The Difference Between a Pretty Color and a Useful Color

I skipped these palettes. They’re very pretty, but won’t work on me

There are colors I find absolutely beautiful but rarely wear.

An eyeshadow palette might have the loveliest arrangement of shades. A lipstick might look irresistible in its packaging. A blouse might catch my attention simply because the color is gorgeous.

But I’ve learned that admiring a color and actually using it are two very different things.

Some shades look wonderful in the pan but don’t translate quite the same way on my skin. I was told coral would look lovely on my skin, but it just turns into a gaudy orange! 🙄 Others look beautiful on someone else but don’t flatter me in quite the same way. And sometimes, a color suits me perfectly but doesn’t work with anything else in my wardrobe.

That’s the difference between a pretty color and a useful one.

A useful color doesn’t necessarily have to be neutral or practical in the conventional sense. It can be bright, unusual, or wonderfully dramatic. It simply has to earn its place in my life.

I still enjoy looking at beautiful colors, even the ones I’ll probably never wear. But when I’m deciding what to bring home, I’ve become more interested in what I’ll actually reach for than what looks lovely sitting on a shelf.

Because something can be beautiful without needing to belong to me.

—-

With elegance and quiet fire,

Lady E

Founder, Glow by Lady E

An editorial space for stories, art, and intentional living

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