The Luxi Look | LA based fashion and lifestyle blog

By Amy Zhang December 19, 2016 in Lifestyle, Style 4 Comments

Last Minute Holiday Gift Ideas

First off, THANK YOU ALL for the tremendous amount of love last week. I’m so grateful for all the kind words and more that I received. Thank you so much for taking the time to leave comments, emails, and notes – and thank you for visiting this little blog of mine : ). AND for those of you that didn’t get a chance yet… there’s still time to enter my Kylie Lip Kit Giveaway! (And several ways to enter for more than 1 entry!) We are less than a week away from Christmas! For all the procrastinators out there… it’s not too late. Here are some cute last minute holiday gift ideas that you can run out and get, or shop from the comfort of your own home. Thank goodness it’s 2016 and 2 day shipping exists!

Last Minute Holiday Gift Ideas:

Candles

Sorry to be basic, but please find me someone who doesn’t love candles. If you’re running out of time and completely out of ideas, you can never go wrong with a candle. Diptyque and Le Labo make my favorites, but anything with a subtle scent and clean design is a safe bet.

Palettes

Nothing speaks to a beauty lover more than a gorgeous makeup palette. As any girl knows, individual products can come at a hefty price – not to mention they are tiny. If you spend a little more, you can buy a palette that feels more substantial and is also extremely functional, especially for the girl on the go.

A Charitable Donation

This takes virtually no time at all and is one of the most thoughtful gifts you can give. To be honest, most of us have more than enough things we’ve accumulated over the years. Why not give back in a charitable way under your friend or loved one’s name? Find a list of organizations to give back to here

Subscription

Let’s be honest, we all value convenience. Nothing is more convenient than an on demand subscript. From entertainment (Spotify, Apple Music, Netflix, Hulu) to the truly useful (hello, Amazon Prime), to a subscription box for every hobbyist, there’s something for everyone.

It’s never too late to run out to your local store. Even something small goes a long way : ). I went shopping in Beverly Hills over the weekend – as someone who almost never shops in stores and always does everything online (in bed, wearing PJs, with a glass of wine), it was a nice change of pace. All of the storefronts were so beautifully decorated and even though there was no snow, it felt incredibly festive.

The Outfit

One of my go to outfit combos is a bodysuit (master the shirt tuck without having to readjust) with jeans (shorts in the summer, pants in the winter) and a cozy sweater/leather jacket/faux fur jacket. I have a thing for shaggy jackets and this new addition from J.O.A is going to be worn to death. If you love bodysuits as much as I do, check out how to wear a bodysuit, TRUST me.

Also – despite what every magazine/editorial says, the skinny jean will likely never go away (it’s fun to incorporate flares and other styles in my closet, but at the end of the day my skinnies are my go-to), so you might as well invest in some you love. I’ve had this pair by Rag & Bone for almost 5 years and they’ve held up incredibly wear. This particular material doesn’t stretch either, which I LOVE. If you want a pair that feels more like leggings and has a little stretch to them, these are one of my favorite pairs that goes with anything.

What is everyone doing over the holidays? Any fun travels? As much as I’d love to be in Thailand again, I’ll be staying put this year! My family will be joining me in LA and we’re going to Joshua Tree over Christmas. Happy Holidays everyone, and stay tuned for more posts!

cardigan: j.o.a | bodysuit: forever 21 | jeans: rag & bone

shoes: acne | bag: similar

By Amy Zhang December 16, 2016 in Style 25 Comments

Birthday Reflections + GIVEAWAY !!

Today is my birthday! I’m not really big on birthdays – call me an introvert, but I don’t love being the center of attention. Last year I had several girlfriends fly into LA and we went out like crazy, but this year’s celebration will be much quieter. I’m taking the day off work and doing all my favorite LA things. After a busy couple of months this fall, nothing sounds better than a day of rest and relaxation. It’s crazy to think that I’m now in my late 20s and solidly an adult: I’m working full time, living thousands of miles away from home, in a serious relationship… and of course, still trying to figure it all out.

Birthday Reflections

I’ve been doing a lot of self-reflection since my blog birthday last week, and with new years resolutions coming up I’ve been thinking a lot about personal and professional goals. I feel like each year of my 20s has been so wildly different and every year I’ve changed so much as a person. This past year wasn’t the best or the easiest, but it’s been the year I’ve experienced the most personal growth and learned the most about myself. I feel more comfortable in my own skin and am comfortable owning up to my strengths and my weaknesses. I’m learning how to take a compliment, but also how to admit when I’m wrong.

My focus for the next year is on growth – personal, professional, and beyond. 25 was a transitional year, a stepping stone to bigger and better things. I’m grateful for the experiences and opportunities I’ve had and ready to take on 2017. Thanks for all of the love and support over the past year, The Luxi Look wouldn’t be where it is today without it!

GIVEAWAY

It’s always better to give than receive, so as a THANK YOU to all of you for your support over the past year, I’m giving away 3 Kylie Lip Kits in Dolce K, Posie K, and Candy K to 1 random winner. See how to enter below and let me know if you have any questions! Not sponsored in any way, just my way of saying thank you!

