017: La Belle Vie
My Love of Linen đ¤+ A Note to Self: Must Always Travel âď¸+ Heavenly Harrods⨠+ The Art of Abundanceđźď¸
Cover credits: Jenna/Crawford Models; photo and collage, Amy Lu .
Happy August!
I hope youâre enjoying your summer holidays (or at least your summer weekends) and finding some time to relax and reset. Soak it all up while you canâSeptember is just around the corner and then itâs back to business.
I just returned from a dreamy European vacation with my family. It was long overdue and filled to the brim with everything I hoped for: oodles of art and culture, incredible food, amazing shopping, museums, theatre, beach days, and long, meandering walks through Paris, Rome, and London. My favorite thing to do when I travel is simply wander for hours, then settle into a cafĂŠ to people-watch and soak it all in. To me, fashion is one of the most authentic expressions of a placeâeach cityâs style tells a story about its culture, creativity, and way of life. Travel takes me out of my bubble and fills me up in a way that nothing else does. These days, that feeling feels more important than ever.
Of course, I had fashion on my mind the entire timeânot only what I wanted to wear (my suitcase was packed about a month before we left!), but also what the locals were wearing, what the tourists were wearing (you can always spot them đđť), and what was filling the shop windows. I love to shopânot always to buy, but to browse, try things on, and take it all in.
For this monthâs post, Iâm embracing La Belle Vie, sharing some of my favorite images from the trip alongside a handful of looks I loved wearing. My creative photoshoot was inspired by La Belle Ăpoqueâa small nod to all of the extraordinary art and beauty I experienced while away. Lately, so much of fashion on social media feelsâŚwell, like social media. Polished, predictable, and fleeting. I find myself craving imagery with a little more romance and artistry.
For Luâs List, Iâm highlighting several beautiful linen pieces, including a few with thoughtful embroidered details. I completely fell in love with linen in Italy. It was so unbelievably hot that wearing anything else felt impossible, and I was reminded that sometimes the most beautiful clothes are also the most practical. Feeling uncomfortable never looks cute.
This monthâs edition is photo-heavy and word-light. I hope you enjoy the images as much as I enjoyed creating them.
Love & Style,
amyluxox
P.S. âWherever you go becomes a part of you somehow.â â Anita Desai â¨
La Belle Ăpoque
Cover credits: Jenna/Crawford Models; photo and collage, Amy Lu.
A love letter to another era. Delicate lace, airy linen, one-of-a-kind vintage finds, historical silhouettes, and fresh flowers woven throughoutâan ode to romance, artistry, and timeless style.
Here is a small glimpse of our creative. For the full story and more images, visit my Instagram.
Luâs List: Luxury Linen
Collage, Amy Lu . Product images sourced directly from the respective brands.
Paris
Photos and Collages, Amy Lu.
Paris is, quite simply, the most beautiful city in the world. Steeped in history and overflowing with style, it has an effortless elegance that transcends trends and generations. Simplicity always seems to win.
It was incredibly hot while we were there, so I saw plenty of easy shift dresses paired with ballet flats, A-line cotton skirts worn with tank tops and sneakers, and breezy linen dresses with practical sandalsâthe kind you can actually walk miles in. And thatâs the key to experiencing Paris: walking. One day we clocked over 26,000 stepsânot a flex, just the reality of exploring a truly walkable city.
I packed (and unpacked) several shoe options before finally accepting that comfort had to take priority. I still struggle with sneakers unless theyâre paired with denim or workout clothes, but Iâm so glad I embraced them. My black New Balance sneakers and beige Anine Bing pair carried me through about 90% of the trip.
The men were equally understated in button-up shirts, khaki trousers, and loafersâpolished without trying too hard. Thatâs what makes Parisian style so good. People make an effort, but itâs never loud or flashy. Everything feels considered, tasteful, and quietly confident. The clothes never seem to wear the person; the person wears the clothes.
Italy
Photos and Collages, Amy Lu.
I literally want to go back now. Like, today.
We started our Italian adventure in Naples, then spent a few days wandering around Sorrento before making our way down the Amalfi Coast (with a dreamy day on Capri in betweenâI included images of Capriâs shopping district because they have ALL the shops), and finally ending our Italian journey in Rome. It was every bit as magical and divine as one could imagine. The food is next-level delicious, and everywhere you look feels like a postcard come to life.
I will sayâthe heat was intense, and the crowds were exactly as all the travel blogs warned. For our next visit, I would definitely consider late spring or early fall, when the temperatures are a little softer and the experience feels a bit more leisurely.
My biggest takeaway when it comes to Italian style is how polished everyone looks. There is very little that feels accidental; even casual outfits feel thoughtful, refined, and beautifully put together. Itâs refreshing to see people take pride in how they present themselves without it ever feeling overly done.
Even the children are impeccably dressedâpressed shorts, tucked-in shirts, clean sneakers, fresh socks (seriously!). There is an appreciation for looking neat, classic, and pulled together that seems woven into everyday life.
Italian style isnât about chasing fashion; itâs about embracing beauty in the everyday.
London
Photos and Collages, Amy Lu.
I lived in London in my late teens and early twenties and hadnât been back since, so it was such a wonderful treat to experience it again with ChloĂŠ. She absolutely loved it, and it was so much fun to share in her excitement and see the city through her eyes.
We did all the things tourists do, but we also spent time revisiting places from my past. It was a trip, to say the least. So much has changed (the food is better, the coffee is much better), but at the same time, so much remains wonderfully familiar. I found myself appreciating London in a completely different way this time around.
London is effortlessly cool. And for the record, I think it has the best shopping of any major city in the world. Harrodsâaka heaven. Selfridgesâa next-level department store experience. Libertyâwith its impeccable curation and timeless selection.
Then there are the designer boutiques with full collections and runway pieces, the endless high street options, incredible markets with diverse offerings (Camden, Portobello, Brick Lane), and a thriving community of independent, fashion-forward designers. London truly has it all. I think it takes first prize.
Style-wise, I noticed London felt more diverse and casual than both Paris and Rome, but in the best possible way. There is a freedom and individuality to how people dressâa very âanything goesâ attitude that feels creative, confident, and uniquely London.
Beauty
Collage, Amy Lu.
Itâs difficult to describe the sheer amount of art I experienced on this trip. Yes, there were the galleries, museums, castles, and Vatican City, but there was also the art woven into everyday lifeâthe architecture, the ceiling frescoes, the fountains, the historic streets, the details everywhere you looked. All of it felt inspiring.
The abundance of beauty was almost overwhelming. At times, I found myself walking past masterpieces simply because I couldnât possibly take everything in. There was just too much history, too much creativity, too much to absorb.
But I felt like a sponge, soaking up as much as I possibly could. I came home feeling inspired, grateful, and completely full.
Wise Words
In just a few weeks, travel has a way of changing you. The places you wander, the art you discover, the meals you linger over, and the way people express themselves through style all become little pieces of your story. You leave with more than photographsâyou bring home inspiration, memories, and a renewed appreciation for beauty in everyday life.
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