5 Adventure Challenge: Surviving The Heat In A Wool Sweater

Wearing wool is no longer reserved solely for winter.

A Simple Life In Layers

Introducing the 1st blog in my 4-part blog series about the connection between slow fashion and sustainable living. This blog is about my experience wearing the Oliver Charles Summer Short Sleeve on 5 different summer adventures in my hometown of Charleston, South Carolina.

• 5 Adventure Challenge
• Personal Uniforms & Simple Routines
• What’s Wrong With #Repeating?
• Hacking The Color Palette Challenge

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Sweaters? In the summer? Contrary to popular (and dare I say boring) belief that sweaters are only reserved for winter months, Oliver Charles is defying conventional norms by succeeding in crafting innovative sweaters that can be worn year-round as a staple in your capsule wardrobe.

The OC summer line boasts a variety of sweater styles specifically designed for wear during the hotter months of the year.

Made of sustainable material blends including khullu, merino, SeaCell, and organic cotton, these sweaters are lightweight enough to keep you cool in the sunshine while still providing that signature softness OC sweaters are known for.

Follow along as I take my Oliver Charles Summer Short Sleeve Sweater on 5 different summertime adventures in my hometown of Charleston, South Carolina.

With average highs of 90 degrees Fahrenheit and extreme humidity to boot, you can rest assured that this summer sweater was truly put to the test.

Lunch-Time Layers

For my first adventure, I journeyed to the heart of downtown Charleston to get lunch with my dad and sister at one of our favorite trendy spots that has withstood the test of time, Xiao Bao Biscuit.

Since this place is one of our tried and true go-to's, it only made sense that I bring my new go-to sweater along with me.

After lunch, my sister suggested cupcakes at Sugar Bakeshop (another local favorite) so we walked a block over in search of a summertime sweet treat.

This is where the sweater was put to the test. Although the distance wasn’t far, the humidity was high, and the short walk turned into a challenging hike intensified by the jeans and wedge sandals I styled my Short Sleeve with.

But despite these obstacles, the sweater withstood, and it was only at the end of the walk that I felt a bit warm that I remembered what apparel I was wearing. But thoughts of cupcakes made me quickly forget again, as the sweater returned once more to feel comfortable on my skin to the point of invisibility.

Farmers Market Or Fashion Show?

The Farmers Market in downtown Charleston takes place every Saturday morning in the summertime, and I decided it was the perfect place to show off my new sustainably-made sweater. My parents and I arrived around 10 am, so temperatures were a bit cooler thanks to the morning breeze and the gray skies overhead.

Wandering through the market, I felt extremely comfortable as I drooled over juicy peaches, waited in line for homemade ravioli, and snatched up beautiful purple and white marbled eggplants.

After about 30 minutes of roaming around, we were informed that the market was closing early due to forecasted thunderstorms, but by that point, we were lucky enough to have browsed and bought all the wares we wanted.

Looking to avoid the impending rain, we decided to head over to one of our favorite cafés nearby, Huriyali Gardens, for açai bowls and banh mi.

Luckily the Summer Short Sleeve Sweater is versatile enough to transition from one adventure to the next, as well as from outside to indoors, allowing me to look just as stylish eating brunch at a café as I did sauntering through the marketplace.

Margaritas And Merino

My sweater was already up for another adventure only a few hours later when I had plans to grab dinner and drinks with some friends at Bartaco, a trendy chain of restaurants that just opened a new location in Charleston.

Seeming like the perfect occasion to once again don my sweater staple, (though truthfully I never changed out of it - it’s that comfortable!) I once again headed downtown for my third adventure of the challenge.

My friend Meg complimented me as soon as she saw me, confirming that wearing sweaters in summer is much more of a fashion statement than most people realize and a super easy way to elevate your personal style.

Truth be told, I didn’t think too much about my clothing throughout the night. I was extremely comfortable, and after wearing the sweater for a while, I became so used to the luxuriously soft texture that it felt almost like a second skin.

Not too hot and not too cold, my Summer Short Sleeve kept me in the perfect ‘Goldilocks’ zone where I completely forgot I was wearing a sweater during the summertime at all.

Happiness In Home-Cooked Meals And The Perfect Sweater

Approaching the end of the weekend, I was feeling a bit worn out from all of the adventures I’d set out on over the past few days. Although extremely fun and full of good food and company, it was now a lazy Sunday and I wasn’t feeling very motivated to take myself or my sweater out on the town.

So I decided to create my adventure from the comfort of my home and undertake a culinary excursion to make pizzas on the grill with my family. The sweater held up extremely well during the pizza-making process.

Despite working with messy ingredients like tomato sauce and flour, my Short Sleeve showed absolutely no signs of stains or other imperfections. Or perhaps the rich charcoal color simply conceals any?

I found myself at the beginning of the challenge thinking often about the quality of the sweater and reminding myself to be more careful while wearing it. But the khullu and merino wool blend has proven to be remarkably durable and has so far remained impervious to all peril caused by my clumsy self, even when getting my hands dirty.

Beach Walks In Wool Sweater

It was finally time to take my sweater on its final adventure - of the challenge, of course! And this one truly was the ultimate test. At around 8:30 am, with iced coffees in hand, my mom and I set out to take our dog for a walk on the beach.

Do not be fooled by the early hour. The humidity was high, and the sun was beating down upon our backs as we made our way over to the beach. While the beach walk itself was quiet and peaceful, it was more toward the end where I began to really feel the heat. But still, I never felt overwhelmingly warm, and I don’t think I would have felt any cooler had I been wearing a different top or material.

It was only when the walk had ended and I entered the cool, air-conditioned interior of my house that I was able to pause for a moment and take notice of the sweat dripping down my back (I know it’s gross, I’m sorry!).

But the thing was, I had no idea up until this point that I had been perspiring profusely because the sweater had been keeping me remarkably cool and wicking away a lot of the moisture. I’m not sure what kind of sorcery was at work there, but it was pretty amazing to witness.

I also checked the sweater later and there was still no odor despite the morning’s sweaty excursion. A quick sniff test revealed that the sweater still smelled rather good for an item of clothing I’d worn several days in a row, indoors and out in Charleston’s summertime humidity.

This final, ultimate challenge only proved that the Summer Short Sleeve is truly impeccable for all activity, including exercise and movement outside in the summer heat.

The Perfect Piece For Year-Round Wear

If people think that wearing sweaters during the summer months is crazy, then doing so while sporting the same Oliver Charles Short Sleeve for 5 consecutive days must seem like another level of insanity.

However, completing the 5 Adventure Challenge showed me that not only is such an endeavor possible, but ideal, with the potential to change the way you live and dress yourself for the better.

Throughout each of my five adventures, I felt comfortable, at ease, and never too hot. The softness of the khullu and merino wool blend proved to be breathable, as it felt pleasantly snug on the skin without being stuffy or suffocating.

During the challenge, I found myself wearing my sweater for far longer than I anticipated when I first slipped it on. After completing my adventures, I would still lounge around in my Short Sleeve simply because it is so soft, and it never felt dirty or smelled unpleasant despite wearing it for multiple days in a row. It proved to be durable and ideal for all activities, including those indoors and outdoors, active and passive.

Through this challenge, I learned that sweaters are not only useful for keeping you warm in the winter but can also be worn to keep you effectively cool during the summertime. And believe me when I say this theory is tried and true, as summer in Charleston is not for the faint of heart.

Still, my OC Summer Short Sleeve never failed to keep me perfectly comfortable and content for every adventure it accompanied me on, and I have full confidence that it will do the same for you.

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