Yellow remains popular as an accent color. As you may recall from my article on the psychology of color, yellow is associated with laughter, happiness, optimism and good times. In this article you’ll find out how to wear yellow including the colors that go best with this cheery shade.
All the more reason to wear it wholeheartedly. As the world is going through some tough times right now, anything to bring some cheer can only be a good thing. Below are plenty of tips and tricks to help you to put together flattering yellow outfits.
First, you may like to discover which hue of yellow is right for you
How to wear yellow outfits?
If you’re going to wear yellow, you will need the perfect yellow clothing and accessories.
The perfect yellow dress outfit
If you want to make a statement with your yellow, then wearing a yellow dress can be the perfect way to do so.
I’d keep it relatively simple and team with neutrals like blacks, whites, metallics or browns. But, you could, of course, decide to opt for a contrast and wear a color like blue or a pattern like leopard print to bring a touch of the unexpected to your outfit.
A yellow dress could be the perfect option to keep you cool and stylish in summer.
Nic (above) chooses a flattering wrap style and teams with neutral shoes.
Recreate her look with this similar printed yellow dress and sandals.
The perfect yellow blazer
Everyone from No Doubt singer Gwen Stefani to Desperate Housewives actress Eva Longoria has been rocking the yellow blazer trend! It looks great teamed with Breton stripes, blues and whites.
If you already have a striped top and a pair of jeans in your wardrobe, this could be the perfect way to update them.
Many of the blazers I’ve seen in stores recently have been double-breasted, which can be a tricky style to wear as they can add unwanted width.
However, if you opt for a blazer with nice, clean lines, this can be universally flattering as well as versatile. You can wear over jeans, pants or a dress for a more formal event.
Patricia (above) wears a single breasted blazer with her jeans, white top and tan accessories.
Check out this similar tee, blazer, jeans, belt, sandals, handbag, necklace and sunglasses.
Caslon drape collar knit blazer
The perfect yellow coat
If you are not afraid of the color, yellow can look fabulous on a coat.
It will brighten up any darker days in fall and winter and add a ray of sunshine in summer. Yellow looks fabulous with a black and white outfit and makes the overall look really chic!
If you have a summer wedding or event to attend, you could team a monochrome dress with a yellow coat.
A great way to wear a yellow coat can be to opt for a truly classic style like a trench, a leather biker or a duster and to update this through your use of bright, sunny yellow.
Psyche (above) looks stunning in her yellow coat and gingham pants.
Get her look with this similar tee, trench coat, pants and loafers.
The perfect yellow top outfit
Yellow can be easily worn as a top. Fabulous with neutral bottoms like blue jeans, white or black.
If solid yellow is too bright for you, then choose a striped one. You can minimize the effect of the yellow by combining your yellow top (like a tank) with a blazer in a more neutral color.
This will still give you the hip vibrancy of yellow without the yellow overpowering you too much.
Kim (above) opts for an outfit full of cheerful colors and prints.
Check out this similar shirt, printed pants, sandals and sunglasses.
I love the asymmetrical hem of this soft yellow tunic (below) which would be ideal if you’re looking for a top to wear with leggings or skinny jeans.
There are more tops to wear with your leggings in this article on how to wear leggings over 40.
The perfect yellow blouse
Of course, yellow doesn’t have to be very bright and “in-your-face”. You can go for a much more subtle approach with either a mustard or lemony or pastel yellows.
You could opt for a deep yellow button-down. It would look lovely with white jeans for summer.
Look out for options in linen or cotton to keep you cool in the warmer months or go for a beautiful silk shirt in a deeper yellow to create a high-end feel.
The perfect yellow pants outfit
Yellow pants can be a great way to make a casual style statement, as demonstrated below. You can simply team with a white tee and sneakers.
If you don’t like yellow too close to your face you may opt for a yellow pair of pants instead. I like to combine mine with neutral colors like white and black, so the color does not overpower me too much.
It you have a black and white top, this would be perfect to match with yellow pants.
A pair of tailored pants could be a good addition to your summer wardrobe. I can see these going with a casual striped or plain tee, or with a silk shirt or blouse for lunch out with friends and family.
Greetje (above) chooses to wear her yellow with other beautiful, bright colors to fantastic effect. She creates a harmonious look as all of the colors in her outfit are tied together with the print of her shirt.
Check out this printed collared shirt that you can wear this similar pair of trousers, pumps, belt and clutch.
The perfect yellow jeans
For a more casual approach to yellow pants, you could always opt for jeans instead.
