In my ten years of working with clients, I have never had one tell me that yellow is their favorite color. Granted, I’ve never met one who has Xanthophobia, the intense fear of the color yet, regardless of the fact that this shade is considered a happy color, few people seem to gravitate towards it. Most think it is a color that doesn’t suit them and the rest just don’t seem to like it.
As an accent color, however, yellow is really popular right now. It’s up there with colors like mint and orange (two VERY popular colors for the season) as a color you’re seeing everywhere. As a punch or an accent to an outfit, it is a divine color to play with. Like its close cousin green, it is also one of those colors that complements just about any other color in the rainbow. In my styling, I have found myself gravitating towards this new popular shade as an accent to colors like navy, purple, green, burgundy, pale blue, teals and, of course, neutrals like grey and browns. If anyone is going to put yellow in their wardrobe, I think as an accent back to other colors or neutrals will probably be the way that they will most likely incorporate it; so I wanted to give some advice on how to do this.
When used as an accent, yellow usually doesn’t have to be worn anywhere near the face, which is the biggest concern of most people who want to wear it but feel it is unflattering. Additionally, buying it as an accent through accessories, less money is normally spent and the guilt of not wearing it as much is lessened.
Here are some looks I put together that show how yellow as an accent can easily update a look and add some eye-catching punch:
Yellow Handbag
Using the color as a purse color is a great way to bring in some punch to an outfit. While you would think that a a purse of this color has no versatility in your wardrobe, the opposite is actually the case. Like I said earlier, yellow is one of those colors that work back to just about any other color you may wear. The chances are high that you would grab a yellow purse for just about anything that you are wearing. Plus, a purse is worn nowhere near your face, making it a way you can enjoy the color without it making you feel too sallow.
Here is another look with a yellow purse. While there is yellow in the printed top, there are other colors to offset the shade. Without the yellow purse, this outfit would still be great, but that yellow accent adds an eye-catching element that makes the whole look more updated.
Yellow Shoes
Plum with a splash of yellow by bridgetteraes featuring tote handbags
Yellow doesn’t just have to be an accent as a purse. You can go for a yellow sandal which adds that same wake-punch without being too close to the face. If you think a shoe in yellow won’t get a lot of wear, guess again. Just like the yellow purse, shoes in this color can add some flavor to just about any color you may be wearing.
You can move yellow near your face in small doses, like through your accessories. Yellow works so beautifully with this teal shade and in accessories, it keeps the look lively without being too bright. For a cocktail event in the summer, instead of bringing your brights down with neutral accessories try yellow instead.
Yellow Jewelry
Navy is like the black of summer. It is a color that offers that dark, sophisticated look that black does, but is richer and less heavy for the warmer months. Worn with yellow, it also doesn’t make you look like a bumble bee like black would. Here, by popping the look with earrings and a bag, while still grounding the accents in an approachable neutral, the outfit has some more pop. Without the yellow, the outfit would be fine but a bit more drab.
Yellow Scarf
For a rainy spring day, nothing will make you feel less blah than winding a happy yellow scarf around your neck. This outfit would be a situation where you wouldn’t mind yellow near your face. However, if yellow doesn’t flatter your coloring, you can always get the same happiness effect with a yellow umbrella handbag or rain shoes.
Yellow Skirt
If you want to wear yellow clothing, it doesn’t mean it needs to be worn near your face. This skirt is a perfect example of how you can own fashion in this color without it making you feel to sallow looking. With the other colors in the outfit, the yellow can stand out, yet it harmonizes well with with everything else.
Yellow Knits
Of course, if you like yellow, then go for it. I’m finding the color is growing on me more and more. If you choose the right shade for your coloring you can find a wear to wear it in larger amounts and near your face. Additionally, if you’re going crazy with yellow as an “all over” color then consider diffusing it with some neutrals in your accessories, like I did in this outfit here. The grey tones down the the brightness and make the outft look more balanced.
In my ten years of working with clients, I have never had one tell me that yellow is their favorite color. Granted, I’ve never met one who has Xanthophobia, the intense fear of the color yet, regardless of the fact that this shade is considered a happy color, few people seem to gravitate towards it. Most think it is a color that doesn’t suit them and the rest just don’t seem to like it.
