The Luxi Look | LA based fashion and lifestyle blog

By Amy Zhang April 21, 2017 in Style 26 Comments

How Do You Define Success?

Let’s have a little career chat. Specifically around success. We always hear about why it’s important to have a one year plan, five year plan, ten year plan. It’s great to be goal oriented – but keep in mind that goals change. My definition of success today is different than what it was five years ago. I’m sure if I was married with kids, it would be even more different. The way you define success is also probably very different from me. Point being: no two people share the exact same definition of success.

How do you define success?

You guys, the quarter life crisis is real. Talking to my college friends and other people in their mid to late twenties, I quickly realized we are all kind of in the same boat. While it was comforting learning I’m not alone in not knowing what I want to do for the rest of my life, it still didn’t answer any of my own internal questions.

Lately I’ve been thinking about my career and the path I’m on. We recently took a “personality test” at work (similar to Myers Briggs) and I learned that my personality shows strong preferences for several different working styles and traits. While you shouldn’t take the results of these tests as gospel, it did do a lot in helping explain why I’m always so damn indecisive.

Especially when it comes to my career.

I work a corporate job and I’ve always loved working. I know the 9-to-5 life isn’t for everyone, but in my early to mid twenties, the stability and routine was right for me. Getting solid work experience and learning a lot was very important to me. Now, I find myself asking “what’s next?” constantly and not knowing the answer. At the same time, I love blogging and would love to invest more time and energy into it. There are SO many posts I want to work on but I’ve felt restricted because of my schedule and time.

With that said – I’ve never felt even close to being ready to pull the trigger and go all in on the blog. It’s not the right move for me. So in the meantime, I told myself I’d do it all and figure it out along the way. It’s been quite the journey filled with its own ups and downs.

If you’re going through something similar, I highly recommend this reading. It’s a little lengthy but I really enjoyed the framework presented for thinking about success. I know it might sound silly to have a framework for success, but hear me out! By filling out your own personal “kaleidoscope,” you may find that you’re putting too much or too little emphasis on one area of your life, which may be why you are feeling unbalanced or stressed.

The authors write:

“…many people assume success requires a winner-takes-all approach. They believe that success depends on putting all your energy into achieving one goal, be it a single-minded focus on your job or a commitment to being the best soccer mom in your community. But no matter how noble, one goal can’t satisfy all of a person’s complex needs and desires, as the examples at the beginning of the article demonstrate. The same holds true for the goals of a business.”

We all have different definitions of success, because we all have different goals. We’re never driving towards just one goal. We have goals in all aspects of our life, be it personal, professional, financial.

What the article gets into is the idea of enduring success.

“We were interested in real, enduring success—where getting what you want has rewards that are sustainable for you and those you care about. This type of attainment delivers a sense of legitimacy and importance; its satisfactions endure far beyond the momentary rewards of a bonus or a new position. Lasting success is emotionally renewing, not anxiety provoking.”

The key is lasting success.

What is lasting success made of?

+ Happiness – feeling pleasure or contentment about your life

+ Achievement – accomplishments that measure up against goals you have strived for

+ Significance – feeling like you’ve made a positive impact on the people you care about

+ Legacy – a way to establish your values or accomplishments so as to help others find future success

While I can’t say I’ve figured it all out, I will say sitting down and thinking long and hard about my own goals and how I define success has been helpful in guiding me towards the right next step. By thinking about these components of lasting success – happiness, achievement, significance, and legacy – and defining them in my own terms – I find myself much more comfortable with the path that I’m currently on (and know what areas I may need some work in!)

SO. Please share – how do you define success?

Have a wonderful weekend!! I’ll be shooting some new recipes (including some summer cocktails!) that I can’t wait to share with you guys soon. xx

By Amy Zhang April 19, 2017 in Style 21 Comments

Coachella 2017 Recap & Outfits

Another Coachella has come and gone. Every year, the festival is a completely new and different experience. It’s hard to condense three jam packed days into one post, so here are some of the highlights of my weekend and all the details on what I wore.

Coachella Day 1

Straight to the festival! Dressing for the actual festival is always tricky because of the desert climate. It can be SO hot during the day but then temperatures plummet as soon as the sun goes down. For this reason, it’s important to 1. stay hydrated and 2. dress in layers! I cannot stress this enough. I have a slight tickle in my throat today so I wasn’t entirely safe from the post Coachella blues. But I am convinced that bringing a denim jacket (I think I’ve worn this one from Blank NYC almost every day since I’ve gotten it) saved me from a worse fate ; ).

top: similar | shorts: similar | denim jacket: blank nyc | shoes: timberland

backpack and jewelry: sticks + stones | sunnies: ray-ban

Coachella Day 2

Spent the weekend without my Instagram husband in tow, what’s a blogger to do when she’s without her better half behind the lens? In all seriousness, I’m super happy and grateful I was able to snag some shots at The Zoe Report’s ZOEasis hanging with my girls Roshni, Madison, and Javvy. I was also able to meet up with one of my favorites photographers, Jordan, to sneak in a couple shots in the desert. Apologies for the lack of festival shots, I promise there will be more next year!

dress: spell | bag and necklace: sticks + stones

sunnies: sunday somewhere (<< how cool are these?!)

