be and what your “base” pace will be. Test your speeds and find out what works best for you!

Adding incline

If you feel ready to kick your workout up even more, consider adding an incline to your intervals. Don’t be intimidated – you don’t have to run at 6 mph while running uphill (unless you’re into that). You’re actually going to keep the speed the same on this one. Instead of changing the speed every other minute, you’ll increase and decrease your incline – simple! Doing this will definitely intensify your workout and burn even more calories. It’ll also make your heart and body stronger too.

Easy Treadmill Interval Workouts You Can Do

Luckily, I was able to steal a couple treadmill workouts from Justine Cuenco (follow her on Instagram @cococuenco) – if you look at her page you’ll see she is a total boss and a huge fitness buff. The girl’s dedication to fitness and working out is super admirable. So I had to get her custom “Coco Run” and try it out for myself. See below for three examples of interval workouts you can try on the treadmill.

This run should take you to 4 miles, which is perfect if you’re training for a race! If you’re looking for something a little more quick or dirty, try some hill or speed intervals.

Repeat 2-3 times for a KILLER workout.

I used to hate, hate, HATE sprints, but now I love them! Love getting my cardio done for the day. Repeat this set at least twice for best results.

If you’re ready to start doing intervals right away, here is some edgy workout clothes I am absolutely loving right now too!

xx, Amy

By Amy Zhang October 16, 2017 in Style 25 Comments

A Balancing Act

The past few months, I’ve seen a slew of “Instagram vs. Reality” posts. Initially I thought they were super cheesy, but I’ve grown to love them. Why? Because for most people, what they show on Instagram isn’t their reality. I’m guilty of this myself. On my social media, I probably look like I sit around all day. The parts of my life I show: trying on outfits, going to events, eating, drinking, my dog. In reality, my life is much less glamorous. It’s very… normal. I wake up early and commute to work. Then I sit at a desk all day Monday through Friday, and oftentimes eat lunch at said desk. I go home, have dinner with my boyfriend, and am rarely out. Most nights consist of watching TV and going to bed early. But what’s the fun in showing that?

The thing with Instagram is, it’s a balancing act.

On a side note, I’ve been meaning to give little life update to you guys! I recently started a new job (!!) – it’s a new role at the same company, and I have a LOT to learn! So if I’ve seemed distracted or not fully there lately, it’s because I have been. I haven’t been shooting and posting new content as much, and to be honest it has been a welcome break. It’s allowed me to focus more on one thing – which I really believe is so important.

After all, the way you do one thing is the way you do everything, right?

Speaking of a balancing act – how is one supposed to dress when it’s 94 degrees in October?! I honestly avoided being outside this weekend. Instead I stuck to hanging inside my air conditioned apartment. I bought this denim skirt last year (runs TTS) and I am so glad I did. I rarely regret buying denim, unless it’s a super trendy cut and I only wear it a couple times, but I have been loving denim skirts this season and will definitely continue to wear mine into the future. I’ve been wearing different variations of this look all season – denim skirt, cropped turtleneck, booties. Throw on a blazer and you’re good to go!

Getting ready for a busy week and will be bringing you new content soon! In the meantime, I updated + added some new Glossier and Classpass Los Angeles reviews due to popular demand. Hope you all have a great week! xx

top: similar | skirt: grlfrnd | belt: b-low the belt | shoes: marc fisher