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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

By Amy Zhang April 9, 2017 in Style 23 Comments

What is Gingham? This Season’s Must Have Print

We are seeing gingham everywhere this year.

TBH, I was not the biggest fan of gingham. It felt too Little House on the Prairie for my liking.

When I first started seeing gingham pop up in designs a year ago, I couldn’t help but ask –

What is gingham, exactly?

It’s not quite plaid but it looks similar. Turns out, gingham is actually stripes. According to GQ, “gingham” is derived from the Malayan word genggang, which means “striped.” The yarn is dyed before woven and the two different colors contract each other, creating the striped or checkered effect. The pattern originated in Southeast Asia, eventually ending up in Europe and is now a mainstay in spring and summer fashions year after year. Pretty cool, right?

I guess it goes to show how things aren’t always as they seem, and looks can be deceiving. Even with gingham! Although now that I look more closely, I can see the “stripes.”

Now we’re seeing gingham on every type of clothing – from tops and skirts to dresses and swimsuits, you’ll be hard pressed to find something that doesn’t come in gingham. If you’re a fan of the print, you’re in luck. For super trendy prints and pieces I like to wade in slowly – hence why I chose this Lovers + Friends skirt. You get the gingham print without feeling as though it overpowers your look, and it goes with all the black + white tops in my closet.

All right – I’m offline for the day! I’m really, really trying to take one day a week, no matter how busy, to disconnect and spend with my boyfriend, dog, and close friends. It isn’t easy – I’m always “so busy” (who isn’t?) aka need to learn to prioritize and drop sh*t that doesn’t matter. With that said, it’s been a week full of reflection (more to come) as I started reconsidering a path for myself that I had decided against a year ago. Lesson being – it’s ok to change your mind and the quarter life crisis is real.

BTW – if you want to check out a few more examples of how to rock gigham, check out this Popsugar article on 14 different ways to master gingham!

Talk soon –

xx, Amy

top: similar | skirt: lovers + friends

By Amy Zhang April 5, 2017 in Style 19 Comments

What’s in My Festival Bag?

You guys, Coachella is in a week (!!) and you could say I still have so much to do to get ready.

I decided to go pretty last minute and have given almost zero thought to planning. If you’re going to festivals this summer and aren’t sure what to wear, be sure to check out this post. One thing I do have down? My festival bag. When you’re going to be in the sun all day, you gotta be prepared.

Of course, you could run around all day and night without anything in your bag (maybe you don’t have a bag at all!) and be totally fine. But… I like to be ready for anything. So here’s what’s in my festival bag – all the essentials.

What’s in My Festival Bag?

LEATHER BACKPACK:

First things first, you need the perfect bag. When it comes to festivals, I always bring a backpack. This way you can simultaneously be hands free and carry more than you would be able to in a small cross body. Total win. There are so many cute backpacks available right now, so you really have no excuse not to bring one.

I love this one from Sticks + Stones (a newer brand and if you haven’t heard of it, you need to check it out ASAP!). Sticks + Stones has the ultimate festival accessories – you can bet I’ll be bringing my backpack to Coachella and incorporating this necklace and cuff into an outfit.

SUNSCREEN:

This is a MUST. If you’re going to roam the desert with only two things, my recommendation would be water and SUNSCREEN. Sunscreen is 100% a must. As I get older, I am wayyy less about sun and getting a tan, and all about preventative skincare. If I’m going for some color, I’ll go reach for the bottle or a good spray tan. For everyday sun protection, I alternate between Supergoop! and Kiehl’s. Reallyyyyy trying to avoid getting more sunspots and wrinkles here. A big hat makes a huge difference as well!

SUNGLASSES:

Ok – so everyone has these sunnies. But you know why? Because they look good on everyone. The round shape is super flattering on every face shape, and they go with every outfit. I’ll def be packing these in my bag. Loving statement sunnies for festivals as well – I just scooped up this rad pair from Sunday Somewhere and cannot stop wearing them.

MOPHIE:

Not the end of the world if your phone dies at a festival, but the last thing you want is to lose your friends or sit at a charging station for phone juice. Mophies have a come a LONG WAY. This newest model is way less clunky and gets the job done. Document all (or none) of your festival experiences and never worry about running out of battery.

DRY SHAMPOO:

Festival or not, this spray is a holy grail product. This term is not thrown around lightly. If you’re only going to use one hair product, ever, it should be this dry texturizing spray. When you’re outside all day, your hair is going to get dirty anyway, but this spray does it all. It adds the right amount of texture, keeps it fresh, and smells divine. Get a travel size bottle for all your getaways and thank me later.

Keep your festival makeup light and simple. Think: tinted moisturizer, brows, mascara. Or if I want a little more, some glitter if I’m feeling really festive. But I avoid the heavy contour and layering of products. Simple is better, you’re in the sun and likely sweating all day so it’ll come off anyway. A natural glow is the perfect touch – this all-in-one product is your best bet to give a subtle highlight and keep your look minimal and fresh. Dab onto the top of your cheeks, your brow bones, and any other spot you want to gently highlight and accentuate.

If you have any other questions on what to bring along in your festival bag, LMK in the comments below and I’ll make sure to get you covered!

xx, Amy

By Amy Zhang March 31, 2017 in Lifestyle, Style 22 Comments

Real Talk: How to Not Compare Yourself to Others

How to Not Compare Yourself to Others | by The Luxi Look

“Comparison is the thief of joy.” This is something I’ve wanted to talk about for a while. I see it all the time – and am totally guilty of doing it. I held off on discussing this because I was looking for the answer myself. Whatever your career is, it’s totally natural to compare yourself to other people. Usually it doesn’t make you feel great about yourself. Honestly, what’s the point of comparing yourself to others?