Coachella Day 3

The last day was a short one for me. I skipped out on the festival to stop by the Galore Brunch with R+Co before driving home – I had work Monday morning and to be honest was exhausted after two days of the festival… #old. For those of you going to Weekend 2, hope you found some outfit inspo from Weekend 1! The looks this year were killer. Until next time, Coachella!

dress: hot-as-hell | sunnies: pared | shoes: steve madden

By Amy Zhang April 18, 2017 in Recipes 19 Comments

Vegan Coconut Ceviche

Back from Coachella and I am so excited to share photos from the weekend with you guys!! But first, a little much needed detox recipe – vegan coconut ceviche. I first tried coconut ceviche at Gracias Madre, a vegan Mexican restaurant in West Hollywood (best spicy margs and guac!!) and fell in love instantly. It tasted just as good as the real thing.

Note – I’m not vegan. I’ve tried it in the past and it wasn’t for me. But I think the principles of veganism – more fruits, vegetales, healthy grains – is good for you. However, I found myself missing a lot of vital nutrients when I tried a vegan diet. AND I think a lot of vegan substitutes aren’t really that healthy for you! If it says it’s vegan, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s good for you. With that said, this recipe is delicious and super good for you. Why?

Because coconut does wonders for your bod!

Benefits of eating coconut:

+ Coconut meat is loaded with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants

+ Coconuts are full of healthy fats!! If you want to glow from the inside out, healthy fats including coconut and avocado are some of the best foods you can eat

+ Good for your skin and hair

+ Easy to digest

+ Full of MCTs (<< will do an entire post on this!) which may help with weight loss

The meat from a young coconut has a texture and taste that very closely mimics ceviche (the version at Gracias Madre almost tastes like octopus!) when you marinate it. It can be tricky to find the right consistency of coconut – you don’t want it to be too firm or soft. Whole Foods has pre cut young coconut if you don’t want to cut open your own. For this recipe, I asked my boyfriend (nicely) to assist with cracking open the coconut : ).

Once you figure out how to crack open a coconut and scoop the meat out, the rest of the recipe is easy peasy. Be sure to drink the coconut water inside as well!

Vegan Coconut Ceviche Recipe

1 fresh young coconut
2-3 limes, juiced (depending on how much lime you like)
1 tomato (diced)
1/2 cucumber (diced)
1 avocado (cubed)
1 jalapeno (diced)
Salt and pepper (to taste)
Optional add ins: onion, cilantro, zucchini, mango

Scoop out coconut meat or take pre cut coconut and cut into small squares. Mix with chopped veggies and cover in lime juice. Marinate until ready to serve (recommend at least a couple of hours). Add avocado and season with salt and pepper to taste. Add more lime juice as needed. Enjoy!!

By Amy Zhang April 13, 2017 in Style 25 Comments

Perfect Pieces for Easter

Question for you – what are you wearing for Easter?

If you DO celebrate Easter – there’s still time to get the perfect outfit! And even if you don’t, maybe you’re looking for the perfect springtime outfit for any occasion.

I got you covered.

My picks for Easter? Flirty, floral, feminine. But honestly, you’ll wear them through the summer. Also, Revolve also gets it and always hooks you up with free 2-day shipping. LOVE.

Shop the perfect pieces for Easter below.

Delicate Nude Off the Shoulder Dress

When it comes to shopping, I want everything from Lovers + Friends. This little nude number is no exception. Blush pink looks good on EVERYONE – when you get into neutrals you can sometimes run into colors that make you look sick, but blush is super flattering on everyone. Not to mention the delicate details and adjustable waist, which is ideal for an indulgent Easter brunch ; ).

Floral Jumpsuit

First things first, Minkpink is killing it this spring – they never disappoint with their fun pieces! I love this pink jumpsuit because it’s still appropriate for family gatherings but can be easily dressed up or down with a denim or leather jacket. Total win.

Mustard Romper

I don’t know about you, but I could not be more into the color MUSTARD at the moment. This mustard romper is a fun way to incorporate the trendy color without being too over the top. Pair with flats or heels and you’re dressed for any occasion.

Yellow Springtime Dress

When I think Easter, I think of Easter eggs (and chocolate, duh). This J.O.A dress totally belongs on this list of perfect pieces for Easter. Yellow, floral, and with a cold shoulder detail. Checks all the boxes for an ideal Easter weekend look.

The Perfect Daytime LWD

Every spring or summer, without fail, I hunt for the perfect LWD. If you’re looking as well – the search is over. This LWD can be worn to church, at Easter brunch, or just hangin’ with the girls this spring. Also perfect for any bridal events you may have coming up : ).

