Preloading

Why Gray Is the Best Color to Wear

Annie Reneau's palette contains multitudes.
Photo: Anna_Shepulova/istock
"You look like Steve Jobs going to an iPhone launch," my friend Lisa says. "Can't you wear something colorful for once?" That might be tough. My closet is a medley of colorless clothing.

I'm particularly partial to gray. It's often viewed as simple and dull, but it's complex, literally. In painting, you can make gray by blending black and white, but also by mixing all the primary colors together; in that way, it contains every hue and shade. Gray is the sum of everything, which describes me perfectly. I'm an outgoing introvert with plenty of friends who loves being alone. I'm equally at home by the ocean and in the mountains. Each time I take a Myers-Briggs personality test, my results are slightly different. I'm neither liberal nor conservative. I take forever to make decisions because I can usually see all sides. Gray's an expression of my natural balance and even the occasional internal storms that result from the clash of opposing truths. As a composite of all colors, gray symbolizes oneness. It explains my penchant for finding beauty everywhere—even in the most unexpected pigments.

Want more stories like this delivered to your inbox? Sign up for the Oprah.com Style Newsletter!
From the March 2017 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine
You May Also Like
A Cartoonist's Act of Protest Against Body Shamers
4 Things That Inspire Fashion Designer Tory Burch
Why Clothes Are Such a Powerful Part of Our Identity
27 Style Rules for Looking Your Best at Every Holiday Party

View All Newsletters

Related Articles
French Bob vs Italian Bob | Fall 2025 Haircut Trend
Kerry Washington Fall 2024 Hairstyles
Habits of Women with Gorgeous Skin
Oprah's Top Cosmetics of 2023
Oprah's Top Travel Accessories of 2023
Fall 2022 Women's Fashion Trends