It can be described as banana, butter, canary, chrome, daffodil, gorse – you name it – but fashion has surrendered to yellow in its many guises yet again this season, mostly the butter hue, a sunny shade for unsunny times.
In the 1960s and 1970s, yellow enjoyed relentless popularity suggesting youth, renewal, hope and spontaneity. Its relevance today has been attributed to bringing a sense of optimism, offering brightness and warmth in both fashion and interiors in uncomfortable times.
Its high visibility and luminosity make it ideal for social media and on international catwalks; brands like Prada, Erdem, Loewe and Marni reinforced its cool credentials and modernity.
It is of course associated with springtime, and this being Easter weekend, maybe it’s time to think of bringing a bit of buí (Irish for yellow) into dressing for the occasion. Apparently, it was once an Irish tradition for young girls to wear a yellow dress with white shoes and a green ribbon in their hair on Easter Sunday.
Current fashion trends suggest wearing butter yellow as a creamy alternative to beige; like its culinary properties, it mixes well with other ingredients. It looks great with dark denim, stripes, burgundy, ivory, leopard or zebra print, or simply as a dramatic accessory to black; a shot of yellow on gloves, sneakers, on a bag or scarf immediately distracts the eye and energises any dark outfit.
Ireland’s Eye show how a cosy spring knit in gorse goes with grey or even dusty pink, while Penneys have oversized yellow shirts that fire up a polka dot bikini or swimsuit if you’re travelling to warmer climes.
A little yellow tee from Access (a Greek brand sold in Ireland) enlivens pale blue trousers or jeans. Find an inexpensive yellow linen dress, jacket or foxy yellow sandals in TK Maxx.
Vogue Williams cut it at the Brit Awards in early March in a yellow floor-length polka dotted halter gown from Asar, the UK contemporary bridal and evening wear company. Be careful not to over egg it though.
Leaving such dramatic pieces to celebratory nights, a knee-length dark skirt can be successfully styled in a quiet way for daytime with a shirt or blouse in a soft creamy yellow.
The strong visual impact of a full-length yellow linen dress can be offset with brown leather shoes or sandals, while an ankle-length white skirt looks summery with a simple pale yellow cardigan or sweater.
But the easiest way is simply topping a pair of jeans with a yellow sweater or cardigan, elevating the everyday with a shade that channels the springtime spirit.