A crop or skinny style would be perfect for summer. As these will be the hero piece in your outfit, you can keep the rest of your look clean and simple, perhaps pairing with a white shirt or tee, or a striped sweater.
The perfect yellow skirt outfit
You could opt for a yellow skirt. I wear my own yellow skirt frequently, either dressed up or down, and take it on most of my vacations.
A yellow skirt looks good teamed with most striped, polka dot or patterned tops.
You can opt for an a-line or fuller style in linen or cotton for a more casual summer look which would be ideal for vacations. Or, look for a piece in satin or silk which would be lovely for more formal events like this skirt below which has a bronze-yellow tone to it.
Georgette (below) opts for an outfit which can’t fail but make you feel cheerful. she wears a blazer from ELOQUII along with her pleated, yellow skirt.
Get her look with this similar v-neck top, pleated skirt, sandals and earrings.
The perfect yellow shoes outfit
I love the sense of fun that wearing brightly colored shoes can bring to an outfit.
Plus, this is such an easy way to update your closet and add a talking point to pieces you already wear.
Shoes can make a big impact to your outfit and adding a bit of yellow here is very hip. Yellow shoes look perfect with neutral outfits or any other outfit that has just a little bit of yellow in it.
You could wear an all navy outfit and add a pop of yellow with your shoes, or add yellow to a monochrome dress for a formal event or a lunch out with friends and family.
Or, you could opt for a pair of yellow sneakers to wear with your jeans.
A pair of yellow sandals with a relatively low block heel could be a good buy for summer as they will be easy to wear and walk in, while adding oomph to your existing closet.
Jenny (above) chooses yellow sneakers with her jeans.
Check out this similar printed top, denim jacket, jeans and sneakers. I also love these yellow shoe options (below)
The perfect yellow accessories to wear with neutrals or your yellow clothing
If you are not too keen on wearing color but still like to liven up your outfit with a bit of sunshine, then accessorizing is the way to go. It is an excellent way to add color to your outfit and take it to the next level.
You can see yellow is very nice with an all-white outfit or a black and white combination. Just add a yellow bag, belt, scarf or necklace and you’re good to go.
This is by far the easiest way to add a bit of yellow to your wardrobe and still get the benefits.
Alice (above) chooses yellow with her print pants. You can see she has tied her look together as the print in her pants features yellow florals. She also adds a pair of navy pumps to her look.
Steal her look with this similar loose top, printed pants, pumps, handbag, scarf and sunglasses.
The Tory Burch tote below will surely elevate any look. It can fit all of your essentials and its design and shape are very classic so you can wear for season after season.
Colors that go with yellow
So, now that you have your yellow basics sorted, what other colors are you going to wear with them? What are your favorite colors to wear with your yellow? Below are some of my own favorites. Let me know what you think.
Black and yellow outfits
Melinda (above) looks beautiful in a yellow and gingham outfit with black sandals.
Recreate her outfit with this similar blouse, skirt, sandals, clutch, necklace and earrings.
Yellow and white outfits
Below are more black and white options to wear with your yellow.
Outfit 1: LARACE tunic top – Bellivera moto jacket – 1822 denim jeans – David Tate sandal – Dagne Dover clutch – Set & Stones hoop earrings
Outfit 2: Milumia self tie blouse – FRAME bootcut jeans – Sam Edelman slide sandal – Dagne Dover clutch – Set & Stones hoop earrings
Outfit 3: Boden silk collarless blouse – Halogen midi skirt – Fly London sandal – Dagne Dover clutch – Y & M tassel earrings
Blue and yellow outfit
Wearing yellow and blue is a classic combination. Opting for a navy shade is an easy way to get this look. But you could also choose cobalt or paler shade of blue.
Emma (above) teams her yellow top and jacket with cobalt pants.
Get her look with this similar blouse, tweed jacket, pants and handbag.
Outfit 1: Caslon v-neck tee – Halogen asymmetrical skirt – Toni Pons wedge sandal – Y & M tassel earrings
Outfit 2: Nordstrom stripe shirt – FRAME bootcut jeans – Sperry sneakers – Longchamp crossbody bag – Set & Stones hoop earrings
Outfit 3: Boden silk collarless blouse – Boden pencil skirt – Boden kitten heels – Boden woven clutch – Set & Stones hoop earrings
With an unexpected bright pop of color
Nadine (above) looks stunning by creating a color block look with her yellow and bright pink. This article has more ideas for color blocking.
Check out this similar sweater, blazer, skirt, handbag and booties.
