7 Day Challenge: A Sweater For Work And Play

Testing the versatility of my sweater as a digital nomad.

Exploring The Therapeutic Benefits Of A Minimalist Wardrobe

Introducing a 3 part blog series about minimalism and mental health by a therapist and digital nomad. Join me as I explore our attachment to our belongings and how focusing on sustainable fashion can create deeper meaning in our lives.

This blog is about how I tested the versatility of my Oliver Charles for 7 consecutive days. Will it stand the day-to-day activities of a digital nomad? Let's find out!

• 7 Day Sweater Challenge
• Therapeutic Benefits Of Minimalism
• Sustainability Is Self-Care

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My Oliver Charles sweater arrived just in time for the weekend. It came in a lovely canvas tote bag with my new Undyed All-Season Crew Neck carefully folded inside. I try to pick more neutral tones for my clothing nowadays for versatility and decided the Undyed fabric would allow me to wear my sweater for any occasion. The color is neutral without being dull and has a lovely earthy shade, perfect for the mountains.

My partner and I are spending the Fall in Breckenridge, Colorado, a beautiful mountain town known for its skiing, hiking, and mountain biking. The town sits at 9,600 ft elevation, meaning temperatures are mild, even when the sun is out. Still, mountain weather can be unpredictable, the sun heats up quickly, only to drop dramatically by the evening hours.

Wind and afternoon storms make preparation important, and a perfect environment to test out the versatility of my Oliver Charles sweater.

Space Is Key

After a year on the road, packing has become streamlined, but any new purchase must be thoughtfully considered for its worth vs. its potential to upend our system. Therefore, the lightweight material and easy packability immediately brought me excitement.

I started my 7 Day Challenge by pulling my sweater over a thin base layer and heading out for a happy hour at Breckenridge Distillery to start off our holiday weekend. The temperatures are cool, so I am comfortable pairing my new sweater with jeans.

I feel comfortable and stylish while sitting on the patio, sipping an old fashioned. The sun comes out as we finish our drinks and I am surprised I am not too warm. I enjoyed that my new sweater kept me warm without taking up a ton of space, which was a major win for life on the road.

Stands Up To The Elements

Taking advantage of the day off, we left early to drive to the town of Buena Vista for a hike. The drive was long, and I wore my sweater the entire way with simple black leggings. I felt cozy as we pop out of the car for a coffee and a few scenic overlooks.

I packed my sweater in my bag for the hike, but as we arrived at the lake near the end of our trail, the wind picked up and I reached for my sweater to add a layer. The yak wool kept me warm, offering protection from the high-elevation winds.

The holiday weekend came with several events around the area, including a concert in a park at the nearby town of Silverthorne.

I am always cold, and I somehow forgot to bring a jacket. I was initially worried that I would freeze as the sun began to set, but I was impressed that my sweater kept me completely comfortable for the evening.

No Extra Loads

Today we headed out for a short hike in the afternoon. It was a cool day so I decided to wear my sweater for this hike. Even after a short incline, (which, at high elevation, feels like a huge incline), I felt comfortable as my sweater offered ample breathability.

A major issue with a limited wardrobe is the constant need to do laundry. While I try to re-wear items when I can, my lifestyle often results in frequent loads of laundry. One of my favorite aspects of the yak wool sweater is its versatility.

The materials helped airflow and limited sweat, therefore limiting smell. I did A LOT during my 7-Day Challenge, and my sweater did not take on a smell throughout the entire week (and beyond).

Yak Wool Provides Ultimate Comfort

After a long weekend of adventures, it was time to test out my sweater in a new, less exciting, environment. Working from home may sound like the ultimate comfort, but as a therapist, I spend long hours sitting in front of a screen attuning to others.

It is important to create a safe space for my clients, which means that my comfort is a major priority to ensure that I am not distracted by needing to make constant adjustments.

As a natural fidgeter, this can pose an issue, and I was curious about how the yak wool would perform.

This sweater does not itch and is made with 3D-knitting, making it seamless and helping it to stay in place without riding up or clinging uncomfortably.

On days that I finish early with clients, I often take my work to a coffee shop to switch things up. Today I worked from a small coffee shop in town, pairing my sweater with jeans and a simple necklace.

At the end of my 7 Day Challenge, I can confidently say that my expectations for the everyday sweater were far exceeded.

While I was excited to try out yak wool, I was skeptical that it would be able to keep up with my active lifestyle and certain I would run into issues with needing to wash it too frequently.

I had no reason to worry! This sweater stood up to everything I threw at it and brought in multiple compliments throughout the week.

I was also shocked at the comfort of the material, being able to wear this sweater for 7 days without any itching or skin irritation is unheard of for my skin.

My 7 Day Challenge is done, but I'll keep wearing my sweater. Maybe I'll shoot for 30 days!

If you believe that every good wardrobe starts with owning less and owning better, consider buying yourself an OLIVER CHARLES sweater.