[ BTW – if you haven’t tried these lip kits yet, they’re pretty bomb. And this is coming from someone who really did think she would like them / is not a crazy Keeping Up With the Kardashians fan!! ]

NOTE: Simply clicking the entry options below will not qualify you for an entry. You will need to actually complete the action requested in order to qualify.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

xx, Amy

jacket: sanctuary (on sale!) | dress: fame and partners

boots: stuart weitzman

By Amy Zhang December 12, 2016 in Style 5 Comments

Line I Love: Magali Pascal

Happy Monday, babes! The start of the week isn’t so bad when you’ve got coffee in your hand and holiday cheer everywhere around you. I’ve been especially loving the holiday decorations in my neighborhood and in Beverly Hills. The storefronts are to die for. December is also my birth month, and as my fellow Sagittarius sisters can probably relate, it’s hard to not be smiling during this festive and cheerful month!

Currently crushing on everything Magali Pascal. The pieces are dreamy, whimsical, and ethereal. Perfect for the boho queen or the minimalist girl. I love the subtle detailing and draping of every piece. Especially as the end of the year approaches and I’m working on minimizing my closet and decluttering, I know that Magali Pascal pieces will be kept and loved for years to come.

Because it’s summer in Australia at the moment, the newest collection Taj is perfect for warmer weather. It’s never too early to start thinking about summer and resort wear (my fave). Maybe you have a tropical getaway coming up, maybe you’re inspired to plan one now…

If you’re in colder weather it means sweater weather with then add tights or a jacket, these pieces are too pretty to only wear for part of the year.

Details below, and as always thanks for reading!

xx, Amy

dress: magali pascal | sweater: d.ra clothing | boots: stuart weitzman

jewelry: elizabeth stone

By Amy Zhang December 10, 2016 in Style 6 Comments

Best Faux Fur Jackets

If you don’t have a faux fur jacket (or two, or three…) in your closet, get on it now! Faux fur has been a huge trend all year and it isn’t letting up anytime soon. Cruelty free and chic? There’s nothing better. I’ve long retired my puffy down jackets from when I lived in the midwest (RIP). Fortunately, “winter” in LA usually doesn’t require significantly more than a (faux) fur jacket – although I have seen some Canada Goose jackets on the street lately. This particular coat is from Tularosa and despite my boyfriend’s protests, I cannot stop wearing it (faux fur: man repelling or not?)

why you should choose faux fur over the real thing

+ it’s cruelty-free (!!)

+ the quality of faux fur is improving and sometimes it can be difficult to even tell what’s faux and what’s real – Unreal Fur does an amazing job.

+ it lasts forever and doesn’t require extra maintenance to store and clean (on that note – you probably won’t feel as bad if you spill something on it)

+ it’s cheaper

+ it’s on trend

Note: you may get some strange comments or looks when wearing fur (even when it’s faux!) but don’t let that stop you from rocking it. There’s nothing better than throwing on a fuzzy jacket over that cute outfit you’re wearing to your holiday party.

Shop all my favorite fuzzy faux coats below and bundle up for a cozy holiday season!

The best faux fur jackets available:

Stay warm everyone and have a fun weekend!

xx, Amy

jacket: tularosa | belt: b low the belt | jeans: current/elliott

shoes: topshop | sunnies: chloe

By Amy Zhang December 8, 2016 in Lifestyle, Style 16 Comments

The Luxi Look Turns One!

Today marks one year since I launched my blog!

Looking back, I had no idea where to begin (or even what to name my blog). Also, I didn’t know anything really about blogging and everything it entailed. Here’s the thing – blogging is what you make of it and can be whatever you want to be. It can be a side hobby, passion project, or even a full time job! Although I had some idea of the ins and outs of blogging before I first started, it wasn’t even close to the actual extent of the entire industry behind it.

The Luxi Look Turns One!

Since last year I’ve learned so much about blogging, working with brands, having my own (very) small business, and myself (cheesy but true). A year ago I couldn’t have imagined any of those things. I’m I decided to just get started and figure things out along the way. For anyone thinking about starting a blog or any new venture, that’s really the biggest piece of advice I have to give. Nike’s really onto something with their motto: just do it. You can overthink things all you want, but you’ll never get anywhere if you don’t get started.

It’s not always easy to stay motivated or balance a full time job in addition to blogging. But it’s truly become a part of my daily life. Coming from a more analytical background, I love having the opportunity to express my creativity in my own way and in my own space. I know so many girls are working hard and juggling multiple jobs and commitments, and having the opportunity to connect with so many of them over the past year is a huge part of what keeps me going. It’s hard to make friends once you’re an “adult,” and more than anything blogging has been great in allowing me to meet new people, some of whom have become close friends.

I can’t wait to take on year two and see what the next year brings.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful December and ending the year on a high note!

xx, Amy

top: lpa | skirt: grlfrnd | boots: steve madden

sunglasses: chloe | bag: botkier