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By Amy Zhang August 8, 2016 in Style 63 Comments

Line I Love: Auguste the Label

Hi pretties! Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! I’m still on my no complaining challenge… follow up post to come this week! For now, I wanted to introduce one of my favorite brands for flowy, dreamy, bohemian gypsy inspired pieces: Auguste the Label. For all my ladies channeling Stevie Nicks or any other bohemian style icon, this brand is for you.

As you can probably tell by now, I’m a sucker for easy breezy pieces that are relaxed and effortless. I’m also a huge sucker for florals and all other prints. Hailing from the gorgeous Byron Bay in Australia (which I NEED to visit ASAP), Auguste the Label checks every single one of my boxes when I’m shopping. Loose and flowing with feminine cuts and delicate prints, Auguste is perfectly girly and bohemian, probably my favorite combo.

Line I Love: Auguste the Label

This particular off the shoulder dress makes me feel like a woodland creature-fairy and want to run through fields of grass and a forest, which is exactly what I did for these photos. Off-the-shoulder anything is still going strong – so happy because I LOVE the OTS silhouette. What’s great about this particular dress is it isn’t as constricting as some OTS tops/dresses. Somehow you’re still able to move your arms around freely (dinosaur arms, no more!) without worrying about falling out everywhere. Total win.

I absolutely LOVE the unique patterns Auguste The Label is known for. They’re so unique, but still feminine and not overdone. As you guys know, I love a good pattern play moment.

And a funny story about this dress – I ordered it off a waitlist and after what felt like months of waiting, I ended up receiving the dress in the wrong size! Turns out my dress had been shipped to someone in NorCal and I had received hers. Luckily, she was super sweet in coordinating a mail swap, otherwise my dress would have been lost and gone forever. A small mishap, but one in which I am very grateful for the kindness of strangers. Good people are out there and show themselves in many ways.

So excited to wear this dress through the rest of the summer and into the fall! I can’t wait to pair it with a jacket and booties once the weather cools down. Speaking of cooling down, I am loving all of the new fall arrivals that are hitting stores now and cannot wait to incorporate the fall trend forecast into my upcoming posts – stay tuned for lots of goodness coming your way! And if there’s anything you ever want me to write about, please let me know : ).

Shop the Outfit

Shop this outfit and my favorite Auguste the Label picks below. I’m a huge fan of Aussie brands and have found myself shopping from the land down under more times than I can count over the past year. The fashion is so on point (I swear I love EVERYTHING) I’m willing to deal with the hassle of having something shipped all the way from Australia to the states. Luckily, more and more US stockists are stocking Aussie labels, so keep an eye out the next time you’re browsing in store or online!

Do you have any favorite Aussie brands? Please share below!

xx, Amy

dress: auguste the label | shoes: schutz (similar)

photos: lauren miller

By Amy Zhang August 2, 2016 in Lifestyle, Style, Wellness 25 Comments

Self-Improvement

Self-Improvement Challenge

Although I originally started The Luxi Look as a style blog, I knew it could evolve over time. I’ve always wanted to incorporate aspects of wellness along with style and outfits. I like writing posts on topics such as motivation, positivity, and productivity. Not because I’m an expert in these fields or perfect in these areas. But because I think wanting to become a better person is one of the best qualities to have.

Last week, I woke up one morning and began my usual routine of checking my emails and scrolling through my phone. I came across an email from Noah Kagan that immediately caught my eye with the subject line – “How I stopped whining.”

I first came across Noah’s blog, OkDork a couple years ago. And was blown away by his posts on marketing, blogging, building an online brand, and more. I’ve gotten a lot out of his emails – he hits topics such as productivity, organization, and self-improvement. Mixed in with some funny anecdotes and life recommendations.

To sum up the email:

Noah realized he was on a major complain train and decided to challenge himself to go an entire day without complaining. This email then sparked a conversation between me and my boyfriend that led us to agree we also wanted to work on improving this particular bad habit.

So, we challenged each other to go a week without complaining to start.

In fact, we decided we want to do a month (or more) of our self-improvement challenge.

The goal is to give up one bad habit for a week. We’re starting with complaining – NO complaining for a week. Instead of complaining about the traffic or weather or whatever is bothering us, we are going to try and brush it off and focus on something more positive.

