90's Vibes

It's been a long time since I last posted an outfit on the blog, hasn't it? I've really been all over the place lately (which you may know if you've seen my Life Update video over on my YouTube channel *hint hint*). From a huge pipe burst/flooding in my old place, moving house, packing & unpacking, going back to uni, a lack of motivation, and some personal stuff too - it's been overwhelming to say the least.

However, there's good news! Things have settled down and while I've got quite a busy schedule ahead of me, it's more organised than 'all over the place', which means I can set aside time to work on these side projects. Those of you who have been around for a while might have noticed my blog has had a bit of an overhaul - I purchased a new, more sleek & professional looking blog template that I'm absolutely loving, along with a few other updates. I hit 1,000 subscribers over on my YouTube channel back in December as well which was a milestone I'd been hoping to reach for a while! I'm planning to upload 1-2 times a week over there and 1-2 time a fortnight here on the blog - so make sure you're subscribed and following me because there's a lot of content coming your way!

Anyway, on to the outfit!

Outfit Details:

Scrunchie - Supre

Choker - Bardot

Off Shoulder Crop - Melrose Avenue

Mom Jeans - ASOS (farleigh)

Boots - Famous Footwear

Let's be honest, was I really going to make a comeback outfit post that wasn't black and denim? No, no I was not. I love this outfit, it's super cute yet simple and casual which is what I'm all about. I really love that trends from the 90's (and 80's and 70's) are in again which is evident in this outfit. An off the shoulder crop, a tie up choker, scrunchies (!!! my childhood obsession !!!) and a pair of light wash mom jeans from ASOS (seriously, these are the best mom jeans I've found), albeit a slim fitting pair because I just find them much more flattering. Keeping with the 90's vibes I've gone for one of my newer favourite lipsticks, MAC's Whirl, which is the ultimate 90's rosy brown lipstick that despite my initial reservations, actually looks amazing on paler skin.

Let me know what you've been up to lately, and if you're loving the popularity of 90's inspired fashion right now as much as I am!

x Chontelle

Pretty Playsuit | OOTD 13.12.15

My Outfit:

Floral Playsuit - ICE

Strappy Sandals - Kmart

Wow, it's been a while since I posted an outfit of the day on here for you guys! Today's ootd is super simple, a playsuit and some strappy sandals. I love throwing a playsuit on whenever I head into the city or somewhere that I'd like to be a little more dressy for, but don't feel like (or have the time to!) put together a complete outfit. Effortless fashion, I like it!

This playsuit is from one of the cheaper fast fashion stores here in Australia, ICE Design, so I was super impressed to find it there - and it only cost me $30! Unfortunately, I actually purchased this one in Winter of 2014 and it's been out of stock since about then, but this style of playsuit seems to be quite popular as the chain continues to bring out very similar pieces (and a mix of short, strappy and long sleeves) so if you're interested I'd definitely recommend checking your local store - don't be discouraged by the online range, I find that the online pieces differ so widely from the in store selections that you may as well be shopping at two different stores!

And of course, you can never go wrong with the cheap & comfy Kmart sandals. I always pick up a pair over summer as it's pretty much the only time I wear them and I can't justify spending more than $7-$12 on shoes I rarely put on! They actually last pretty well though, this is still last years pair! You'd never know :P

What do you think of this simple ootd? Let me know in the comments below!

xx Chontelle Louise

Khaki & Plaid

My Outfit:

Khaki Jacket - H&M

Oversized Plaid Shirt-Dress - Melrose Ave

Stockings - Big W

Black Boots - Famous Footwear

Yesterday was a pretty great day, albeit a cold one! Mum and I went in to the city for the day for some shopping & lunch (see my previous post on Gekkazan, the best Japanese food I've had in a long time)!

Let me just say, the shopping in Melbourne is amazing. Of course it is, though - after all, Melbourne does hold the title of Shopping Capital of Australia! I picked up some amazing bargains, with all but two of my purchases being dramatically reduced! *happy dance* I grabbed myself a new pair of black suede-feel boots reduced from $60 to $20, and a huge bag full of sale items from H&M for both mum and I, including the fab Khaki Jacket/Coat I'm wearing in these pictures! I'm actually considering doing a Haul post (or maybe even a Youtube video?) so if you'd be interested in that, please let me know! :3

Anyway. So the jacket is from H&M, and it's already one of my favourite pieces. I've wanted a khaki jacket for years now so I'm so so happy that I've finally gotten myself one! It's so comfy and surprisingly very warm considering it's not that thick! Perfect for layering!

My oversized plaid shirt-dress is also a relatively new purchase, from Melrose Ave. I've wanted one of these for a while now (ever since Kylie Jenner bought the shirt-dress look to my attention via good ole' instagram), and this one is just perfect! Super comfy and warm, lovely thick flannel material and (imho) looks great on! And of course, once again I've paired my outfit with my staple imitation doc's, my favourite and comfiest shoes!

You may not be able to tell, but it was super cold and blowing a gale when these photos were taken, to the point that I almost didn't bother! But then I spotted Melbourne's Parliament House and thought how great the photos would look taken on those stairs, and here we are! #priorities right?

