The Luxi Look | LA based fashion and lifestyle blog

By Amy Zhang January 21, 2016 in Style No Comments

90’s Baby

The 90s are back in a big way, and I’m totally loving the revival of trends from the decade I grew up in. While I don’t miss skinny eyebrows and I’m very on the fence about brown lipstick, I’ve happily welcomed 90s style back into my closet.

90’s Baby

Here I mixed and matched some of my favorite 90s inspired pieces – this floral skater dress by Flynn Skye and a black velvet ribbon choker – with suede over-the-knee boots for a look that is perfect for nighttime. I lusted after these shoes for a couple years before I finally bit the bullet and bought them. They’re so worth the price, especially if you have a hard time finding OTK boots that actually stay up on your legs. I’ve tried on so many pairs so trust me when I say these are the best.

If you’re not sure about the heel, get the Lowlands, I guarantee you will wear them all the time. I’ve worn my over-the-knee boots for years – just make sure you either treat them yourself with a waterproof stain repellent or take them to a cobbler to maintain (if you live in LA I highly recommend Fast & Best Shoe Repair in West Hollywood). And of course, the trick to keeping OTK boots classy and not too Pretty Woman is to make sure you balance the proportions out with something longer or flowy.

Which 90s trends have you been embracing? I’d love to hear how you’re styling them!

xx,

Amy

dress: flynn skye | choker: asos (sold out, check etsy) | boots: stuart weitzman

By Amy Zhang January 18, 2016 in Style No Comments

Stardust

My love for Stone Cold Fox runs deep – their prints and styles are among my favorites every season. This jumpsuit is no exception – flared bottoms, black and white print, and loosely skimming fit (but tight where it should be!). When I saw this Stone Cold Fox jumpsuit (on serious sale) at Planet Blue, I had to snag it. I am embarrassingly lazy when it comes to getting ready – thankfully, this one-piece makes it stupid easy. Jumpsuits (and rompers) are total lifesavers. Literally the quickest way to look put together and polished without having to spend any time coordinating separates. Basically, every lazy girl’s dream. They’re also a game-changer. They give the illusion of seriously longer legs if you pair them with platforms or any other heeled shoe, which is heaven-sent if you’re average height like me.

Throw on your favorite minimal jewelry and leather jacket and you’re ready to transition seamlessly from day to night. Shop this jumpsuit and other favorite one-pieces below – you’ll love how easy it is to get dressed to go out.

As always, thanks for stopping by! xx

jumpsuit: stone cold fox (also available in white) | shoes: jeffrey campbell | necklace: luv aj (on sale!) | sunglasses: esther boutique | bag: cleobella (sold out, similar here)

By Amy Zhang January 13, 2016 in Style 2 Comments

Ombré

For those who say Los Angeles doesn’t have seasons, I would most certainly beg to differ. Sp, have you looked at what people are wearing lately? Ok, so “winter” is a high of 60 degrees midday, but that doesn’t stop Angelenos from dressing seasonally. I used to be so confused when I saw people bundled up in wool coats and scarves in LA, now I’m one of those girls that has zero tolerance for cold. I’ve had to make several modifications to my wardrobe – who knew winter coats would come in so handy this year?

Ombre

Lately I’ve been wearing this jacket on repeat – I love the look and feel of fur but choose to stick to faux. If you’re looking for a great faux fur jacket, I am obsessed with the ones by Unreal Fur. I really love the subtle ombré on this particular jacket, but I’ve been feeling faux fur in general. Fur and teddy bear coats have been having a moment this season, I’m totally lusting after several other cozy outerwear options – shop my favorites below.

Thanks for reading – I’d love to hear your thoughts on fur (faux or real) coats this season! xx

jacket: unreal fur | top: zara | skirt: brandy mellville (sold out, similar here) | boots: stuart weitzman

By Amy Zhang January 7, 2016 in Travel 6 Comments

Travel Diary: Thailand, Part 2

Onto the second half of my Thailand Travel Diary! I’m a city girl through and through – I love the energy of large cities, but the islands were my favorite part of Thailand. We always knew we wanted to end our trip on the beach, but weren’t sure which ones to choose. I looked into visiting Koh Samui and Koh Phangnan, as well as Phuket and Koh Phi Phi, but ultimately decided on Koh Lanta. We were looking for something a little more peaceful (away from the crazy Full Moon beach parties) and not as developed, and could not have been happier with our decision – it truly was the perfect way to wrap up 2015.

Travel Diary Thailand, Part 2

Spending Krabi on Christmas Day

We flew into Krabi on Christmas day and arranged for a private transfer to our first resort, which took about 2.5 hours. December, particularly around the holidays, is “peak season” on Koh Lanta and resorts book up quickly, so we ended up switching resorts a couple times. Even at its busiest, you can still find stretches of beach on the island that make it feel like you’re in your own private paradise. Our favorite thing to do was rent a motorbike and explore the island. It takes a little getting used to, but once we got the hang of things, we had a blast zipping up and down the coast of the island.

