From camel to cream, the fashion scene in recent seasons has been awash with 50 shades of beige. Trending aesthetics, from "quiet luxury" to "old money" have encouraged us to steer clear of colour in order to curate a more streamlined, timeless and expensive-looking wardrobe. But what if there were a chic new colour on the scene that ticked all of those boxes, but also made your wardrobe feel modern and fresh for spring 2025? Enter butter yellow. This pale hue is making a bid for the minimalist colour crown right now, and fashion people everywhere are wearing it and proving how incredibly elegant it can look as a new neutral.
Who What Wear UK's Deputy Editor (and font of all trend-forecasting knowledge), Maxine Eggenberger, reported on butter yellow being one of the catwalks biggest colour trends for SS25. According to her, "soft, sunny and so subtle it's practically a neutral, pale buttery-yellow tones capture the optimism of spring. Whether in flowing dresses or separates, Toteme, Chloé and Chanel embraced this gentle hue with open arms. For those who don't traditionally wear a lot of colour, this is the spring shade I suggest you start with."
Delicate, flattering and surprisingly easy to layer with other colours, this pale, creamy yellow is taking over where beige left off: namely, operating under the guise of colour, but in actual fact offering our wardrobes a new way to wear neutrals. If you're terrified of paintbox brights, this hue might just be the one for you, and luckily, high-end and high-street brands alike have delivered a wealth of styles to inspire us for the new season.
Wondering exactly how to make this shade work? If in doubt, go paler—a super-light buttery shade is far more delicate, and in turn, much easier to incorporate into your wardrobe than brighter yellow varieties. Then pair it with your tried and true neutrals—creams, white and light denim will offer a fresh spring feel, but rich chocolate browns, navy and black work just as well alongside it for a classic and elegant look. Stick to sleek, minimalist designs like tailored jackets, simple knits and low-key accessories over anything printed or flouncy, to avoid it feeling too "pretty"—2025's take on this colour trend is all about sophistication. Similarly, choosing to add interest with refined textures and fabrics like cashmere, suede and silk will help to elevate any butter yellow buys into grown-up territory.
You'll be pleased to hear I've already done the hard work for you and collated the best butter yellow pieces to buy now. Scroll on to shop...
Butter Yellow Outfit Inspo:
Style Notes: Who What Wear UK's Assistant Social Media Editor, Annie Wheatland-Clinch sent the street style photographers into a frenzy wearing this butter yellow trench coat to London fashion week recently.
Style Notes: A pale-yellow waisted blazer ticks two of this season's biggest trends off in one go. Just add blue jeans for spring perfection.
Style Notes: Butter yellow makes for a dream pairing with both brights and classic tones. See here, Monikh's masterclass in pairing her Toteme knit with black trousers and bag and red sandals.
Style Notes: Looking for a new hue to brighten up your spring dress collection? Look no further than butter yellow for a modern take on event dressing.
Style Notes: If you're still unsure about incorporating yellow into your clothes, you can always just add a splash of the colour with your accessories. Still incredibly cute.
Style Notes: It might seem bold, but wearing pale yellow top to toe creates a tonal, streamlined look that feels really intentional and polished. Fluffy coat optional.
Style Notes: If in doubt use a yellow knit as a styling item and wrap around your waist or shoulders to add a hint of colour into a neutral outfit. It will instantly lift it into 2025.
Shop the Best Butter Yellow Buys:
