1-Week Sweater Challenge: Wearing Wool In The Summer

How I wore my Oliver Charles sweater through the Houston heat.

Building a Lifelong, Sustainable Capsule Wardrobe

Explore building a sustainable capsule wardrobe with the Oliver Charles sweater as a key piece. The benefits of starting a capsule wardrobe are endless, and I'll provide tips on how to get started. In the final part of the series, I'll showcase my 6 favorite easy everyday outfits.

• 1-Week Sweater Challenge
• The Ultimate Capsule Wardrobe
• Curating 6 Everyday Outfits

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I opened the much anticipated Oliver Charles packaging tube, and I couldn't help but be amazed by the sight of my very first Oliver Charles sweater.

It was a stunning charcoal color; truly magnificent!

My mind immediately started racing with ideas of all the everyday outfits I could create with this marvelous piece.

However, a realization began to sink in: the weather in my area was getting hot.

I'm not going to lie, I was nervous about how I'd manage to wear a wool sweater comfortably for an entire week when the forecast was calling for upper 70s into the 80s.

Adding to my concerns, considering my sensitive skin and aversion to wool materials, I had never included any wool sweaters in my current wardrobe. The next 7 days promised to be quite an adventure for me as I completed the 1-Week Sweater Challenge.

Nevertheless, I thrive on challenges and was determined to prove that even in the heat, a sweater could still be worn comfortably.

As I unpacked my new All-Season Crew Neck and examined it, I was surprised by its seamlessness and bouncy, stretchy material. When I put it on for the first time, I was relieved to discover that it didn't feel itchy, and without seams it felt very comfortable against my skin. All-in-all, It fit me perfectly!

While I liked the initial feel, I was still nervous  about embarking on this challenge of wearing my sweater every day for 7 days, especially when it wasn't quite "sweater weather" out.

But I embraced it wholeheartedly, telling myself, “Bring on the challenge and let’s do this!” At the end of the challenge, what I discovered shocked me.

The Best Sweater For a Cold Office Is Made of Wool

On my first day, I was excited to start and put my sweater to the test!

I kicked things off with my go-to outfit, which simply included my sweater paired with some straight-leg light-wash jeans.

When I walked into my office that morning, one of my coworkers noticed the textured garter stitch of my sweater and complimented how great it looked on me.

I happily shared that it was incredibly comfortable and made out of yak wool. She told me a story about how she's owned a yak wool vest for over 20 years and never plans to give it up. I found that pretty funny, and it got me thinking about the role clothes play in our lives.

During the rest of the day, the air conditioning was on full blast, making it chilly. Many people had cardigans or light jackets to keep warm.

I had my Oliver Charles sweater, which kept me plenty comfortable. I also found that the raglan sleeves and seamlessness made the sweater feel like I wasn't wearing it at all, almost like a gentle hug.

After my first day, I was starting to feel really confident. Come rain or shine, hot or cold weather; nothing could stop me from wearing my Oliver Charles sweater!

Yak Wool Sweater Challenge: Defying Weather and Expectations

Mid-way check-in! The Weather Channel doesn't usually predict snow here in Texas, but today they actually forecasted rain during my friend's wedding shower. Talk about irony!

For the occasion, I paired my sweater with olive green jeggings and comfortable pointed-toe flats.

Some folks were wondering why I was rocking a sweater in scorching 80-degree weather. When they inquired, I happily shared that I was taking part in a  sweater challenge to showcase the capabilities of yak wool. It's all about demonstrating what this unique material can do!

Later on, I washed my sweater as part of the challenge. I felt a bit hesitant because I didn't want to accidentally ruin it. Luckily, it's quite easy to machine wash. All you need to do after that is lay it flat to dry, and it doesn't take long at all.

I had initially worried that washing the sweater might cause it to stretch out or become itchy, but thankfully, neither of those things happened. It was such a relief! The color also stayed vibrant, and I absolutely adore the deep hue of this sweater. It's such a joy to wear!

I quickly finished the drying process and was excited to wear my sweater for the last day of the challenge. It got even softer after air drying!

Comfortable and Dry in the Heat With a Wool Sweater

On the final day of the 1-Week Sweater Challenge, I decided to wear my freshly washed sweater with a lovely black pleated skirt and my favorite pair of comfy black pointed-toe flats to work.

Even though it was still quite hot outside with the added humidity, I was determined to make the most of the day ahead.

I knew I had to spend about an hour outdoors around midday, but surprisingly, I felt perfectly fine wearing the sweater in the heat. I didn't feel uncomfortable or break a clammy sweat.

I read that is  one of the big benefits of wool. It's very breathable, but when you sweat in it, it remains dry-feeling. This is one of the many reasons it's a key material in the best outdoor clothes.

1-Week Sweater Challenge Review

I had such a great time taking part in the 1-Week Sweater Challenge! It was a wonderful opportunity for me to test how well this sweater would hold up in Houston's unpredictable weather.

What I loved most about this challenge was how it allowed me to unleash my creativity and outfit repeat. It was surprisingly easy to come up with different things to wear out to work or on errands using just 1 go-to sweater.

Plus, choosing a versatile charcoal color made the process even simpler.

Now that the challenge is over, I consider it an item I'll wear a few times a week, no matter the season.

For those who are interested in sustainable fashion, this sweater is an absolute must-have. It's a versatile and reliable everyday piece that deserves a place in everyone's wardrobe. Trust me, this is the ultimate go-to sweater!

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