Lié Conversations / FEBRUARY 2026
In conversation with Olivia Lopez
Meet Olivia Lopez - Los Angeles-based creative whose voice in design, travel, and culture has captured a growing audience through her founding and author projects, Bon Weekender and Lust for Life. With a keen sense of curation, Olivia turns everyday experiences into inspiring content and conversation. She’s also the co-founder of Seco, a wine bar in LA’s Silver Lake neighborhood that reflects her love for community, design, and hospitality.
Her work spans visual storytelling, podcast hosting (The Art of Travel), writing, and creative direction. With a considered approach, Olivia weaves together design, space, and perspective, encouraging a slower, more intentional way of exploring the world. We’re excited to have her as part of LIÉ Conversations and sat down to talk about her journey, inspirations, and the rituals that shape her everyday.
Can you tell us a little about your journey - how you got started and what led you to where you are today?
I began a fashion blog in high school while interning at magazines and local newspapers. It quickly took off, completely reshaping my path. By my sophomore year of college, I had signed with NEXT Models and began traveling internationally, working with fashion brands and covering cultural events for major publications. I later moved to New York, balancing the fashion calendar while studying Art History at Sotheby’s - I’d spend my days between Paris Fashion Week shows and museum visits as a part of site research.
During that period, my interest in the built environment took hold. I came to see fashion and architecture as parallel forms of storytelling. When the pandemic paused all my work travel, I pivoted and pursued my growing interest in design, enrolling in foundational courses at Chelsea College of Arts. In my first semester a friend asked me to design her cabin in Chamonix. It became my first design project and confirmed this was a direction I wanted to pursue.
Soon after, I took a gap year living in Mexico before returning to Los Angeles. In my new neighborhood complex, I met my business partner from Mexico City. We bonded over the “third spaces” we missed - the warmth and conviviality of places in La Condesa, Lower East Side and the Le Marais. That conversation became Seco.
In short, I’ve spent my life following a non-linear, intuitive thread of curiosity. Whether it’s art, interiors, or a meal, I love creating and capturing visually rich environments that I’m grateful to be able to share with others. I’ve always been comfortable taking risks and following ideas wherever they lead.
How do you define success - personally and professionally?
Success is the ability to live a creative, intentional life - building spaces, experiences, or products that value connection, innovation, and thoughtful design. If the work resonates with others, that’s a privilege.
Your work spans travel, design, and storytelling. How do these disciplines inform each other?
Travel sharpens the eye and informs my design work through exposure to new environments and cultures. Storytelling gives context to that process - articulating the emotion and intention behind a journey or a thoughtfully composed space.
If you could curate a perfect day in Los Angeles, what would it look like?
A morning walk around the reservoir, lunch and light work at my local diner, a stop at a friend’s gallery, pre-shift at Seco, and an early dinner exploring a new restaurant.
Is there a daily ritual that keeps you inspired?
Morning yoga and long walks keep me grounded. I’m also intentional about building in time for creative rest, which sustains inspiration long-term.
What’s your relationship with jewelry and accessories?
Jewelry is deeply personal - from family heirlooms passed down from my grandmother to a growing collection of vintage YSL costume pieces. I value craftsmanship and how accessories can quietly define personal style.
How would you describe your aesthetic in three words?
Contemporary, timeless, minimal.
Where do you find inspiration in the everyday?
Through conversation, exhibitions, books, and the creative energy of Los Angeles. Inspiration often comes from unexpected places.
What drew you to hospitality, and what do you hope people feel when they visit Seco?
Hospitality is fundamentally about experience and connection. At Seco, I hope people feel warmth and ease - it’s a neighborhood bar that’s become part of people’s daily rhythm and a place for genuine connection.
What are you most excited about in 2026?
The launch of Studio OL, a platform dedicated to spaces and storytelling, and expanding my creative advisory work within hospitality and experiential design.
