“I like everything to be clean, and gray is clean. Gray is between black and white, so it’s a noncolor, almost. I feel messy and unclean if I wear other colors.” – Rebecca Turbow, fashion designer.

When I first read about Rebecca Turbow’s safe clothing line in 2006,  I was utterly fascinated to learn that the designer only wore one color, which at the time was turquoise.

Turbow wore  turquoise for 8  years  before switching to gray in 2008. The idea of wearing only one color resonated with me,  I thought that level of control must feel safe, almost like a boundary, comfortable and easy… though maybe a bit boring.

It also sounds a bit like synesthesia: a condition where sensations are mixed, numbers may be colored  or  perhaps words with taste. I think  I’ve  always been somewhat of a synesthete, considering my dislike for the name Josh and it’s soggy sandwich consistency and the game  my sister and I  played as kids,  where we’d ask each other what color numbers and letters were to see if our views matched.

Then in Fall of 2008 I realized I had been wearing black solely. And it felt good and safe. When I wear black I feel untouchable, like I’m okay and protected.  As I heaved a large black pile of clothing onto the  check-out counter at American Apparel,  the  girl ringing me up asked “So…do you have to wear all black to work? Or do you just wear it?” “No, I just really like wearing it” I responded, “Me too” she said smiling,  looking down at her black leggings and black dress.

Going with this helped me feel in control of my life during an emotionally tumultuous time.

And I realized, too, this wasn’t the first time. A few years ago I obsessed over wearing all-white, I felt as if wearing white could change things inside, could erase the past,  make me new, make me grow. Wearing white felt very freeing, I also dyed my short hair white-blonde.

Years before that I remember thinking that if only I could always wear green, green with my long black hair then I could reach what I was looking for. I’m still wearing a lot of black but I think  I am ready to add some other colors to the mix.

More weird color people:  be sure to click through them alll my fave is the pink and white guy

Bonus vids, Rebecca’s super cute videos of her clothing line

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdQLbcG5d_o

Spring 09 collection

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgIRol4rfH0

Spring 08 Collection (fave)