The Buttercream trend is making tracks and I for one am IN. But is this mellow yellow for everyone? The truth is shades of yellow are tricky, suitability coming down to skin undertone. If you have discovered your colour season, you’ll know whether you are warm, cool or neutral.
I recently spied a fluffy lemon cardigan (online at M&S) that I simply had to have, Easter-duckling vibes you know. I headed to my huge local store for said item and some more hot cross bun variations, naturally. As so often is the case, the product was not available in store. I perused the alternative array that adorned the shop floor. Bannana, canary, saffron, turmeric, chartreuse, mustard, citrine, flax and cadmium waved at me cheerily, but no lemon duckling lurked. I tried on a few of the alternatives which made me look a bit ill, despite warm tones and yellow being in my season and this, is key. It’s all about the hue, intensity and depth of the colour family, these factors determine whether colours accentuate or distract from your season.
I conducted an experiment, utilising a well- timed field of oil seed rape, on the brow of the farmland we live next to. I asked one of my favourite clients (in re to my new branding) what colour she would associate with me? She paused for a second then confidently declared ‘lemon yellow’. I burst out laughing as I literally own nothing yellow apart from an, arguably lime tennis ball! Now that’s a colour I do really like, Neon yellow. There is something so summery about a fresh zingy pedicure on contrasting golden toes but it’s not a colour to go hard on and I digress..
When researching yellow I found it to symbolise happiness, positivity, energy and creativity, often associated with sunshine, warmth, optimism, clarity, joy and innocence. It is of course, also utilised to capture attention (traffic signage) due to it’s high visibility. It can stimulate mental activity, original ideas and boost mood?! So I was inclined to agree with my client and adopted #FFF44F as my signature jolly jaune. My profile image is amidst a sea of bright blue sky and yellow blooms. Two colours that beautifully collaborate and sing from the Spring palette. Yup that’s me, and to be specific, a Bright Spring. So what had made me curb the curds?
It’s true that instinctively we are drawn to colours in our correct colour season, but the revelations about your season are what truly take your style in a different direction. You play it safe less and will inevitably stand out more on embracing the bolder colours from your palette.
The other really important factor at play here is tanning. I have been trying to drink in every ray of Cornish sunshine available on my runs and my tan as well as making me look a whole lot healthier, means I can pull off colours that wouldn’t complement my winter skin tone.
When it comes to hair colour, yellow or ‘gold’ is often ridiculed. But the truth is, every blonde needs a dash of it to glow. Without gold, blondes appear flat. ‘Brassy’ is when highlights haven’t lifted high enough usually. No amount of toning can shift this level of yellow and silver/purple pigment shampoos will be redundant. But a perfectly lifted weave, rinsed out at the ‘clotted cream’ sweet spot, will dazzle.
In summary this trend should be drizzled generously over Springs, lightly over Winters and v sparingly on Summers and Autumns. I love it solo, colour blocked and in an array of textures like silk, against Angora. Zara, Free People and Other Stories feature some gorgeous pieces if you want to get on board. But come September, let this trend set on the horizon. Let Fall usher in richer earth tones, inspiring warmth as the nights close in and nature’s landscape evolves once more..
Ella x
