7 Day Challenge: Easy Outfit Repeating In My Khullu Waffle Knit

For moms like me who have a lot going on and need a dependable, always appropriate sweater to wear all the time.

Workleisure: Make It Work For You

Introducing the first blog post in my 3-part blog series about making your workleisure sweater work for you.

Workleisure, or the relaxed mix of outfits you wear for remote work, doesn’t have to feel like you’re dressing for Sweatpants Saturday.

When you intentionally buy and style your workleisure, you’ll feel comfortable inside and outside—and you’ll be ready for last-second Zoom calls. Read on to see how I styled the same sweater 7 days straight (oh, hi, outfit repeater).

• 7 Day Sweater Challenge 
• The Perfect Sweater For Mom Life
• 5 Tips For Your Workleisure Wardrobe

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I recently participated in a 7 Day Challenge. The purpose of this test was to see if my All-Season Waffle Knit could actually be worn 7 days in a row without deteriorating into a ball of yarn or exaggerating my millennial mom clothing odors (think: hot mom walks around the lake, stress sweat from work emails, and golden retriever-enhanced dirt stains).

Before the challenge, I was frustrated with not knowing how to dress for the weather. Texas weather simply doesn’t play by the rules, and it can be very challenging to find a piece that will work from dawn to dusk.

Would my new sweater be able to keep me cool in the heat and warm in the cold? This is one way I planned to test it.

As the sweater wearer, I would be challenged to style the clothing staple 7 different ways.

Always up for a clothing challenge, I was looking forward to the opportunity for creative outfit repeating. I think you’ll be able to see how much fun I had styling the sweater by viewing the day-by-day photos throughout this post.

It’s important to note that the weather did not take it easy on this sweater.

Temps in East Texas can hit almost anywhere on the weather map, and my 7 days of sweatering took place across the most 70-and-sunny week our town has enjoyed since last autumn. It was gorgeous outside, and potentially tank top weather in the afternoons.

And yet, my Oliver Charles sweater held up. I’ll get into more of that later.

Unboxing The All-Season Sweater

Before unboxing my All-Season Waffle Knit, I had very basic expectations. I thought I’d unbox a sweater in either a plastic bag or paper wrap, as well as a few promotional paper products. That said, I was absolutely delighted by the unboxing experience when it brought me the cutest, minimally-designed tote.

Functionally, it’s the kind of tote you want to take on a road trip. It can be worn as a crossbody and holds much more than the average book tote. I’d say it’s the ideal size for holding a book, notebook, snack, and sweater. Because I was so happy with the tote, I emptied the bag I had planned to take in the car with me that morning and re-bagged it in my new (free with purchase) Oliver Charles tote.

As for the sweater, my new Navy Blue All-Season Waffle Knit was inside a recycled, reusable, recyclable mailer. As a former boutique owner, I noticed how green a company’s shipping supplies are. I was grateful (and unsurprised) to see that Oliver Charles takes a responsible approach to shipping.

Unboxing score: 5 out of 5

Then came the styling...

Day 1: All-Season Sweater And Classic Levi’s

On the first day, I tossed on Levi’s jeans and my running shoes for my outfit. I planned to take a brisk morning walk around the lake with two friends. This meant I’d also be outfitted in my favorite fanny pack (pepper spray inside) for that coveted hiker-in-jeans look.

Okay, maybe traditionally, that hasn’t been the look everyone is vying for, but I think it speaks for itself in the photo above. Based on the 70-degree temps outside, I expected to get too hot during my walk and was pleasantly surprised that I was comfortable for the entire outdoor experience. I have to thank yak wool's breathability for this.

Day 2: Self-Actualization As A Baseball Fan

My outfit on day 2 was my favorite of the 7 Day Challenge. I wore a tennis dress underneath my sweater. Then, I tossed on my cross-body purse, a baseball hat, athletic socks, and a pair of colorful shoes.

At this point, I had raised my expectations for my All-Season Waffle Knit and didn’t worry about getting hot.

This outfit felt very "me." It included my favorite major league baseball team—the reigning world champions—and a look I knew would catch compliments as I wore it.

Day 3: Another 70-Degree Sweater Day?!

As day 3 commenced, I was ready to push the boundaries of my normal go-to fashion. This day called for shorts—because 70 degrees—and bold hair accessories—why not? I styled my millennial hair with a maximalist approach.

