The $150 project. A personal shopping challenge from Sally to Sam at Chevali

This post is the first in a series on the $150 project. An idea devised by Sally who needs help with a little wardrobe revamp, but on a budget. Read below Sally's post on the brief and the idea. Part 2 tomorrow will be on how I accepted and fulfilled the challenge!

The $150 Project – The Brief by Sally

Due to boredom with the majority of my wardrobe I’ve recently asked Sam at Chevali to help me with some personal shopping. It’s a bit of an experiment so we’re going to post here about the process from start to finish in the hope some of it will sound familiar to you and might even give you some ideas for your own spring wardrobe refresh.

Sally having fun at a wedding - Sam in her Husbands jacket with what appears to be a name tag...

To set the scene - I’m a 29 year old woman (here's me above on the right having lots of fun, with Sam!) on a good salary but with a mortgage, I love lovely things but am on a very restricted budget so shopping for me is generally just buying the basics (tops, work pants, knits, practical but pretty heels, and one ‘good’ jacket a year etc etc).

Recently I’ve decided I’m over those boring wardrobe staples (they are still crucial to own though) and I want to look feminine, chic, classic and fun. I love love love shopping online, I mean what’s more fun than getting a call from reception at 10am on a Tuesday saying there is a package waiting there for you?? But I always look at the size 8 models on these websites and tell myself that dress would make me look frumpy, or it’s too short in real life, or does that neck-line suit me. It’s a mine field, which is why I usually stick to buying loose tops and books online. Boring! Below is me on a typical weekend.

Sally, its the weekend, I'm at a winery.

Then yesterday afternoon, as I was willing the clock to tick over to 5.30 so I could go home an email arrived in my inbox which instantly woke me up.

“ASOS, 50% off all stock! 48 Hours Only!” and before I knew it I’d forwarded the email to ten girlfriends, the clock had ticked past 6pm and I was still sitting at my desk trawling through cheap clothes looking for that one dress which I could wear to work as well as out on a weekend, which was cinched at the waist and wouldn’t grab my thighs and in a colour which was bright enough to be casual and fun, but neutral enough to be worn in a few different ways. Then I realised it – I’m bored with my criteria for shopping! I needed a fresh perspective and an injection of creativity in my wardrobe, which is why I got in touch with Sam at Chevali.com.au

I emailed her with my challenge and she asked for a brief which I put together in twenty minutes and emailed over. I’ve given her $150 from my recent tax return and have asked her to put together a fresh new outfit for me from this ASOS sale. Because I don’t have a lot of money to spend I gave her fairly strict criteria and she has taken on the challenge like a star.

Here is the very brief, brief....

I'm looking for an outfit which I can layer for spring and is a bit of fun to wear.

I'm a 29 year old single professional, and I tend to buy clothes which I can wear out to dinner, to bars with friends, on dates and out for brunch/lunch on weekends. I don't have a lot of 'going out' clothes but I try to mix and match what I already have to dress it up when I need to.

I tend to live in pants and I'd like to wear more dresses and skirts.

I don't wear shorts. Ever.

I'm a fairly standard Australian size 10, I'm a 10C cup size which means I have a small torso and jackets need to be on the smaller side than larger I am definitely a pear shape.

I'm 151cm or 5 foot 2 inches tall.

I have fair hair which is more of a strawberry blond colour and very fair skin, so a lot of beige shades wash me out.

I don't like wearing dresses which come too far above the knee and I prefer them to be cinched in at the waist as I think my waist is one of my strongest features.

I like to wear colour but I don't have a ton of clothes so I need to be able to mix and match a bit.

I'm a standard size 7 or 37 shoe size accept in witchery shoes where I’m a size 38. I'm not afraid of high heels but I don't like shoes which are too strappy. they tend to look a little tacky I think.

I would rather buy a few really lovely pieces than I ton of rubbishy clothes which will fall apart. And I love an accessory...

So I have $150 to spend and would love some fresh, new ideas. I'm tired of buying the same shapes and styles

Sam has already bought my pieces apparently and she’s really happy with the result. I can’t wait to get that call from reception!

Signed, Your very willing guinea pig Sally

Sally The Guinea Pig