Outfit 1: Caslon v-neck tee – Dreamparis trousers – Dagne Dover clutch – David Tate sandal – Isabel Marant drop earrings
Outfit 2: FRAME linen tee – Boden belted skirt – Naturalizer ankle strap sandal – Boden woven clutch – Y & M tassel earrings
Outfit 3: Boden collarless blouse – Boden pleated skirt – Fly London sandal – Dagne Dover clutch – Isabel Marant drop earrings
A capsule wardrobe featuring yellow
Below is a capsule wardrobe for summer, which puts together many of the clothes and accessories used above. There are 9 outfits here, but you could easily mix and match to create plenty of different combinations.
More yellow fashion inspiration for you
Below, you’ll find more mood boards and more yellow outfits to give you plenty of ideas whether you are buying a new yellow piece for your closet this season, or looking for new ways to wear what you already have.
Petra (above) shows that another fantastic look with yellow is to wear it with tan accessories.
Steal her look with this similar sweater, skirt, booties and crossbody bag.
Tanasha (above) wears her yellow dress with a fantastic pop of turquoise.
She is wearing a dress from C21 Stores and accessorizes it with a Cult Gaia handbag and a scarf from Shein. Here is a similar pair of turquoise heels that you can try to complete her look.
You may dismiss yellow immediately as a color that you cannot wear, but as this article has shown, you don’t have to go full out in yellow to embrace the color.
I personally don’t like the color too close to my face but have still added yellow elements to my wardrobe like this yellow skirt (above). And it’s featured in the top too.
I also still enjoy wearing my yellow and nude sandals, my yellow skirt and a yellow belt. Since yellow is a bright color you don’t need much of it to give your outfit just that bit of color or extra flair.
An earlier yellow capsule wardrobe we created
Here are more outfit ideas for you. This is an older capsule so no links for these items but shop your own closet and recreate the looks!
Read our ultimate guide to creating a capsule wardrobe that works best for you.
Do you already have some yellow outfits in your wardrobe? How would you style the color yellow? I’d love to know in the comments below.
Like this article on how to wear yellow outfits? Save it on Pinterest!
Feature image by Petra
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Would a Limoncello colored top go well with Dark teal dress pants? But what color of shoes? Brown? Help
That sounds like a good choice. As for shoes I would go with something that is a close to the color of your pants as possible.
Can we wear grey flats with a mustard top and jeans
Definitely!
Could you wear red tandori colored pants with a mustard type yellow shoe, or would you look too much like ketchup and mustard
You absolutely could, but you need to believe it too. Only when you wear it with confidence will it look good on you.
Great article, thanks. I wear a mustard-yellow oval-shaped, quilted belt bag with several things, including Anthropologie wide-legged chestnut chinos. I got the bag at a Ross Dress For Less discount store. It’s PVC, which I usually hate, but it’s OK b/c the piece is relatively small, fun and the color so perfect. Also, it’s just a trend so I didn’t want to invest in a more expensive bag.
I love the subdued yellow of the Trouve knot front tee. I would have bought it if it wasn’t sold out. I also liked the Mural over sized blazer.
What top to wear with white and green strips lengthy skirt and yellow shoes
Quite a few options for you. White always works well. Or the green of your skirt. Yellow works too as it will go well with the shoes. But if you like a bit of color color blocking, you may also go with red!
Can we wear a yellow dress with a pair of navy blue shoes?
Yes definitely.
Hello thanks for this article. I need help for my nail polish please. I have a yellow shirt (lemon yellow). I will put it with a greyish black jeans and with black shoes and with a gold necklace.
Which nail polish colors can i put please to match with everything ? (On Foot and hands)
Lovely pictures. With the graffiti-wall as setting; very creative! Greets from the Netherlands, Marga
I love the color yellow I have Carmel complexion. I wear yellow all time. When me and my cousin when on cruise all my outfits were yellow. From dresses to formal wear . the color looked great. I just got new yellow sleeve less dress my best friend sent Me money I ordered yellow dress and white dress from Cato online. The yellow sleeveless dress is size small was on clearance for nine foars and ninety-nine cents. I am going wear it with orange and pink wedges and orange pink and yellow flower statement necklace I got from Walmart. Along with my pink flower purse. I could also wear pink fushis heels and cluth. My black shrug black heels and purse. Also my nude heels and purse. Even navy blue shoes and navy purse. I also have a yellow pantsuit. I have a yellow tee-shirt I wear with jeans orange belt and pink orange wedges. It is so many combinations and ways to wear yellow. It instantly makes you feel like summer. When ever I wear yellow I get so many compliments. If you not as breave me get yellow purse or yellow shoe. Or scaft that has yellow in it or yellow polish. Or get three yellow flowers. Put one in your hair. One on outfit and pin one to your purse.You can yellow artificial flowers at any Chinese beauty supply store.Three of them sholf cost less about three dollars and eighteen cents. Also yellow is great color for bridesmaid dress for wedding pale yellow. princess Grace put her bridesmaids in color and just like her the dress font looked dated. Try yellow you look great in it get pleanty of complients.
