7 Day Sweater Challenge: Sustainable Style Worn 7 Ways

How I wore and styled one sweater for a week.

Living with Intentional Style: Where Fashion Meets Mindful Living

Introducing the 1st blog in my 3-part blog series about how I created a sustainable style with my Oliver Charles All-Season Cardigan. Throughout this series, I will discuss the different ways you can embrace an intentional style to create a more sustainable lifestyle.

This blog is about how I challenged myself to wear my Oliver Charles All-Season Cardigan for 7 days straight. Wearing this sweater for an entire week encouraged me to be more creative with my wardrobe.

The key to embracing this challenge for me was to allow the sweater to adapt to my lifestyle - no overthinking how I would wear it or style it. I aimed for simplicity, and the rest was a piece of cake.

• 7 Day Sweater Challenge
• Wear it. Love it. Repeat
• Simplify, Sustain And Style

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My day started just like any other. The sound of my toddlers' little voices echoing in my ears, telling mommy it was time to get up. I got everyone situated and then got started on our busy morning routine. It was “pancake day,” so needless to say, my little ones were excited.

As I prepped their breakfast, I received an email notification on my phone. My Oliver Charles Sweater was “out for delivery” and would be arriving later that day. I was excited, and once I retrieved the package, it felt a little like Christmas morning as a kid.

I had a million thoughts to myself like, “how will it fit?” and “what's it going to feel like?” Of course, I already knew what I was getting, but the whole experience of trying out this eco-friendly sweater would be new for me, and I couldn't wait.

First Look: The Perfect Everyday Sweater

The second I opened the package and saw the Oliver Charles canvas tote bag, I was immediately impressed.

I hadn't even gotten to my cardigan yet because I was so in love with this perfectly sized tote. I am definitely a tote bag girl, and I was already thinking of all the ways I could utilize my cute new bag.

When I saw the color of the cardigan, I just knew it was going to fit in perfectly with my current wardrobe. When it comes to my fashion style, I love a very warm but neutral color palette.

So colors like beige, tan, creams, and taupes are my comfort zone. The undyed shade that I received was going to pair well with many of my clothes.

The texture of the cardigan was so soft. I had never experienced such soft down wool like khullu before, but I knew I couldn't wait to try it on.

I was so glad that I had gone up from my normal size of a medium to a large. It gave me a little more length to work with, which was perfect, and the overall fit was so comfy. I couldn't wait to create a week's worth of outfits from my new essentials.

Motherhood And A Cozy Cardigan

Most days I'm home with my kids, so when it comes to my daily outfits, I try to maximize comfort while still feeling a little put together. I'm typically in constant “mommy mode," so oftentimes I'm chasing after my little ones, cleaning up, or cooking in the kitchen.

On day one, I opted for my favorite pair of grey leggings and a basic white cami to pair with my Oliver Charles cardigan.

It was long enough to still provide extra coverage over my leggings and also loose enough to still move around in. I had a lot of chores to get done around the house that day, so I needed to be able to move around with ease.

Having a seamless sweater that did not restrict my movement made getting around the house a breeze. From picking up toys to tossing a load of clothes in the laundry, my cardigan kept its shape and provided plenty of comfort.

Once I got to a stopping point with all my chores, I decided to step out and run a quick errand with my kids. I found the Oliver Charles tote to be the perfect on-the-go bag, and it was great for packing my toddlers’ must-haves while out and about. Though the weather was still warm in the high 80s, it was overcast most of the day, so I still felt fairly comfortable in my cardigan while out.

The next day, I kept it even more casual. I put on my charcoal joggers, a black tank, and layered my cardigan on top, but this time I wore the cardigan in an off-the-shoulder style. All I did was button up the three middle buttons and simply pull the sleeves off my shoulders slightly. Because of the stretch and looseness of the sleeves, they stayed in place. I was able to stay cool and comfortable while my kiddos were napping.

All-Season Vs. The Summer Heat

Before I started the 7 Day Sweater Challenge, I have to admit, I was a little skeptical about wearing a sweater in the middle of summer in the state of Texas.