So, I asked around – my boyfriend, close friends, mentors, and of course, my mom. Because moms always know best. The big takeaway? Kind of obvious, but comparing yourself to other people does – shocker! – absolutely nothing for you.

Real Talk: How to Not Compare Yourself to Others

Here’s the best advice I’ve received on how to not compare yourself to others

Be busy.

When I’m busy and fulfilled in my own life, I don’t have time to think about other people and what they’re doing. It’s easy to compare ourselves to other people when we’re idle. If you have a lot of spare time, maybe pick up a new hobby or lean into your career or family. I’ve found myself doing a lot of comparing when I’m on social media a lot – so I’ve learned to put down the phone more often and appreciate the situation in the present that I’m living in. Ideally, I would like to go on a tech detox for a day or a week. Anyone done this? With a busy weekday work schedule, a new puppy, and trying to balance the blog and a social schedule, there hasn’t been much time for social media or comparison lately.

Practice gratitude.

Instead of focusing on the things that you don’t have, focus on those that you do. As a blogger, I am obviously on social media a lot, constantly seeing images of “the perfect life.” What’s really important to remember here is social media is not real life. Although we’re seeing more and more scenes of “real life” on social media, at the end of the day it’s still incredibly curated.

One of the best quotes I’ve seen about social media: “don’t compare your behind the scenes to someone else’s highlight reel.” Not everything on social media is as it seems, and you’d be surprised to see how different someone’s social media self can be from their actual self.

Being thankful and appreciative for the things you do have makes a huge difference. Whether it’s by keeping a daily gratitude journal or practicing yoga, being grateful for the little things helps tremendously when it comes to comparing yourself to others.

Surround yourself with people that lift you up.

Having a strong support system is everything, especially in those moments when you doubt yourself or just need an ear to listen. Not even ashamed to admit that I call my mom every single day after work. We talk about our days and what’s going on in our lives. Same goes for my close friends – they know everything about me. With that said, my boyfriend always says: choose your friends wisely, because you are the average of your five closest friends.

Look inward.

If you’re constantly comparing yourself to other people, it might be time to take a harder look at yourself. Almost everyone I spoke to talked about the power of meditation. Also, the general consensus seemed to be that the older and more mature you became, the fewer f*cks you tended to give about other people. So in that sense, getting older isn’t such a bad thing. I really love this quote from The Skinny Confidential: “stay in your own lane.”

Who cares what other people are doing in their lane? Stay in your own and focus on yourself. SUCH good advice, and so true – I just had to share. The best way to not compare yourself to others is by being personally fulfilled and finding meaning in your life.

This is some of the best advice I’ve gotten on how to not compare yourself to others. Anyone else have any experiences or advice they want to share??

All right – going to cap off the end of a busy work week with a glass (or two) of wine. Have sooo many goodies for festival season that I can’t wait to share! Thanks so much to the amazing girls at Show Me Your Mumu, B Low the Belt, and Flair the Label for all the fun today : ). If you’re looking for festival outfits, be sure to check them out!!

PS – outfit deets are below. Matching jacket and shorts are from ASTARS – I’ve gotten SO many compliments on the jacket.

jacket: astars | shorts: astars | tee: z supply | shoes: raye | bag: gucci

By Amy Zhang March 26, 2017 in Style 26 Comments

Bold Stripes: Why You Need a Statement Top Right Now

Hello, hello! There must be something in the air, because this spring has me feeling all sorts of trends that I would normally stay away from. I’ve already covered some of my favorite spring trends and prints, but what we really need to talk about is why you need a statement top right now. This striped one that I’m wearing in the photos is from Zara and currently almost sold out, but I’ve linked some very similar ones at the bottom. When I saw this top, I knew I just had to have it. Between the red stripes, voluminous sleeves, and wrap waist, I was instantly sold.

Btw – I am not usually the biggest Zara fan. Maybe I’m the only person that feels this way, but the quality isn’t always great and the pricing can feel a little high for certain items – but everything in their spring collection right now is so on point. As always, they are totally on trend with all things embroidered, gingham, and floral.

Three simple reasons why you need a statement top in your closet:

You can keep the rest of your outfit simple. Here I paired my surprisingly no fuss striped blouse with my favorite denim skirt and some simple slides. I also love the way it looks with billowy trousers and slim dark grey denim.
Statement tops are work appropriate. A statement top, even if slightly cropped, can be made more conservative and appropriate for the office. Even if you don’t work in an office with a dress code, a statement top is a simple way to look polished and put together, and you won’t have to worry about whether or not it’s too revealing.
Add a little shape and dimension to your everyday style. Statement tops are the opposite of minimal. Spring fashion tends to be bold and colorful. If you’re not into prints, then go for a bold shape this season. An update to the quintessential white blouse is a great way to incorporate this trend.

Although this top is almost sold out, it seems like every brand has their own version of a statement top this spring. I have my eye on this Lovers + Friends top and am very impatiently waiting for it to be back in stock. This top and more are linked below if you need a little shopping inspiration!

Well, I’m off to put Olaplex in my hair, put on a sheet mask, and cuddle my pup. My kind of Sunday night ; ).

xx, Amy

top: zara (similar) | skirt: grlfrnd | shoes: marc fisher | bag: botkier