I love love love yellow. I change my shade of yellow according to the season or month. Light cool toned pastel for winter. A bright yellow for Easter. I like daffodil/ tulip yellow for spring. A soft pastel yellow at the beginning of summer (pre-tan) and a brighter yellow for later summer. I also like a dusty pale yellow on cloudy or rainy days. In autumn I prefer a leafy gold mustard type of yellow. I also like to wear yellow as part of my heritage. Yup, I’ve got a lot of yellow in my wardrobe.
I love yellow, I have yellow top yellow dress yellow sandles, I feel happy wearing yellow cause it makes me look good
I have my yellow patterned cardigan (featured on the Forum) and some pale yellow cut off jeans, both of which I love. I used to have a lovely pale yellow linen jacket but I ‘outgrew’ it (at the age of 48!) and sold it but now I am looking to replace it as it seemed to go with a lot of things. I did veer into mustard in the winter – it’s a sophisticated colour but probably not the best for me (I am not saying I am not sophisticated, because I am (LOL!) but it’s not so good with my skin tone).
I adore the yellow clothing this season. I got a very simple but elegant lemon lime blouson top – neon really. Trying to figure the best thing to wear it with – I have a Theory leather skirt I might try.
Yellow is a great color that I love to wear – it always make me feel so cherry. I tend to keep my yellow really bright or pale. One yellow that I do not wear is mustard, the shade does nothing for my skin tone. I am really loving paired with mint right now.
Alice
http://www.happinessatmidlife.com
I really like yellow but I have only a few pieces. I would like to get more because it’s such an uplifting colour.
My husband has been scanning all of our old pictures. Yesterday, I saw a picture of my mother at my brother’s graduation in 1980. She was wearing a solid colour yellow dress and it looked lovely on her! More incentive for me to get into yellow!
Great pictures Sylvia. O.K. so now I know what to team yellow with – thank you so much – I will look for some yellow sandals and maybe a handbag (yes! love handbags) too! 😀
Sylvia you take the time to gather lots of information and the photos are so fabulous that I just want to express my love for this post since yellow is one of my favorite colors.
I wear my yellow pants, skirts and tops as often as possible because they do make me feel happier.
Leave it to you to put the perfect and most helpful combinations of yellow together for us. Thank you so very much for this post. I will be using your color combinations with yellow for many years to come.
I have so many yellow items, it is unbelievable. In a lot of shades. I love yellow and it loves me. In winter and in summer.
So I am trying not to look too closely at the things you are showing in this post.
Haha, use as ‘inspiration’ only Greetje!
Thanks for sharing Colour Lovers with us. Great to see what you can combine with the yellow items. My husband just came home with an adorable dark yellow pair of trousers, quite special. But I am feeling a bit ashamed. I already have so much and he has already given me so many things. I should not accept it. (Do you hear my hesitation? LOL)
I like yellow a lot but am picky about the exact hue. I like a buttery or creamy yellow, or a bright, pure yellow…nothing with hints of green, gold, or mustard. (I’m the same with interior paint…it took me forever to find just the right soft yellow for my foyer and upstairs bath). I have a yellow cotton cardigan, a yellow v-neck tee, and a blouse with some yellow in the small floral print. For me, it’s more of a neutral to bring out other colors than a color to stand on its own. I had a yellow purse at one time but it was a bit shocking, and I tired of it quickly. I like the Minkoff sandals above…just a splash of yellow for interest, but not too much.
Yes that can be a great approach to using yellow (having it in moderation). I’ve been playing with different kind of hues of yellow the last couple of seasons while I never wore it before. Today I was very happy wearing my bright yellow skirt!
I wore yellow skinny jeans today and wil be posting pictures on the forum! Yellow really is such a fun color… wishing for yellow shoes…
Great sunny and fresh look Tracey.
I love the yellow with black and white. Thanks for some great summer looks!
you’re welcome Rebecca!
Can u wear different shades of yellow together or too much.
I have a yellow and white spotty top and a long glow skirt slightly brighter.
That really depends on the particular shades of the yellow…