Taking My Oliver Charles Sweater Halfway Around The World

My travel essential: odor-resistant and versatile, a single sweater transitions effortlessly from flights to city strolls.

Versatile, Durable, And Timeless: Oliver Charles Is Slow Fashion At Its Finest

Introducing the 3rd blog in my 3-part blog series exploring how Oliver Charles sweaters perfectly represent the different elements of slow fashion.

This blog details my experience in taking my Oliver Charles sweater on a two-week vacation halfway around the world to the vibrant and bustling streets of Seoul, South Korea.

• 7 Day Sweater Challenge
• Fewer Hauls, More Forever Fashion
• My Sweater Is A Travel Go-To

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Packing for a two-week trip to South Korea meant making some tough choices, especially with clothing. On one hand, I wanted to pack as minimal a capsule wardrobe as possible, because checking luggage puts me into anxious overdrive, and I wanted to leave ample room in my checked suitcase to bring home souvenirs and such.

Plus, with an ambitious itinerary of bustling markets, serene palaces, and café-hopping in stylish neighborhoods, I needed something versatile, comfortable, and sustainably made. Not to mention that the shoulder season in South Korea was forecasted to have chilly mornings and evenings.

Enter my All-Season Boat Neck, a wardrobe staple that promised to keep up with the unpredictable autumn weather, multiple outfit changes, and my commitment to traveling light.

Would this one sweater be enough to handle everything from crisp mornings at Gyeongbokgung Palace to late-night adventures in Hongdae?

Could it hold its own against Seoul’s effortlessly chic fashion scene? And, most importantly, would it live up to the hype of being the ultimate travel-friendly sweater?

Over the next two weeks, I tested it in every possible scenario, and here’s how it fared.

Making My 36-Hour Travel Day Just A Little More Comfortable

Getting to Seoul was no small feat. Three flights, a grueling 11+ hour-long-haul leg, and a total of 36 hours in transit had me questioning all of my life choices by the time I finally touched down.

As someone completely incapable of sleeping on planes, the experience was just as miserable as you’d expect; stiff seats, dry cabin air, and that fun delirium that sets in somewhere over the Pacific.

At least I was comfortable in the only way I could be. My travel outfit, centered around my Oliver Charles sweater, was soft, breathable, and cozy enough to take the edge off an otherwise brutal journey.

It kept me warm in the aggressively over-air-conditioned airports, yet never felt stifling during the mad dashes between connections.

While no sweater could have made economy class feel luxurious, this one at least made it slightly more bearable. And after nearly two days of travel, stepping off the plane in Seoul, stiff but not stinky, I was more than ready to put it to the test in the city itself.

First Impressions: A City Of Contrasts

Stepping out into the streets of Seoul for the first time, I was immediately struck by its staggering blend of modern and ancient. Towering glass skyscrapers loomed over perfectly preserved Buddhist temples, and centuries-old dynastic palaces sat nestled between bustling streets filled with neon lights, K-pop billboards, and a nonstop current of stylishly dressed locals.

It was a city that seemed to exist in two timelines at once, deeply rooted in history yet racing toward the future at full speed.

From the very first day, I knew Seoul was a trip in every sense of the word. The sheer energy of the city was exhilarating, and I couldn’t wait to dive in. But I also knew that meant long days, unpredictable weather, and a lot of walking, which made me more curious to see how my Oliver Charles sweater would hold up.

My first day was a blur of new sights, sounds, flavors, and smells. I started with a visit to Gyeongbokgung Palace, where the vibrant red and green rooftops of the Joseon-era palace stood in stark contrast against the sleek silhouettes of modern buildings in the background.

Despite the cool morning air, my sweater kept me warm without feeling stuffy as I wandered through the sprawling palace grounds, watching visitors in traditional hanbok pose for photos.

By afternoon, the city had warmed up, and I found myself weaving through the crowds of Myeongdong, a shopping district so packed with street food vendors and flashing signs that it felt like stepping into a cyberpunk fever dream.

The sweater's breathability meant I didn’t overheat as I sampled the spiciest tteokbokki I have ever had and explored the maze of K-pop and skincare shops, already tempted to add a few extra layers to my suitcase (good thing my new go-to sweater helped me pack light!).

As night fell, the city transformed yet again. Seoul doesn’t sleep, it glows. I found myself strolling through Hongdae, where my hotel was located, watching nightly street buskers and K-pop trainee hopefuls.

Despite the evening chill, I was still comfortable in my sweater, proving early on that it could handle the city's constant shifts in temperature and atmosphere.

Blending In With South Korea’s Layered Aesthetic

Seoul’s fashion scene is renowned for its sleek, stylish, and functional layers. South Koreans have perfected the art of layering sweaters, coats, and collared shirts to create effortlessly polished looks, and as someone who doesn’t particularly consider themselves a fashion-forward person, I admit I was a little nervous that I would stick out as a slovenly American among Seoul’s polished crowds.

Fortunately, my Oliver Charles sweater allowed me to fit right in. I quickly found that adding a collared shirt underneath, or even layering it over a thin turtleneck, not only kept me warm but also made my outfits look intentional and put-together.

