March has arrived, and with it, a new color to explore in my ’12 Colors in 12 Months‘ adventure. This month, I’m immersing myself in gray.
Gray is often misunderstood. Some see it as dull, lifeless, even depressing. But is it really? Or is it a color of wisdom, sophistication, and balance? Just as with other colors since November, I want to challenge my own perceptions and experience gray fully – not just in theory but in everyday life.
My Relationship with Gray
February’s blue month was extremely challenging for me. I struggled with focus, felt constantly tired, and found myself wondering – if blue affects me this way, what will gray do? Will it make me completely passive? Will I end up feeling so drained that I stop the project altogether?
For a while, I even considered changing the order of colors. I had planned this sequence before I even started the project, but suddenly, I felt like I needed a high-energy color, like pink or yellow, to lift me up before diving into gray.
However, in the end, I decided to stick with my original plan. There were practical reasons – my warmest winter jacket is gray, and I need it in these cold temperatures. But more importantly, isn’t this exactly what the project is about? If gray has something to teach me, I want to be open to learning it.
Gray in Everyday Life
Starting this month was easy. Gray has always been a staple for me – my base, my „black,“ in a way. I have every piece of clothing imaginable in gray and didn’t need to buy anything new. But I have never worn only gray for an extended period without combining it with other colors. That’s where the challenge begins.
I expect gray to have a similar influence on me as black, but in a softer, lighter way – not as intense or harsh. I don’t expect it to uplift me, which makes me nervous after an already difficult month with blue. But who knows? Maybe gray will surprise me.
For me, gray is a very neutral color – it works with everything. It allows other colors to shine, making it sophisticated and refined. But sometimes, it can also feel like it lacks personality, coming across as unimpressive or dull.
Rules for Wearing Gray
This month, the rules for wearing gray are strict again. Only gray is allowed – without mixing it with other bottoms, as I did in red and violet month. However, all values of gray are permitted, from the lightest gray to deep anthracite.
There is one exception this month: for the first week of March, I will be on a ski vacation with my family. Since I don’t plan on buying a new ski outfit just for this project, I decided to wear my existing black ski gear. My helmet is gray, so at least part of my outfit will align with the challenge. This applies only to the skiing part of the day – once the afternoon arrives, I will switch to my planned gray outfit.
I am very curious to see how this month unfolds. Will gray feel soothing and grounding, or will it drain my energy? Will it feel freeing or confining?
This journey is about experiencing colors deeply, without assumptions. And so, I step into March with an open mind, ready to see what gray has to bring.
How do you feel about gray? Do you love it, avoid it, or simply not think about it much? Let me know in the comments or on Instagram – I’d love to hear your thoughts!