The All-Season Sweater continued to do its job of making me look good and feel comfortable. I borrowed my daughters’ sparkly hair clips, which earned me compliments from my barista (the best kind of compliment), and accessorized with pop-of-color socks. Another 7 Day Challenge win is in the books.

Day 4: Bra-Tucking My Sweater

On day 4, I opted for a thin pair of cotton leggings and professional, stylish glasses. I needed to get a lot of work done on my laptop, and I love looking at the part.

This wasn’t a day I could tuck my sweater into my pants, so I went with a signature bra tuck: I turned the sweater under and tucked the hem underneath the edge of my bra. It worked great. Highly recommend this approach.

Day 5: Football Sweater Day

I’ll be honest. I didn’t leave the house on Sunday. I laid around in my sweater, not-quite-styled athletic shorts, and slides all day. It was very teenage-chic, and while I don’t recommend this look for going out, I was comfortable and cozy for all four quarters (plus overtime). It even handled my half-time dance session like a pro.

On the photos, my husband and I cracked up while trying to get a photo of his childhood football pillow paused in space above my head. It was very Beyonce trying to break Verizon’s internet for us. And by that, I mean a fail. But everyone had a good time.

Day 6: Baggy Dad Jeans And A Cool Mom Sweater

We finally saw a dip in temps on day 6 of my 7 Day Challenge. I couldn’t wait to wear my All-Season Waffle Knit on a warmer weather day. I grabbed a pair of Levi’s baggy jeans I’d rented for the month and tucked in my cool mom sweater. I added a bit of makeup and a laptop tote to lift the baggy look into a more Gen Z-inspired moment.

This was the day I felt the most put-together, and I could imagine what my 2024 fall work would consist of. I recommend this outfit to millennial women who want to push their wardrobe back a generation—at least for a day or two per week.

Day 7: Testing the Sweater With Light Wash Jeans

For my final day of the 7 Day Challenge, I went with a pair of high-waisted, light-wash jeans. These guys have zero stretch. They were day 6’s alter ego. I could barely breathe, but I looked good. It would have been wiser for me to outfit repeat this day, but I wanted to have a full outfit inspiration for you, so I stuck with my too-tight straight-legged denim.

Take my advice and wear what (a) fits and (b) looks good when styling your sweater. The All-Season Sweater does both things on its own, and it deserves a clothing article partner of the same caliber.

Bonus Night Out In My Staple Sweater

I had a rehearsal dinner to attend in the middle of my 7 Day Challenge.

Therefore, my sweater had a rehearsal dinner to attend. I loved tossing my sweater around my shoulders in preparation for the evening.

I felt like the type of person who summers in the Hamptons. I’ll definitely be wearing this sweater over more dresses and skirts in the future!

Key Takeaways From My 7 Day Challenge

Now that you’ve seen all of the photos, I have a confession to make: I didn’t wash my sweater once during the entire 7 Day Challenge.

I sweat in my All-Season Sweater during walks around the lake, dance parties, and stressful moments at work, and you can’t even tell.

I’m very impressed with how my Oliver Charles All-Season Sweater resists odor. I went 7 days without washing it, and you still can’t tell (Granted, I haven’t worn it into a Tex-Mex restaurant yet. Maybe I’ll add that to the challenge list).

Perhaps even more impressive is that the sweater kept its tailored shape the entire time. The neck hole never grew, and the arms never stretched. It’s as fitted now as it was on day 1. That’s a wow factor, for sure.

I enjoyed the challenge of styling my sweater differently during the week. It was fun to stretch my creative fashion sense and step on the toes of the average sweater outfit.

I even found myself wearing out-of-the-ordinary hairstyles, mixing up my normal look. I’ll always take a disruption to my fashion routine, and outfit repeating is an earth-conscious, affordable way to do it. The All-Season Sweater makes outfit repeating easy.

Who Should Wear This Sweater?

I recommend this sweater for moms like me—people who have a lot of different activities going on and need a dependable, always appropriate sweater to wear to all of them.

My Navy Blue Waffle Knit is the staple item that can be worn a million different ways–and it holds its professional shape (and unscented) for all of them. This sweater is there for each aspect of your weekly routine, from work meetings to busy mom walks to rehearsal dinners.

I also recommend it to people who live in unpredictable climates. The All-Season Sweater is convenient to wear when you’re not sure if the sun will break through the clouds or hide behind them all day. I’m talking to you, Texans. As someone who used to live in Denver, I also recommend this sweater for those who spend time in the Rocky Mountains. It would absolutely be my go-to piece in the spring in Colorado.

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