Men’s Spring/Summer 2012 Colour Trend: Yellow

Mellow Yellow

I already put pen to paper about the blue colour trend that hit menswear in a big way this season. Today we make way for another major colour that has swamped the spring/summer shows; the delightfully season-appropriate yellow.

The inclusion of a – potentially – audacious colour like yellow in a number of this season’s spring/summer collections is hardly surprising. Menswear has favoured the brave this year with a range of bold trends for the warmer months, the likes of daring prints, coloured shoes and even a 90s era influence are having a moment.

Yellow: Choosing a shade

Yellow is often described as the perfect gender-neutral hue. It is deceptively easy to work into your wardrobe because the varying shades can be used to create a number of desired effects. However, the most difficult part of working with yellow is getting the right shade for your skin tone.

Medium to dark skin tones work very well with most colours and tones. Pastel and brighter yellow hues work exceptionally well if you fall into this category. Avoid going too bright with your yellow if you have darker skin tones, as you risk creating too strong of a contrast between the colour and your skin.

Those with a paler skin tone should be careful with pastels as they can make you look a little washed out. Bolder yellows can look great, as do mustard and gold hues, which create strong, flattering contrasts with your skin tone.

Yellow On The Runway

How To Wear

Men’s Yellow Lookbook

Look One

Coloured chinos have become a perennial favourite and a bold pair in yellow is a fantastic statement piece. Pairing these alongside a short-sleeve printed shirt creates a really on trend and great looking casual outfit for this season.

The sparse pattern on the shirt makes it relatively easy to pull off, although you could choose to cover it up with a neutral ecru crew-neck if the weather turns out to not be all you hoped.

Finally, the navy loafers compliment the yellow chinos to perfection. A few seasons back we saw the camel and navy combination dominate collections. This season, navy has started an affair with the fresher looking younger sister, meaning your should look no further than this staple colour to anchor a brighter yellow.

• Topman White Warrior Pattern Short Sleeve Shirt
• Reiss Lecky Cable Knit Crew Ecru
• Band Of Outsiders Cotton Chinos
• Grenson Navy Suede James Penny Loafers

Look Two

Our second look is a take on a FashionBeans favourite combo: blazer, chinos and brogues; just with a more yellowish theme. The blazer is in this trend’s standout shade – mustard. The darker tone is incredibly versatile, and acts as a balance between the light shirt and essential white trousers.

Yellow socks provide the attention to detail that is necessary within any look and do a great job in tying the outfit together. The pocket square is also considers the overall colour palette – the navy and red compliment the yellow and finish off the primary colour collection. Finally, the brown suede brogues are a seasonal option and the colour works with the rest of the others present; it’s neither too dark nor too light.

• Allsaints Pascal Shirt
• Asos Slim Fit Blazer In Mustard
• Reiss Venus Garment Dye Chinos Off White
• Austin Reed Navy Daisy Silk Handkerchief
• Falke Tiago Cotton-blend Socks
• Sanders Olly Brown Suede Crepe Shoes

Look Three

If the spring showers are dampening your day, brighten up your look with a classic yellow fisherman jacket and hope the sun follows suit.

The burgundy jumper works exceptionally with the yellow – the two are very complimentary to each other – and the navy blue chinos. The footwear choice for this outfit proves both practical and stylish, with a move back to the autumn/winter trend for worker boots.

• Topman Burgundy Yoke Stripe Jumper
• Norse Projects X Elka Classic Jacket Yellow
• Burton Skinny Indigo Chino
• Diemme Roccia Vet Leather Boots

Look Four

Work yellow into your suited looks with an Allinson-inspired shirt from his summer shirt upgrade article.

A simple grey number is the perfect partner, as the yellow won’t be swallowed by the colour of the suit. The combination gives good balance between the two; something which wouldn’t exist if the suit was, for example, black.

We would favour brown shoes here, along with a luxury purple tie. Don’t skimp on the details, they’re what elevates your outfit to the next level. A pocket square and a more imaginative pair of socks are the best accessories for prepping up some tailoring.

• Burton Yellow Long Sleeve Oxford Shirt
• Topman Grey Hudson Slim Suit
• Ralph Lauren Black Label Slim Knitted Silk Tie
• Handkerchief Pocket Square 33×33 By Boss Selection
• Richard James Ribbed Cotton Socks
• Base London Snug Brogue Shoes

Current Yellow Picks

• Allsaints Tonic Ss Crew
• Allsaints Sandringham Polo
• Polo Ralph Lauren Slim Fit Pima Cotton V Neck Jumper
• Reiss Lorimer Multi Panel Cardigan Apricot
• Ymc Loopback Cotton-jersey Sweatshirt
• Orlebar Brown Charteuse Mid Length Bulldog Swimshorts
• Polo Ralph Lauren Yellow Slim Fit Stretch Chinos
• Farah Vintage Maize Yellow Howe Waxed Jacket
• Topman Mustard Diamond Pattern Shirt
• Reiss Deck Short Sleeve Linen Shirt Rust
• Priestleys Vintage Yellow Tootal Scarf
• Tyler Tyler Yellow Woven Belt Tyler Tyler
• Reiss Birch Fair Isle Socks Mustard
• William Fox & Sons Backpack
• Richard James Wavy Print Silk Pocket Square

Conclusion

Yellow is all-too-often avoided; but with menswear taking more risks this season, it is the best time to integrate a hefty dose of this noteworthy colour into your wardrobe.

So, what are your thoughts:

• Are you a fan of yellow?
• How do you work it into your wardrobe?
• Or have you avoided yellow thus far?
• In which case, have I convinced you to reconsider?

Let us know in the comments below…