Yellow is a colour that isn’t forgiving of laziness in the way that navy or black never will be, which is exactly why a good vest top in that hue is worth taking seriously. Find the wrong yellow and it will sit against your skin and do nothing remotely flattering. Get it right however – and that could be a soft butter tone or something closer to acid citrus – and it will read as considered rather than accidental. What will separate your bad version from your good often comes down to how the fabric behaves as much as the actual shade. If it clings in the wrong places or transparent under studio lighting then you’ve undone all the good work of choosing the right colour, so look for something with enough weight to it that the knit or jersey holds its shape across the chest and skims rather than sticks everywhere else. Think of the neckline too, whether that’s a scoop or a thin strap which sits correctly on the shoulder as opposed to sliding around, because when you wear yellow, the eye is drawn upwards and any wardrobe malfunction there is infinitely more visible than it would be in a muted colour.
Think of what you’ll wear it with. Styling one well is largely about giving it something to contrast against.
It’ll look best next to colours that tone it down or enhance it further, so stick to denim in a mid or dark wash, white or stone tailoring, or throw a black blazer on top for anything you might want to take from day to night without changing. It works surprisingly hard tucked underneath a slip dress or an open linen shirt too, where only a slither of colour is visible at collar level. If you’re nervous about wearing yellow close to your face, chances are a low neckline and distance from your jaw will solve the issue altogether. An occasion? It’s a category built for summer months and day time occasions rather than formal settings. Think market mornings, festivals, packing for a holiday and any situation where the outfit needs to look cohesive without appearing as though you’ve tried too hard. It pairs well with tailored shorts or a wide leg trouser to earn its place at a summer lunch and with a pair of jeans and flat sandals it becomes your new go to top that will carry an entire look without anyone realising quite how much work you’ve asked of it.
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