The Cardigan Vest For Every Season of Life

One vest, a toddler, a second pregnancy, and no plans to retire it.

How A 7 Day Sweater Challenge Turned Into A Lifelong Obsession

I've spent the last few months putting my yak wool Cardigan Vest through the least glamorous conditions I can offer. A toddler, a second pregnancy, and a body that keeps changing size on me. It's held up better than anything else I own.

Some sweaters are made for a season of weather. This one has been for a season of life.

This is the third and final blog in my series. Follow along as I wear it through the least predictable year I've had.

• Wool Vest For 7 Days
• Mom’s Capsule Wardrobe
• Yak Wool’s Versatility

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While every one of the Oliver Charles sweaters seemed worth my affection, I specifically chose the Cardigan Vest for its versatility. Being in my 7th month of pregnancy, I wanted something that would not only work for every season but every stage of my life, too.

Since this isn't my first rodeo, I mostly knew what to expect while expecting this time around. Bodies change. Pregnancy just makes it happen faster. Adjusting to these changes is difficult both physically and mentally. Even though I am a fairly confident person, it's hard to feel normal, much less flattering, in any clothing I select.

I opted for the neutral, Undyed color and a size large in the Cardigan Vest. In hindsight, the medium would have been sufficient as well, but I wanted something to loosely layer as my belly grew and the weather changed. I also wanted to keep my outfits comfortable and simple as I began curating a capsule wardrobe from the clothes I already own.

When the Cardigan Vest arrived, I couldn't wait to try it on for the 7 Day Sweater Challenge and pair it with my favorite dresses and t-shirts to make maternity feel a little less frumpy.

Maternity Wear Without The Maternity Look

"A cardigan wool vest, how brilliant!" I thought. I had a vision. Something loose-fitting but flattering. Comfortable and casual, but still classy. Durable enough to withstand constant movement and attention from a dog and a toddler.

Basically, I needed a go-to layer that worked like maternity clothing but didn't feel or look like it was designed for maternity. Stylish maternity clothes just don't really exist. They're boring, or made for an athleisure look. When we really want something, we have to do it ourselves sometimes, right?

Heading into my 3rd trimester means trying to be comfortable no matter the occasion. But as a working woman, the main caretaker of the home, and a pregnant mother, comfort also needs to look stylish and ready for action.

My new, purposely oversized Cardigan Vest allows room for my growing belly to breathe while also covering up awkward angles and back bulges. Plus, it looks great with just about any outfit or color option I select!

Now, I call that a versatile yak wool vest that passes for maternity clothing. High-five, me!

A Functional, Sustainable And Timeless Wool Vest

Nine months go by quickly, and maternity clothing is a temporary need. But why pay for something cheap and limited when I can have something well made and timeless that fits my frame both during and after pregnancy?

I am all about function. If I'm going to invest in a product, I want to be sure it covers all the bases. It needs to fit and feel great, obviously. But can it also pair with the majority of clothes I already own? Can it work for both weather changes and body changes?

For this one, the answer is yes. They call it a Summer Cardigan Vest. But to me it's really more of an All-Season Vest.

Then there's the feel. Zero seams, which I didn't think I'd notice and absolutely do, especially with a toddler pulling at my shoulder all day. Thirty days in and it hasn't pilled, stretched, or picked up dog hair the way everything else I own does.

And if it ever does snag for any reason (dog paws or toddler claws), Oliver Charles repairs it for free. That's the part that made me comfortable spending the money.

Maternity Clothing Isn’t Forever

The older and wiser I get, the more I realize I need more from the products I invest in. That old phrase "more bang for your buck" to me means more lasting, durable quality from brands and not necessarily more in quantity. This goes for anything, from food to household cleaning to health and wellness to clothing.

While my mind is fixated on my current stage of life as a pregnant toddler mom needing adaptable maternity clothing, my vest has challenged me to think big picture. I stopped asking whether it would get me through the next few months and started asking what else it would get me through.

I am confident that after pregnancy, I will be able to continue pairing this versatile wool vest with all my capsule wardrobe pieces, no matter the season.

And here's the part I didn't see coming. I'm not the only one wearing this vest anymore.

It's been borrowed for soccer games, weekend errands, and at least one dinner I wasn't invited to. Different body, different life, same vest. Which is probably the best argument I can make for it.

Why This Yak Wool Vest Stays In My Capsule Wardrobe

This baby will arrive. Then there will be another season after that, and another one after that. A different body, a different year, a different set of problems I can't see yet.

I don't know what those look like. What I do know is that I've stopped shopping for the version of me that exists right now. I spent years buying clothes for a specific moment. The trip, the job, the size I was, the season I was in. Then the moment passed and the clothes stayed in the closet, taking up space and reminding me I'd wasted money on something with an expiration date.

This vest doesn't have one. It worked before my belly grew and it will work after. It works for the school run and it works for dinner out. It has survived a toddler, a dog, and 30 days of me not being precious with it. Whatever the next few years look like, it comes with me.

That's what I wanted all along. Not necessarily more clothes. But instead, better quality clothes that are versatile and one less thing to think about in my busy life.

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