On that note, I’m lucky to be with someone that not only supports me in everything I do but isn’t afraid to call out my flaws and encourage me to be a better person. It also helps that he happens to work in the self-improvement space and lives and breathes what he teaches. Stay tuned this month for lots of fun posts (fashion, lifestyle, wellness, and more!) to come.

xx, Amy

matching set: luna b | shoes: similar | sunnies: karen walker

photos: tavio valencia

By Amy Zhang July 30, 2016 in Lifestyle, Style 29 Comments

How to Stay Motivated

Motivation. We all need a kick of it sometimes. Whether it’s to study for an exam, perform better at work, whip your body into shape, or sometimes even just to get out of bed. I can’t be the only person that struggles with this sometimes… right?? I’ll be honest, balancing a full time job + life + a blog can be difficult at times! I’m sure my fellow bloggers can totally relate. Something I’ve thought about a lot is: how to stay motivated.

How to Stay Motivated

When it comes to blogging, some weeks are easier than others. Sometimes the creativity is flowing and other days, I have total writer’s block. Same thing goes for working out (some weeks it’s a reaallll effort dragging myself to class). And for checking off my always massive to-do list. It’s not always easy to stay motivated. Here some things have helped me a lot, especially lately.

Think about the long term.

I’m a huge proponent of being goal oriented. While it’s important to focus on the here and now, it’s also important to think about the long term. Success doesn’t happen overnight. Losing weight, learning a new skill, building a business – these things all take time. I’m not the most patient person ever (really, really trying) but adopting this mindset has really helped me mentally to not dwell on the day to day and focus on the long term.

Be positive

I’ve talked about the benefits of positivity before, and I still stand by them. Even if it isn’t always my initial instinct, I make a point to recognize my progress and see how far I’ve come. Day to day, you may not see much of a difference – but what about in 6 months or a year? I 100% believe in focusing on the good, over the bad.

Go easy on yourself.

We’re often way too tough on ourselves – after all, we are our worst own critic. If you’re having a particularly rough week, it’s okay to take a break so you can rest and It’s okay to take a break. Whatever your goal is, it’ll still be there for you.

Have fun

I always try to think about what I’m trying to accomplish and why I’m doing it. I work out because I enjoy it (for the most part ; )), I try to eat healthy because it makes me feel good, I blog because it’s a creative release and I love sharing my thoughts with others. But when these things stop being fun and start feeling like a chore, it’s probably time to re-evaluate. That’s why I think it’s okay to take a break so you can jump back in 100% when you’re ready.

Sometimes a good motivational quote or image is all I need. Here’s one I really, really love:

Ok, I’m off to run errands – hope everyone has a wonderful weekend! I’d love to hear how you stay motivated to accomplish your goals : ) and my fellow bloggers – how do you stay motivated and inspired?

xx, Amy

dress: spell designs (sold out) | shoes: schutz (sold out)

photos: tavio valencia

By Amy Zhang July 27, 2016 in Lifestyle, Style 29 Comments

What’s in a Name?

Hi babes! Some of you have been wondering where my blog name The Luxi Look came from. So, I thought I’d share the meaning behind it today. Also, I’m sharing some thoughts on how to name your blog if you’re struggling like I was! The word Luxi is not only a play on the word “Luxe,” it also happens to be my middle name!

What’s in a Name? And How to Name Your Blog – The Luxi Look

A little backstory about my blog: I started The Luxi Look in November of 2015. Officially “launched” the site to my close friends and family in December. The process of starting my blog took so much longer than I expected. If I’ve learned anything from my short period of time blogging, it’s that perfect is the enemy of good. Meaning, sometime good enough is enough.

I talked about starting a blog for such a long time. Eventually, I knew I had to just do it. Naming my blog was the hardest part. For whatever reason, the name simply would not come to me for the longest time. But, I knew I wanted to incorporate something that was uniquely me into the name of my blog.

“Luxi” is actually Mandarin and reflects a very important part of me and who I am – my heritage and culture. I was actually born in Beijing and moved to the US when I was very young.

I grew up speaking Mandarin with my parents, going to Chinese school on Saturdays, taking Chinese dance lessons, eating Chinese food (rice with dinner every. single. night.) – my parents did the best they could to infuse Chinese culture into my upbringing so I would have that when I grew up. Actually, I chose the name “Amy” in kindergarten so that I could fit in by not having a name that other people couldn’t pronounce. I always went by “Amy” with friends growing up.

Fast forward twenty years and I realize now there was never any reason to be embarrassed that I had a name no one could pronounce. In fact, it’s really cool when you have a name no one else does. So, I created The Luxi Look as a daily reminder to love and embrace every part of yourself – past and present. As a lesson to never apologize for who you are and to always be unabashedly yourself. That is what The Luxi Look is about – a safe space and community to share thoughts, ideas, and grow.