Unlike some wool sweaters that feel restrictive when layered, this one remained comfortable and non-constricting, even when I experimented with wearing a bulkier base-layer underneath for extra warmth on the day when I unexpectedly woke to find the streets dusted in a thin layer of snow.

Seoul’s Unexpected Chill

I was not prepared for the weather in Seoul in March. Before my trip, I looked at the weather forecast for my initial days there and saw that temperatures were predicted to hover around 50-60 degrees Fahrenheit, with nighttime lows dropping into the 40s.

Okay, I thought, I’m coming from Wyoming, where it’s been in the 20s and 30s consistently. South Korea will feel balmy. So while I packed sweaters and some light denim jackets I could layer on chilly mornings and nights, I didn’t pack an actual coat.

I thought I wouldn’t need it! Unfortunately for me and my perpetually cold extremities, I hadn’t considered the fact that 50 and sunny in wild, wide-open Wyoming, where I can be outside soaking up some rays in a t-shirt, does not feel the same as 50 and shady in a stacked city.

The moment I stepped out of the Sinchon subway station into the city, I realized that my expectation of “light sweater weather” was off. The towering high-rises of Seoul block a lot of direct sunlight, making the air feel significantly colder than the forecast suggested.

Instead of the mild crispness I expected in the mornings and evenings, I found myself shivering in a chill that lingered throughout the day.

Thankfully, my Undyed All-Season Boat Neck sweater proved to be an ideal travel companion, especially because of how well it layers and allowed me to effortlessly add a little warmth to my daily exploration getup without feeling bulky or looking like I had just stepped off a plane where I couldn’t fit half my clothing in my suitcase.

The Windy Beaches Of Busan

Halfway through my Seoul adventure, I decided to shake things up with a quick two-day getaway to Busan.

Hopping on a bullet train, I zipped across the entire country in just four hours, watching the landscape blur past as I made my way from cityscape to coastline.

With only a small backpack in tow, I had to be strategic about what I packed. I packed my All-Season Boat Neck Sweater without hesitation. It’s slim, packs down to almost nothing, and layers like a dream, making it the perfect travel companion for the unpredictable coastal weather.

Busan greeted me with its signature mix of urban energy and laid-back beach town charm. My first stop? The vibrant, maze-like Gamcheon Cultural Village. Known for its colorful hillside homes and quirky street art, it’s as much an optical feast as it is a workout... seriously, those streets are steep.

I fully expected to break into an overheated sweat climbing my way through the labyrinth of alleyways, but to my relief, my sweater handled the temperature shift like a champ.

The more temperate weather of Busan meant I didn’t need heavy layers, but the sweater kept me comfortable without trapping heat as I wandered through this pastel-painted wonderland.

The next day was all about Busan’s stunning coastal scenery, starting with Haedong Yonggungsa Temple. Perched on jagged rocks overlooking a brilliant stretch of turquoise water, it’s easily one of the most breathtaking temple locations I’ve ever seen.

The salty breeze rolled in strong, setting the waves crashing against the shore and serving as my first reminder that Busan’s seaside winds don’t play around.

By the time I boarded the Beach Train for a scenic ride down the coast, those winds had upgraded to aggressive. Even though the ambient temperature was warmer than in Seoul, the chill coming off the water had me grateful I’d layered up.

I threw a heavier coat over my All-Season Boat Neck, sealing in warmth as I stopped at various skywalks along the route.

The views were unreal, crystal-clear waters, sprawling beaches, and dramatic cliffs, but I was especially thankful for my cozy layers because I’d started coming down with a bit of a cold the day before.

Nothing was going to keep me from making the most of my time in Busan, though, and my sweater proved its worth yet again, keeping me warm without weighing me down.

For such a short trip with minimal luggage, the sweater was exactly what I needed, versatile, packable, and reliable no matter what the day threw at me.

Whether I was sweating my way up steep village streets or bracing against the wind along the coast, it adapted seamlessly. And after two packed days of exploring, it rolled right back up into my backpack, ready for the train ride back to Seoul.

The Best Two Weeks With My Modern Sweater

After two weeks in Seoul, I was more convinced than ever that this sweater is a must-have for travel.

Out of everything I packed (admittedly too much, despite my best efforts…as usual), this was by far my most worn single piece, save for perhaps the jeans I packed, since I was much more conservative on pant choices in my packing efforts.

Its layerability, temperature regulation, and stylish simplicity made it one of the most functional and fashionable pieces in my suitcase.

Whether I was pairing it with a sleek coat to blend in with Seoul’s effortlessly chic fashion scene or doubling up with a heavy cardigan to battle Busan’s relentless seaside winds, it adapted perfectly to every scenario.

My sweater was light enough to wear solo on milder days, warm enough to layer when the cold crept in, and slim enough to pack down without taking up valuable space; it proved itself over and over again.

What impressed me most was how seamlessly it fit into such a vastly different environment from my own Wyoming homestead.

Seoul is a city where style is practically a second language, where everyone looks impeccably put together even when just grabbing coffee.

Yet my sweater, simple as it is, never felt out of place among the high-fashion crowds. And at the same time, I know it’ll serve me just as well back home, where durability and warmth matter just as much as aesthetics.

That’s the mark of a truly versatile slow fashion staple. It’s not just for one climate, one season, or one setting. It’s built to go wherever you do, effortlessly adapting along the way.

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