Bring a little sunshine into your wardrobe with golden hues
After Amal Clooney stole the show at the royal wedding, the shade is set to rule this summer, writes Meadhbh McGrath
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Given that the bride is a former actress, it was no surprise that last weekend’s royal wedding was a glitzier event than any in the British monarchy’s history. Along with the cast of the popular TV series Suits, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry invited a raft of A-listers, including Oprah, Elton John, Serena Williams and Victoria and David Beckham. The starriest guests, however, were undoubtedly George and Amal Clooney, who arrived early and soaked up much of the spotlight.
Despite a strict dress code that stipulated female guests must wear a knee-length dress with a hat, and forbade bare legs and bare shoulders, Amal managed to pack a serious punch in her Stella McCartney gown (left), thanks to its sun-ready shade of goldenrod.
Her bright look sparked an immediate online frenzy as women all over the world sought to emulate the human rights’ lawyer’s style. According to fashion search platform Lyst, searches for ‘yellow dress’ were up 1,500pc week-on-week, with 17,000 searches for ‘yellow Stella McCartney dress’ in the space of three days.
The vibrant hue was a hit on the catwalks this spring, from Max Mara’s sharp tailoring to Roksanda’s sweeping satin gowns. Balenciaga paired lingerie slip dresses with polonecks and giant platform Crocs, while Jacquemus took inspiration from his sun-drenched childhood holidays in the south of France with playful ruffled dresses and skirts, which have already been spotted on the likes of Beyoncé and Adriana Lima.
Sunflower yellows really sing on warm complexions like Amal’s, but Irish women with pale skin tones tend to worry that the colour can wash them out.
As with all tricky trends, accessories are your entry level, and a marigold handbag, straw hat or sunglasses are ideal for the sun.
Shoes are another good place to start, and you don’t have to go for Crocs either — a pair of pointed mules will look fantastically modern with dark denim and a t-shirt, and terrifically chic when worn with all black for evening.
A splash of yellow is a great way to liven up your workwear wardrobe, and will lift your spirits every time you wear it. A roll-neck top tucked into a fresh linen skirt is perfect for summer in the city, as is COS’s draped neck dress with a pair of crisp white sandals.
Off-duty, swap your denims for a pair of classic cotton culottes with a sunny yellow twist. A wider leg offers a cool contemporary alternative to skinny jeans, or amp it up another level like Blake Lively (right)
— tonal dressing, or wearing one colour head-to-toe, has major impact, and will instantly elevate your occasionwear.
If you’re hesitant about going full-on yellow, tone it down by pairing with shades of white, navy and black.
It also goes particularly well with camel — for a summer wedding, throw on a classic belted trench over a statement dress or jumpsuit to neutralise that hit of the bright stuff. Hello, sunshine!
As with all tricky trends, accessories are your entry level