A pastel, almost faded shade, butter yellow isn’t exactly what you’d expect from a summer colour. Yet it’s everywhere: on the catwalk, in shop windows and even on the Instagram feeds of seasoned fashionistas. Provocation or reinvention of understated chic?
This summer, fashion is taking a step backwards. Gone are the gaudy hues and flashy neon lights, replaced by a soft, subtle shade: butter yellow. A milky hue halfway between vanilla beige and pastel yellow, it divides fashionistas. Too bland for some, deliciously retro for others, this singular colour leaves no one indifferent. We’re already seeing it on palazzo trousers, baguette bags and minimalist sandals. So, should you go for butter yellow or leave it in the cupboard?
A shade wrongly judged to be bland?
Butter yellow is not flamboyant. And perhaps that’s its fault, in a world where brightness and contrast are often the order of the day. This discreet pastel can give an impression of softness, even of faded clothing, especially on loose-fitting or poorly structured pieces. It is reminiscent of the walls of a Provençal house or the tablecloths of yesteryear. Some people think it’s bland, too timid, even old-fashioned.
But this apparent neutrality can also be its greatest strength. In a world saturated with visual stimuli, this colour becomes a refuge for those who want to breathe. Neither white nor really yellow, it floats in a visual and stylistic comfort zone. And it’s precisely this vagueness that allows butter yellow to fit into any wardrobe, without taking excessive risks.
The elegance of a subtle shade
The success of butter yellow is part of a wider movement towards simplicity and timelessness. After the excesses of the post-pandemic era, fashion is returning to softer, calming tones. Butter yellow embodies this trend towards ‘quiet luxury’, a form of discreet, almost invisible luxury. It evokes the silk of men’s shirts from the 80s, summer linen ensembles and Scandinavian-inspired suits.
Worn on noble materials (linen, silk, organic cotton) it takes on greater depth. It lends itself particularly well to the play of texture: matt against shiny, fluid against rigid. Buttery yellow wide-leg trousers, paired with an oversized shirt or crochet crop top, create a subtly sophisticated look.
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How to combine it without making a faux pas?
The real magic of butter yellow lies in the way it can be combined. It acts as a neutral base, a bit like grey or beige. Here are a few winning combinations to adopt it with style:
- With off-white or ecru: for a minimalist and chic total look, very Riviera.
- With camel or chocolate: to create a warm, elegant, earthy contrast.
- With lilac or sage green: two other fashionable shades that go perfectly with the softness of butter yellow.
- With light denim: for a more casual, summery feel, perfect for holiday looks.
- With black: more risky, but very graphic if the contrast is right.
An inclusive colour despite preconceived ideas
Contrary to popular belief, butter yellow is not just for fair skin. On tanned or dark skin, it creates a soft, luminous contrast. It catches the light without ever dazzling it, making it flattering on many skin tones.
As part of a total look or as a touch (bag, sandals, manicure), it allows everyone to make the trend their own in their own way.
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