Swimsuit: Kiini

Hat: Lack of Color (similar) | Dress: Beginning Boutique (sold out)

Kimono: Show Me Your Mumu

Crochet Dress: Lioness

Maxi: Acacia (old, similar here)

Travel Diary Thailand – Packing Tips

A note on packing: you would think living LA would make me a professional beach vacation packer – wrong!! I ended up packing several items I didn’t even end up wearing. Once you’re in the jungle, the sun and humidity hit. You’ll be wishing you were wearing nothing but a swimsuit and a cover up. So, it’s essentially what I ended up living in). On beauty products – you’re also better off leaving those at home. I can’t begin to tell you how nice it was to not wear any makeup and let my hair do its natural thing for an entire week.

The sunrises and sunsets in Koh Lanta were to die for. The sea is so warm that early morning and late evening swims were possible every day. I have a hard time staying still. I love making plans and going off an itinerary. However, even the intense Type-A planner in me was completely zen on Koh Lanta. I woke up early, meditated, and read by the pool or beach for hours everyday. I can’t remember the last time I felt so content and at peace.

Top: Faithfull (similar here) | Shorts: Beginning Boutique (sold out)

Spending More Time at Krabi

On our way back to Bangkok, we stopped in Krabi for two nights. Krabi is great as a base to reach other islands. There are numerous day trips you can take with tours or by private boat from the main port. We spent New Years Day on Railay Beach. It’s only 15 minutes away from Krabi by long-tail boat and 100 baht/~$3 USD per person each way. The beach was stunning, with the cliffs and rocks in the background. However, after our stay on Lanta we found Railay to be too busy and crowded. Also, the monkeys on the beach do not mess around. I saw some people feeding the monkeys (whyyy?!) but I stayed far away – they’re definitely wild animals and not afraid to approach/jump on humans.

All good things must come to an end. After two weeks of adventure and bliss, we’re finally home. Thanks for reading and stay tuned for many more posts this year! xo

By Amy Zhang January 4, 2016 in Travel 9 Comments

Travel Diary: Thailand, Part 1

Happy New Year! I still cannot believe it’s 2016 and find myself wondering where 2015 went. 2015 was one of the best years of my life and I cannot wait to see what this year brings… I hope everyone’s holidays were filled with lots of love and happiness. I spent the last 2 weeks of 2015 in Thailand and now I’m finally back in LA and ready to take on the new year. I’m so excited to share this trip with you guys – my boyfriend and I talked about visiting Thailand for a year, so needless to say we were very excited when the day finally arrived. Get ready for a long post… (update: read part 2 of my Thailand Travel Diary here).

Travel Diary: Thailand, Part 1

We first flew into Bangkok for a quick couple of days. The city really was an overload for the senses – so much to see, hear, eat, and smell. Although Bangkok is 15 hours ahead of LA, the time difference tends to be easier to adjust to when you fly west and there is so much happening in Bangkok that it’s hard not to stay awake. There are so many things to do in the city, but given that we were only there for two days, we got just a taste of what Bangkok has to offer.

What to do in Bangkok:

Temples

There are many beautiful and culturally significant wats (temples) and historical buildings in Bangkok, but if you’re on a tight schedule like we were, be sure to visit the Grand Palace, Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha), and Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn). We were able to visit these in a morning, although I’m sure you could easily spend hours at each walking around and admiring the details. Try to get to the Grand Palace early, as it gets very, very crowded with tour groups. From there, you can walk to Wat Pho and then take a quick water taxi over to Wat Arun. Be sure to dress appropriately – ladies, this means covered shoulders and ankles (see my makeshift outfit I had to buy above).

Markets

If you’re in Bangkok over a weekend, be sure to visit the Chatuchak Weekend Market. It’s one of the largest weekend markets in the world, selling everything from clothing to antiques and is almost impossible to cover in a day. We chose a few sections to walk through over an afternoon, although I could have easily spent days there. This is a great place to practice your negotiation skills. Be sure to try the coconut ice cream as well!

We also visited a floating market – it was interesting to see and I’m glad we went, but it did feel slightly inauthentic and was one of the more expensive tours we did in Thailand. If you’re pressed for time you could probably pass on this.

Rooftop Bars

Bangkok’s expansive skyline can be enjoyed from one of the city’s many rooftop bars. We loved Vertigo and Moon Bar at the Banyan Tree, as well as the views of the city and river from Sky Bar at Le Bua (of The Hangover 2 fame).