On average, the temperatures have been at least 90 degrees Fahrenheit, and some days, triple digits. I was curious about how I would hold up while wearing my All-Season Cardigan.

It was day three of my challenge, and on this day, I had a small trip planned to go and visit my family across town. The sky was clear and the sun was beaming brightly just before noon. I knew it was going to be yet another warm day, so I tried to plan my outfit accordingly.

I decided on a little black cotton dress with spaghetti straps and my white sneakers. As for my cardigan, I decided to try a little front knot and, of course, scrunch up my sleeves. Now, most days during the summer, whether I am indoors or outdoors, I always feel more comfortable with a little cover-up if I'm wearing a sleeveless top. The Oliver Charles tote was also the perfect accessory to pull the look together, and my leopard print sunglasses were a must.

As I traveled from my front door to the car, I was hit immediately with the rays of the sun. I felt a little warm at first, but I wasn't uncomfortable, and the short distance hadn't quite put my cardigan fully to the test yet. Once I arrived at my family's house, we spent about 15 minutes in the front yard to let the kids stretch their legs for a bit. The shady trees and the warm, slow breeze were a nice addition to wearing my cardigan.

The breathability of the yak wool honestly kept me from feeling too warm. Now I had definitely perspired a bit, even while sitting in a shady area, but I never felt overheated the entire time I was outside. By the time I stepped indoors and that lovely air conditioning cooled me down, I checked my sweater to see if there was any hint of odor or moisture.

Surprisingly, there was no odor after three days of wear, and the moisture-wicking properties of this sweater were honestly fascinating. Even after wearing the cardigan tied up for most of the day, it had retained its shape nicely and did not wrinkle. I was very impressed.

Cardigan Chic: Looks For Every Occasion

The following day, I had a doctor's appointment scheduled and just a few errands to run after. Anytime I go to the doctor's office, I aim to be comfortable in case there's a bit of a wait, and on this day, there definitely was.

I wanted to be comfortable and chic that day since I don't get out too often, so I decided on a two-piece sleeveless black set with bronze sandals. I wore my cardigan in a bolero style by simply buttoning only the bottom button of the cardigan and then pulling the sleeves on. So instead of the buttons being in the front, they were against my back to give the illusion of a bolero.

I felt so stylish and surprisingly a tad bit cooler because wearing the cardigan in this style created a bit more openness in the front. To top off my look, I added a tribal printed crossbody bag. This was honestly my favorite look in this cardigan so far.

Cardigan On Repeat

Over the next few days, I found myself getting more and more creative with this versatile cardigan. I layered my cardigan over a white tank and added a little front tuck into my favorite skinny jeans. It was such a minor detail, yet it really pulled the look together.

During my final two days of wearing my cardigan, I actually decided to repeat the exact same outfit and just style it differently for both days. So one day I wore my high-rise flare jeans, with a black t-shirt, tucked in, and my cardigan layered over with a printed belt on top. I had so much fun finding ways to dress up my cardigan whenever I stepped out.

On my final day of the challenge, I once again wore my high-rise flare jeans with the same black t-shirt tucked in. I took my cardigan and wore it upside down. Yes, you heard that right. I slid my arms into the sleeves, and the hem and buttons of the cardigan fell into layered drapes down the front. Styling my cardigan this way instantly transformed it into a trendy cropped cardigan that will dress up any simple look.

Final Thoughts On My Versatile Cardigan

After wearing my All-Season Cardigan for an entire week, I can honestly say that I feel more confident about outfit repeating. It was honestly so much fun creating different outfits with my All-Season Cardigan. Despite the Texas heat never letting up, I still found alternative ways and specific occasions to wear my cardigan without feeling overheated. I never imagined that creating a sustainable style would start with a single item.

I would honestly recommend this Oliver Charles cardigan to anyone who loves versatility in their wardrobe but also values sustainable essentials. As for myself, I love having the perfect cardigan for year-round style. Taking this challenge has taught me just how simple it can be to have a more sustainable lifestyle without giving up style.

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