7 Day Sweater Challenge: The Perfect Capsule Piece

Here for the quality, staying for the comfort.

A Guide To The All-Season Sweater And Sustainable Style

This is the 1st blog in a 3-part series on a simple idea: a sustainable life begins with high-quality knitwear that actually lasts.

It can be hard to find clothing that checks all the boxes:

✔ Doesn’t show too much wear.
✔ Versatile in your closet.
✔ Makes you feel good wearing it.

In this blog, I’ll explore what it's like to wear a sweater for 7 days straight.

• 7 Day Sweater Challenge
• Cozy and Conscious
• Outfit Repeating Benefits

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I patiently waited for my sweater to arrive in the mail. Today, I was kicking off my 7 Day Sweater Challenge. I was eager to feel the fibers and test the fit to see if this could truly be my perfect capsule wardrobe sweater.

I’ve never owned anything made of yak wool, and I was excited to find out what it would feel like in comparison to the sheep’s wool I usually knit with.

How 3D-Knit Construction Creates a Perfectly Fitting Sweater

When I opened the package, I was pleasantly surprised, not only by the look and feel of my sweater but also by the little tote bag it came in.

Finally, I was ready to embark on my 7 Day Sweater Challenge. The first thing I checked for was the fit. I ordered a small, and I was anxious to see how it would look.

Generally, I like to wear my sweaters a little looser, leaving room for layers underneath, especially considering this was a thinner sweater.

I had been questioning ordering a size small, as I was afraid it might be too tight, since I tend to wear between a small and medium, depending on the fit. But I was pleasantly surprised! It has the perfect amount of room to layer, but isn’t too loose to make it unflattering.

Next, I was curious about the 3D-knit construction. There were no seams anywhere on the sweater, and the garter stitch looks super unique and different from anything I’ve had before.

Find All-Day Comfort and Productivity When Working From Home

My main issue with working from home is that I don't wear clothes that boost my confidence and energy, opting for pajamas instead. 

It’s just so easy to grab something oversized and comfortable as I roll out of bed..

I love sweats, but day after day, they don’t give me the productive energy I want.

Additionally, in the warmer months, I struggle to find a good balance between being constantly cold with the air on and overheating with the window open.

This is where my Boat Neck has performed best.

The great thing about this sweater, aside from its temperature-regulating properties, is that it looks good with almost anything.

I simply throw on my Boat Neck Sweater with jeans, slacks, shorts, whatever, and get started for the day. To my surprise, I stay comfortable all day without fiddling with the thermostat or window.

In my All-Season Boat Neck, I’ve found the perfect balance to feel content all day.

The Solution for Staying Warm and Professional in a Cold Office

For my second day of wear, I headed to the office, sweater in hand and ready to conquer the day.

At my desk, I keep an old zip-up sweatshirt I like to throw over my outfit if I get cold. My office, a gigantic Art Deco building downtown, is one of the draftiest buildings I’ve ever set foot in.

With high, industrial ceilings and an open-concept workspace, heat tends to wander, mostly drifting to the ceiling and gathering in the small conference rooms. Needless to say, my desk is a tundra even in the summer.

Today, I was excited to take my All-Season Boat Neck for a spin around the office, hoping it would help keep me warm while also looking professional.

As I had discovered on Day 1 of this challenge, it was easy to throw over my t-shirt when I got cold and still looked nice, unlike my old zip-up sweatshirt. I managed to stay comfortable the entire day, never feeling too hot or too cold. That’s a win in my book.

Why Yak Wool Naturally Resists Odors From All-Day Wear

Day 3 of my sweater challenge was another work from home day, but I decided to stop work a little early and head to the park with my dog and a good book for the afternoon.

I packed my sweater, a blanket, a book, and a nice cold drink into my Oliver Charles tote and headed for the park.

I was eager to see how the sweater would feel as I sat under a tree in the shade, reading a book. Would I get too hot? Would it start to smell if I sweat? Would it make a nice pillow if I took it off and put it under my head for a little nap? Yes, no, and yes!

It was the perfect layer to stay warm in the shade without overheating. The afternoon into the evening can be the ideal time to add another layer, and my sweater was just the addition I needed.

