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How To Work The Yellow Trend Into Your SS14 Wardrobe

Say hello to summer in this season’s hottest shade – but be careful how you wear it or you could end up looking like a bumble bee

It’s the shade of the season with celebs including Emma Stone, Jessica Alba and Sam Faiers rocking the on-trend hue.


But yellow is a tricky trend to master and it’s very easy to make a fashion faux pas by getting it wrong.

Emma Stone and Sam Faiers go for mellow yellow [Rex]
Emma Stone and Sam Faiers go for mellow yellow [Rex]

So how can you rock yellow without looking like a bumble bee?!

“Yellow is a tricky one. If you can nail it it’ll look fantastic but get the wrong shade for your skin tone and it’ll be a yellow fashion disaster you’ll want to forget,” said Gemma Cartwright, Popsugar Fashion & Beauty Editor.

She reckons fair skin types should opt for a more muted palette, while darker skin tones can pull off neon yellow shades.

“Fair-skinned blondes have the trickiest job but a pastel works if teamed with a more complimentary colour palette,” she said.

“Brights for medium skintones, and neon looks incredible against very dark skin and hair.”

Leslie Mann and Drew Barrymore's fairer colourings suit pastel yellow [Rex]
Leslie Mann and Drew Barrymore's fairer colourings suit pastel yellow [Rex]

We spoke to Veronique Henderson, Managing Director of Colour Me Beautiful, to find out which shades of yellow suit different colourings.

“Yellow is a sunny, feel-good colour but you need to get just the right shade for you and have a bit of confidence to wear it,” she said.

Which colouring am I?

‘Light’ (light blond hair, pale transparent skin, pale eyes: think Gwyneth Paltrow)
You are best to keep your yellows ‘as pale as possible’, ivory with a hint of yellow or a light primrose will be best.

‘Clear’ (dark hair, and bright eyes: think The Duchess of Cambridge)
A bright yellow or bright orange on a shiny fabric (silk, taffeta) will emphasise your bright eyes.

‘Deep’ (dark hair, dark eyes: think Victoria Beckham)
Wear lemon yellow and tangerine in contrast with black for a great look – or on its own for greater impact.

‘Warm’ (you hair will go from strawberry blonde to auburn: think Tilda Swinton)
You are born to wear yellows, oranges and limes.  Whether you have freckles or not, don’t be shy.  Embrace those colours and make them your own.

Ariana Grande and Frankie Sandford opt for bright tangerine hues [Rex]
Ariana Grande and Frankie Sandford opt for bright tangerine hues [Rex]

‘Cool’

(à la Dames Judy Dench and Helen Mirren)
Stay clear of wearing yellow and oranges head-to-toe.  You are best to inject them in a print mixed with your best colours (blues and pinks), or in an accessory (away from your face).

‘Soft’ (You don’t fit into any of the above colourings or if there isn’t much definition between your hair, eyes and skin tone: think Beyonce, Jennifer Aniston).
You need to keep your citrus shades as light as possible, unless you have greenish eyes, when you can wear the stronger shades.

The important thing to add about wearing yellow is that it does require some confidence as all eyes will be on you in your sunshine shade.

If you’re nervous about wearing it, start with a bright yellow accessory or pair of heels rather than wearing it head-to-toe.

“If yellow already makes you nervous, please don’t opt for a jumpsuit, instead work a few yellow accessories into an outfit you’re already comfortable with; like a statement necklace,” said Gemma.

“Nevertheless, there’s nothing that says summer quite like yellow, so experiment and give it a go,” she added.

Jessica Alba and Tanya Burr add a pop of yellow to their white outfits [Rex]
Jessica Alba and Tanya Burr add a pop of yellow to their white outfits [Rex]

“A printed scarf with a little of the no-no colours on it [the colours that don't suit you head-to-toe], will look fab tied around the handle of your bag; ditto on a printed shoe,” added Veronique.

She reckons yellow and white looks ‘crisp and elegant’ this summer but there’s one shade you need to be careful about wearing it with.

“Be careful wearing it with black, you don’t want to look like a bumble bee!” she said.