Printed Midi Dress

Getting major European summer vacation vibes from this dress! The midi length balances out the slit. And can we talk about that print?! Totally to die for. You can wear it this weekend, or take it with you to the South of France or the Amalfi Coast this summer…

Summer Slip

Still very into slip dresses. Always an easy, chic choice for any event. This printed version can be worn day or night, I like it paired with strappy sandals or heels.

Have a great Easter weekend babes, and hope to see some of you in the desert for Coachella!

xx, Amy

By Amy Zhang April 11, 2017 in Style 18 Comments

The Beauty of Spontaneity, Slowing Down, and Collaborating

The Beauty of Spontaneity, Slowing Down, and Collaborations by The Luxi Look

A couple weeks ago, I willingly woke up at 5am on a Saturday to embark on a day trip with two of my girlfriends, Linda and Mire. We were in search of the super bloom (eruption of wildflowers!) that has been covering Southern California (and hoping to snag a few pics along the way). We found the most beautiful flower fields. But what I took away from the day was discovering the beauty of spontaneity, slowing down, and collaborating.

The Beauty of Spontaneity, Slowing Down, and Collaborating

Being an incredibly structured person, the way the day unfolded was very different from my typical weekend.

To give you an idea of my psycho habits: I keep lists everywhere – on my phone, Google Docs, Google Calendar, Excel on my laptop. And if it’s trackable, I’m writing it down. This includes my hour-by-hour schedule, food diary, workout log, yearly goals, finances, etc. Bullet journaling has been a lifesaver. I typically plan everything out in advance and feel incredibly thrilled when I check off everything on my to-do list that day.

But I’m learning (trying) to be more open to spontaneity. To let things just come and not plan out every minute of my life.

In my experience, the best things happen when you least expect them. When you’re – surprise, surprise – spontaneous.

The beauty of spontaneity.

There’s something to be said about packing up your bags, driving with no real end destination in mind, and stumbling upon exactly what you were looking for. Taking a moment to breathe in the beauty of your surroundings and not be rushed to run to the next thing or task on your checklist for the day. Typically when I shoot photos for the blog, I like to shoot as efficiently as possible.

But the purpose of this day was not to push out as many looks in an hour as possible – it was to slow down, enjoy good company, and capture moments when inspiration hit. A very different way of thinking for me.

The day wasn’t planned, there was no agenda or to-do list. Well, there was one – to find flowers.

We headed up to Carrizzo Plains (near San Luis Obispo) to see the super bloom, which was absolutely breathtaking. If you have time over the next week or two to visit, I highly recommend you do so – the fields are stunning and the super bloom is only expected to last a little while longer.

Lesson learned – it’s ok to not plan out your entire day or week. In fact, sometimes it might be encouraged. You don’t want your schedule to be so planned out and rigid that you don’t have any free time to say yes to rare and exciting experiences or opportunities that may present themselves. (I say this as I have my next week already blocked off on my Google calendar… need to work on this more).

The beauty of slowing down.

As with anything in life, there are pros and cons to operating at 100 mph. One of them being, sometimes you miss out on the little things. Slowing down my pace during this trip showed me how good it can feel to not be sprinting all the time. Especially when it comes to art and creativity. I’ll admit, I have a much greater appreciation for creativity than before (I blame my corporate background ; )).

Oh – and how gorgeous are these pieces? Linda and I are both wearing pieces from the upcoming spring collection from Flair the Label. I’m wearing the Emma dress and Linda is wearing the Marianne Lace Jumpsuit. I seriously want everything in this collection!

One thing I really want to be more conscious of is buying from fast fashion. It’s hard to resist the super on-trend pieces from Zara or Forever 21. But after learning about all of the hard work it goes into launching an independent brand and creating a single season’s collection, I am going to make a concerted effort to support more small, local designers – Flair being one of them.

The beauty of collaborations.

As a blogger, there is so much to learn from working with brands, big or small, and other individuals. Los Angeles is built upon Hollywood and the city has no shortage of creatives. For me, it’s truly such a treat to work with other brands and individuals and learn from them. It’s allowed me to develop and continue to hone a set of skills I haven’t been able to in the corporate world. I’m not always the most conceptual person. But I totally feed off of the creativity and energy of those around me. People that work in a creative space in their day to day have a lot to offer to those of us that tend to be more structured and by the books : ).

I can’t think of any careers where you can become successful by operating entirely on your own in a vacuum. Collaborations can often be the key to success – you know the phrase “it’s not about who you know, but what you know”? There’s a lot of truth in there. But collaborations should be viewed as more than a transaction. They’re opportunities to learn from one another and grow together. There’s so much we can do to work together and empower one another – and that’s why this trip was so fulfilling. Oh, and the super bloom was totally worth it!

xx, Amy

linda’s jumpsuit: flair the label | my dress: flair the label