When I was thinking of names for my blog I took every word I can think of that described myself/my interests and wrote them down. You never know what combination might spark your interest! When it comes to naming your own blog, I would recommend finding ways to get personal and find a name that is uniquely you – whether that is through a piece of you or even just your interests. It’s an important part of starting a blog! BUT not the most important part. I hope this post was helpful and inspiring to you.

Starting this blog was a huge step for me, and I’m so thankful for the incredible people I’ve met along the way in such a short amount of time. I love sharing this journey with you all and I can’t wait to see what the future will bring.

As always, thank you so much for reading and following along – I read each and every single comment and email I get and am so grateful for every single one of you!

xx, Amy

matching set: urban outfitters (top sold out, bottoms) | shoes: sold out, similar here

photos: ryan chua

By Amy Zhang July 20, 2016 in Style 31 Comments

Sample Sale Tips

I can’t believe I was only recently introduced to the world of sample sales. I tend to be OCD about shopping and rarely ever shop without a plan. Or go into a store without knowing exactly what I want to buy. I used to write off sample sales because I was convinced they were all as crazy as that sample sale scene in Broad City (anyone know what I’m talking about)? But, I started giving sample sales a chance this past year and am now obsessed. Case in point, I was able to snag this amazing Reformation dress for over 75% off (!!!) – and because I loved it so much, I just had to get it in two colors.

Although I’m still a bit of a sample sale newbie, these are the best sample sale tips I’ve picked up over the past year. I will say NYC is by far the best city in the states for sample sales (LA has more and more each year as well!), but I am sure local designers/boutiques in other cities will also have them from time to time.

How to find out about sample sales:

This is one of the most important sample sale tips. If you follow brands you love on social media, they will usually promote sample sales there. I like Instagram best for this. I also like to follow Racked LA as they post a comprehensive list of all the best sales in LA that are happening each week. Some LA based brands that have had sample sales in the past year include For Love and Lemons, Stone Cold Fox, Flynn Skye, Show Me Your Mumu, Minimale Animale, Nasty Gal, and more…

What to wear to sample sales:

In my experience, it’s typically a bit of a free for all when it comes to trying on clothes. There isn’t usually a formal dressing room, maybe a section that is partitioned off from the merchandise – needless to say, you will most likely be trying on clothes in front of a lot of other people (no boys allowed). Wear comfortable, loose fitting clothes that you can easily change in and out of. I also recommend nude underwear so you can better gauge how items will look on.

Come prepared.

This is one of my sample sale tips you should not take lightly! Depending on the popularity of the sale, there may be a long line. Bring a friend, snacks and a bottle of water, an extra phone battery, whatever. Patience is key. If you’re really into a brand, go early.

Be prepared to DIG.

This is a sample sale, not Saks. At best clothes will be hung up on racks and organized at the very beginning of the day, but after hordes of girls have combed through, there won’t be any method to the madness at all. Better yet, clothes might just be thrown into giant bins and you’ll be diving in with a bunch of other girls looking for your size. It’s like shopping at Forever 21 x100.

Some of the clothes might be last season’s designs but sometimes you can come across items from this season if they have a minor defect or were originally a sample. Always be sure to check for minor defects (they should be disclosed, but sometimes they aren’t) – keep an eye out for things such as minor stains, small tears, or a broken zipper. Definitely try to negotiate on the price of these items if your heart is still set on them.

Be open minded.

Try not to go into sample sales with too many expectations. You might still be haunted by the dress you fell in love with last season that got away, but it may or may not be there. Instead, keep an open mind to the opportunity in front of you. You can truly find astounding deals at these things. However some days there might be nothing that catches your eye, which brings me to my last point…

Don’t be afraid to walk away.

Just because something is on sale, doesn’t mean you’ll wear it. A sale isn’t enough to motivate me to purchase. If it isn’t something I love and would have bought at full price, I won’t buy it. I’ve learned through experience that those pieces usually just end up in the back of your closet and you end up spending way more than if you had just invested in one quality piece you will end up wearing over and over.

So there you have it. What I’ve learned by going to sample sales. Sometimes it’s a gold mine, sometimes you go home empty handed. Either way, it’s worth checking out for yourself. What are your thoughts on sample sales? Do you have any sample sale tips? Love ’em or hate ’em?

xx, Amy