Considering it was Day 3 and I now wore it at home, in the office, and outside, I decided to give it a smell test. Still fresh, still clean, and ready for the rest of the week.

Why a Wrinkle-Resistant Sweater is Essential for Travel

On Day 4 of my 7 Day Challenge, I packed my bags and my dog to head to Michigan. I packed my sweater, anticipating long nights by the bonfire with my friends and early mornings sitting out on the deck with a cup of coffee.

As nightfall came, burgers were thrown on the grill, and a warm evening among the Michigan wilderness began. As any midwesterner knows, with warm, pleasant nights come hordes of bugs eager to feast on any exposed skin.

After being crammed in my carry-on bag and thrown in the car, I was worried the thin knit would be wrinkled. However, it was smooth and ready to wear! I immediately threw on my sweater, hoping to avoid any pesky bug bites.

As the night went on and the fire blazed, I was comfortable in my sweater but feared the smell from the bonfire might necessitate a wash. Miraculously, I escaped any bug bites as the knit is thick enough to keep out mosquitoes, which can notoriously bite through thin clothing. Before I went to bed, I threw my sweater on the back of a chair and hoped in the morning it would not reek of smoke.

Putting Odor Resistance to the Ultimate Test: Bonfire Smoke

On the morning of Day 5, I woke early to the birds chirping and sun streaming through my windows.

I planned to throw on my All-Season Boat Neck Sweater, still draped over a chair from the previous night, but first I had to see if it smelled of smoke.

To my great surprise, and despite everything else I had worn to the fire smelling of smoke, it did not!

There’s that yak wool coming into play. With anti-odor properties, the smoke smell didn’t stick to the fibers, and I was safe to wear it yet another day.

This morning, I decided to take my dog for a walk down the wooded lane connected to the house. Throwing my sweater over my tank top and sliding my feet into flip-flops, I strode down the driveway.

It was already heating up for the day, but I still stayed relatively comfortable, although it was approaching the time of day when, despite this sweater being an all-season sweater, any additional layer would be too many.

At the end of the day, and when temperatures finally started to cool, I returned to my sweater for another bonfire and night of grilling out. With the sun down, it was the perfect cover. Cozy, comfortable, and just right for another night by the fire.

The Ideal Stylish Layer for Chilly Indoor Air Conditioning

Day 6 of this 7 day test, I reached for my sweater again, this time for a cool, game night in the house.

As usual, I was cold in the air conditioning, but my sweater was a versatile, comfortable, and cute layer. After two nights out by the fire, I was a little self-conscious that it might smell. But dedicated to this challenge, it was the only long-sleeved layer I brought, and I was pleased once again that it did not smell.

I even received compliments from my friends on the style and fit of my sweater. Safe to say, my last night in the woods with my sweater was a success!

How This Sweater Maintained Its Shape and Fit After Washing

On the final day of my 7 Day Sweater Challenge, I drove home to the city, sweater crumpled up in my carry-on bag.

After seven days, it had seen a lot of wear, and I planned to wash it when I got home. From the city to the woods, I explored its capabilities.

As described in the care instructions, I washed it in cold water and laid it out to dry.

I was curious to see if washing it would stretch the fibers or cause it to pill.

I wanted it to fit the same as it did when it arrived, which is usually a problem I face with sweaters after the first wash.

After it was completely dry later that night, I threw it over my tank top, and it fit just like it did when it came fresh out of the package! I felt like I still had a brand-new sweater.

The Final Verdict: Why This Sweater is a Capsule Wardrobe Essential

After spending a week in my sweater, I was delighted by its quality, feel, and versatility.

Never would I have thought to wear anything other than a sweatshirt when feeling cold in the office, working from home, or out with friends at a bonfire.

I felt more put-together, more confident, and like my clothing was not only functional, but purposeful.

It looked great with jeans out by the fire, with sweatpants walking my dog, and even with pajama pants when I shamefully wore them all day working from home.

I now recommend this sweater to everyone I know. It is the essential capsule piece of sustainable clothing you must have in your closet.

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