7 Day Challenge: 1 Sweater, A Week’s Worth Of Outfits

Proof that re-wearing one piece all week doesn’t have to be boring.

Loved Sweaters Last Longer

Finding a quality sweater seems to be getting harder and harder. But it’s not impossible. Welcome to the first part of my 3-part blog series about finding high-quality, sustainable sweaters and how you can wear them all year long.

Once you learn what your sweaters are made of, how they’re made, and how to properly take care of them, you’ll enjoy wearing them for years. Maybe even decades. This is a major win because loved sweaters last longer. And the longer we can make our clothes last, the better for us and the planet.

• 7 Day Sweater Challenge
• Can 3D-Knitting Save Sweater Quality?
• Wool Is The Ultimate Sweater Material

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Winter is here in New York, so it’s time to opt for warm layers. Unpredictable weather can make it hard to get dressed in the morning.

The key is to have a variety of staples that you can mix and match for whatever your plans are, whatever weather is coming your way, and whatever your mood is.

One of the best of such staples is a good, lightweight, All-Season Sweater. Layered with a blouse or jacket, it’s perfect for those short winter days. 

Luckily, I got to test my Oliver Charles sweater to see how it would hold up to a week full of rain, sun, frost, wind, and everything in between.

A Little Goes A Long Way With Elevated Basics

My first day wearing my Undyed All-Season Crew was one of those dreary, gray days—it was rainy, the sky was gray, and all the buildings and plants seemed to have lost some color. In need of a cheering-up, I decided to make a pit stop at my favorite bookstore and coffee shop.

I decided to pair my sweater with jeans and my trusty leather jacket. Despite the slight wind and the chill from the rain, the yak wool kept me warm and cozy without getting overheated.

I strategically started at the bookstore to bring my new book to the coffee shop and sit and read for a bit while enjoying my latte. Thankfully, the spot I chose had a gorgeous leather couch that I could have sat on for hours.

My outfit was perfect for this slow, casual day. I’m more of a minimalist, so today’s look fits right into my usual formula of elevated basics that feel luxurious.

All-Season Sweater That’s Warm And Breathable

As part of my weekend routine, I’ve started doing photo walks. I bring my film camera and take a couple of hours to stroll, capturing whatever interests me. My Undyed All-Season Crew Neck sweater came along with me on this stroll.

It was one of those exceptionally windy days, probably still leftover from the day before. So, I opted for a slightly warmer jacket, overalls for utility and comfort, and my favorite thrifted Dr. Martens in case of any leftover puddles.

The sun appeared several times during my walk, and I got quite toasty. I took my jacket off at a few points and was still warm enough with my sweater.

Non-Itchy Wool For Sensitive Skin

I work from home most days, and since it was the beginning of the work week, I had lots of emails to get through, pitches to send, and client work on my to-do list.

Despite my best efforts to be one of those people who gets somewhat dressed up even when working from home, my usual uniform is a sweater and loose linen pants. Today I chose my Undyed All-Season Crew Neck and paired it with wide-leg cotton pants.

I have sensitive skin, and it can often be difficult to wear sweaters for a full day. Sweaters can make me itchy, especially if I am not wearing a T-shirt or tank underneath, and I’m constantly tugging at various parts of the sweater all day.

Thankfully, Oliver Charles’ sweaters are made of yak wool, which is softer than normal wool (it feels more like cashmere). They are also 3D-knit, so no seams are left scratching my skin.

I didn’t think about the sweater the whole time I was working and ended up leaving it on even after I was done because it was so comfortable.

A Sweater Is The Perfect Layering Piece

I'll be leaving on a trip in a few days, so today was all about running errands—dropping off cards at the post office, picking up sunscreen from the pharmacy, and doing a little mini-cleaning of my apartment.

It was also one of those days that really felt like spring. The weather was warm, the sun was out, and the birds were chirping. With all the running around, I knew I might get warm with my sweater on, so I threw on a tee underneath, jeans, and some sneakers. My suspicions were right, and halfway through the day, I ended up taking my sweater off and throwing it over my shoulders.

That’s the beauty of layering: you can remove or add pieces whenever you need them, and your outfit will still look complete.

Yes, Sweaters Can Be Dressed Up

Since I mostly work from home, I hop on almost any chance I can get to network and socialize with other writers and creatives. After a day of work, I went to a mixer for people who work in media.

It was another cold and rainy day, so I knew my sweater would be perfect for keeping me warm. But today’s challenge was to make sure that my sweater didn’t smell (I was running around the day before), it didn’t look like I’d been wearing it for the past four days, and that I could dress it up and make it look professional.

Parts one and two were easy. Yak wool is moisture wicking and antimicrobial, which make it odor-resistant. I always store my sweaters by folding them so my Oliver Charles sweater wasn’t stretched out and looked the same as the day it arrived.

Now, part three: dressing it up. I decided a skirt was the way to go for that, with a nice pair of heeled booties and simple gold jewelry.

A Sustainable Sweater Made To Move With You

I thought I would be tired of the sweater by day 7, but I had a cute outfit planned for drinks with a friend, so I was ready. It was going to be another chilly night, so I decided on a long trench coat to wear my sweater with a short skirt (I was tired of pants at this point), tights, and boots. To dress it up again, I brought back out my gold jewelry.

I told my friend I was meeting up with that I had worn the sweater for 7 days in a row, and she was shocked. She couldn’t believe that I had come up with 7 different outfits to wear and that the sweater still looked that good after seven days without washing it.

I did promise her I would wash it, but I also told her that because this sweater was 3D-knit, that helps it keep its shape better.

An Everyday Sweater With Versatility

As someone who loves to get super creative with my wardrobe and tries and get the most out of each item in my closet, I was very excited about the idea of wearing the same sweater for a whole week.

My All-Season Crew Neck is extremely versatile, and I picked it in a color that I knew would go with the majority of my items. That made creating outfits super easy, and on day one, my sweater already felt like it had been part of my closet for years.

I was so impressed with the quality of the sweater and happy that it didn’t bother my skin. At no point did it feel itchy, and it fit perfectly.

This sweater came at just the right time with these transitional temperatures, so I got to test it out in all different types of weather. I can’t wait to wear it for many seasons (and years!) to come.

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