What do you think of this look? Love it, or hate it? Let me know! 

xx Chontelle Louise

Air BnB: Live Like a Local

'Air BnB' (aka. Air Bed & Breakfast) is a website that connects travellers with people in places all over the world who are renting out their spare rooms or even their entire homes to guests.

The website has become increasingly popular with travellers looking for accommodation below the usual hotel prices or simply looking for a different type of experience during their holiday. Using Air BnB can provide you with an opportunity to experience your chosen city the way the locals do - as opposed to all the other tourists - giving you a unique travel experience that you won't forget.

The View from our Air BnB room in central Edinburgh, Scotland.

I had originally planned for the trip to take us through London, Paris, Venice, Pisa and Rome. A pretty typical itinerary for a first European holiday, knocking all of the major cities off the bucket list. However, after extensive research and planning for my holiday throughout the UK and Europe, I decided that it would be worthwhile to fit another country in - after all, the flights had already been purchased and we were going to be on the opposite side of the world, so why not make the most of it?

After looking at my options, I finally decided on visiting Edinburgh, Scotland. With only a couple of days and not much money at all to spare, my accommodation options were more than limited. Not to mention, most of the cheaper accommodation had been booked up at this point in time.

Outside of our Air BnB.

So I decided to have a look at Air BnB. I had heard some good things about the website and figured it was worth a try - after all, for such a short stay, it was worth the risk. I browsed through the available rooms and came across a lovely little room on Calton Hill. It was in a heritage listen building (along with pretty much all of the small street), and was warm and cosy with a lovely view. The place was clean and inviting, and our host was welcoming, letting us know about some good local pubs but otherwise keeping to herself. Oh, and it was only $97p.n for the two of us! For the central location, spacious room, use of the kitchen, and booking at short notice, it was a complete bargain!

As you can see, we got a lot more than a hotel/motel would generally provide at $97p.n. However, we honestly didn't spend too much time in our Air BnB place anyway - and why would we, when we were only minutes away from all of the shops and cafes and pubs that Princes St and the surrounding area has to offer!

Just around the corner from our Air BnB and we're in the centre of Edinburgh!

Choosing to try Air BnB in the hopes of saving some spending money and having a different experience for our stay in Edinburgh turned out to be the perfect decision for us, and I'm looking forward to using Air BnB on my next trip abroad. My advice to anyone who is interested in giving Air BnB a go is to make sure you do your research - read the reviews from previous guests (aim for the BnB's with 25+ good to great reviews), and remember that this is not a hotel service but more like staying with a friend or family.

Having said that, I would definitely recommend Air BnB to anyone travelling on a budget or looking for a less tourist-y experience. You can begin your search for the perfect place to stay on your next holiday here.

What to do on a stopover in Helsinki, Finland!

Coming from Australia, the usual flight path to the UK and Europe includes a stopover in Dubai or somewhere in South East Asia. While this may be the long-preferred and definitely the much quicker route taken, it can make travelling to Europe quite an expensive option - especially for those of us travelling on a tight budget.

The solution? Fly with FinnAir!

Some of you are probably thinking, "I've never heard of FinnAir, is it any good?" and I'll be the first to admit that I thought the exact same thing when the airline came up in my search for cheap flights to Europe. FinnAir is a Finnish airline (obviously) that has been gaining popularity with Australian travelers for its cheaper-than-average fares between here and Europe. A ticket from the east coast of Australia through to Europe/UK would usually set you back between $1700-$2100 return, and that's if you get in early. With FinnAir, that same ticket can be a bargain $1350-$1550!

Now, before you rush to your local travel agent to purchase your tickets, there is a downside. As I said earlier, the Australia-Dubai/Asia-Uk/Europe route - while being more expensive - is also the quickest, with an average journey time of 20-26 hours and only one stopover. With FinnAir, you will be required to have two stopovers. The first, in Singapore (or Hong Kong) with Qantas, before changing carriers and flying FinnAir to Helsinki, Finland, and then again to your final destination. This journey can take on average, 30-36 hours, possibly more (as many flights don't cdonnect and leave you with a lengthy stopover).

If this hasn't deterred you, the next step is to plan for your stopover.

Since you're likely to be going a fair bit out of the way on your way to your final destination, you may as well make a day out of it and book your flights to arrive at Helsinki Vaanta airport early in the morning, and depart in the late afternoon/evening. This way, you'll be able to make a day out of your stopover and visit Helsinki city!

So, I've put together a list of things to do/see on your stopover in Helsinki, Finland!

1. Visit Market Square by the water, a lovely place to find some local meals, produce, and pick up some souvenirs! Not to mention the gorgeous waterside view!

2. Try some Finnish food! I loved this traditional Finnish pasty with a rice/custard-like filling, Riisipiirakka!

3. Go for a stroll through Esplanadi, a local park with some beatufiul scenery. It looks like something out of a fairytale, or my secret garden.

4. "Bad Bad Boy", a peeing statue and helsinki's answer to the Manneken Pis in Brussels, Belgium. Strangely enough, it seems to totally fit in here. I've heard that this is not a permanent structure so it may no longer be there, but here's a picture anyway!

                                     

5. Visit some of Helsinki's most well-known churches/cathedrals, such as the Helsinki Cathedral (pictured), Uspenski Orthodox Cathedral, and the Temppeliaukio (aka, the rock church).