Eat

While we did have a few nicer sit-down meals in Thailand, my favorite food by far was the street food. Throwing all inhibitions and sanitation standards to the wayside, the little unnamed stalls with plastic chairs served the best Thai food I’ve ever had in my life day after day, effectively ruining all Thai food in the states for me. If you’re worried about getting sick, try to find stalls/shops where you see long lines of Thai people (not tourists) – if the locals are eating there, chances are you’ll be fine. I didn’t have any problems, but it’s probably not a bad idea to pack some probiotics and medicine anytime you’re visiting Southeast Asia.

And finally, ride in a tuk tuk. No, it’s not as nice as Uber. And no, it’s probably not the safest. But it is kind of fun and can get you around the city a little quicker than a taxi. Be sure to negotiate, and if the traffic is really terrible and you find yourself breathing in way more car exhaust than what’s probably good for you, you can get off and walk (or take the subway). I wasn’t brave enough to take one of the motorbike taxis, but apparently that is the best (fastest) way to get around if you’re going to take the main roads.

Which brings me to my tips for the city, and Thailand in general:

Pack light

As a rule of thumb, I usually only travel with a carry on size bag. Laundry is incredibly cheap to get done and it is so hot you’ll only want to pack lightweight layers anyway.

Traffic is terrible.

It puts LA traffic to shame (note to self: never complaining about my commute to work again). Take the SkyTrain or MRT, it can be faster than a taxi, especially during rush hour.

Use cash

Chances are credit cards aren’t accepted. Also, negotiate everything.

Watch out for scams

Scams are a part of travelling and while most of them are obvious (others less so), I really have never encountered as many scams as I did when I was in Bangkok. It left a bit of a stain on my impression of the city, although I do realize that it is not at all indicative of the people or the country as a whole. But, it is something to look out for.

After the hustle and bustle of Bangkok, we were happy to leave the chaos of the big city behind and head north to Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai is the second largest city in Thailand, yet it feels much smaller and quieter in comparison to Bangkok. I fell in love with the city and its slower pace, and it was here that we began to truly feel like we were on vacation.

What to do in Chiang Mai:

Wander the streets of the Old City

I would recommend staying in or near the Old City so you can explore one of the best parts of Chiang Mai on foot. The Old City is relatively quiet and the streets are incredibly charming. One of our favorite things to do was walk through the Old City with no destination in mind – we stumbled across so many temples and hidden corners, although there are several walking tours if you’re looking for a little more structure.

Eat (more!)

The street food in Chiang Mai was the best we had in Thailand. Every night around 5pm you’ll see carts beginning to set up at the North and South gates of the Old City. We would usually just walk around a little before deciding what looked good for dinner and were never disappointed. Again, places with long lines that specialize in 1 dish tend to be good bets. I enjoyed papaya salads (Thai spicy!) and mango sticky rice every single day. As well as whatever new dish looked tasty.

Be sure to try Khao Soi (a curry noodle soup that is a Northern Thailand specialty) and the Khao Ka Moo (stewed pork) made by the lady in the cowboy hat (as seen on Anthony Bourdain’s show). Surprisingly, I did not get sick of Thai food despite eating it for every meal for 2 weeks. Not surprisingly, I should probably go on a detox after eating noodles. And the previously mentioned mango sticky rice daily.

Markets

We missed the famous Sunday Night Market, but were able to visit the daily Night Market, which happened to be located right outside our hotel. We saw clothing and trinkets being sold that were similar to other markets we had visited. Although apparently the Sunday Night Market sells more unique and hand crafted objects that are hard to get anywhere else.

Get massages

I’m not the biggest fan of massages. But if you are, getting a daily rub down is really a no brainer in Thailand. Hour long massages start at less than $6 (!!). And they are plentiful and hit the spot.

Take a cooking class

Several friends had recommended taking a Thai cooking class in Chiang Mai and it did not disappoint. We pre booked a class through Thai Farm Cooking School and spent the day laughing, cooking, and eating (a lot). The dishes we learned to make were surprisingly easy (although I’m sure some of the ingredients are harder to get in the states) and I impressed myself with how well they turned out. Now I’m in the market for a mortar and pestle to make homemade curry paste at home…

Elephant Nature Park

This was one of the highlights of the entire trip. We did a one day trip to the park and I only wish we could have stayed longer. They offer overnight and weeklong volunteering opportunities as well.) There are truly no words to describe the experience of witnessing these animals interact with each other and humans in a safe and natural environment. The stories behind each elephant are heartbreaking. I cannot urge you enough to do your research on animals and tourism before visiting Thailand.

After a busy week of sight-seeing and exploring, we headed south to the islands for some serious R&R. I’ll be sharing the second half of our trip soon – thanks for reading! xo