What Colour Goes with Yellow? Styling Yellow, Mustard and Lemon

What colour goes with yellow? Beige, white, brown, grey and black are the safest choices, and blue is a clear counterpart. The shade of yellow matters: mustard yellow goes especially well with earth tones, lemon yellow with white, grey and blue.

Yellow is seen as a tricky colour because it draws a lot of attention. A clear rule makes it easy: yellow is the eye-catcher, everything else stays calm. Here you will find how to style yellow, which colours go with mustard, lemon and sunny yellow, and how to build outfits for everyday, autumn and winter.

What colour goes with yellow? The simple basic rule

Combine yellow with two other colours at most. At least one of them should be a calm neutral. That keeps the outfit clear, even when the yellow is strong.

• Beige and white are the easiest choice and go with every shade of yellow.
• Brown makes yellow warmer and works above all with mustard.
• Grey and black give yellow a clear, modern frame.
• Blue brings contrast, from light blue to navy.

One yellow piece is enough for an outfit. If you wear yellow on top and bottom, choose two different shades of yellow or separate them with a neutral. You will find an overview of more colours in our guide Colour combinations for clothes.

Styling yellow with beige and white

Beige, cream and white go especially well with yellow because they frame it softly. A yellow top with beige trousers is a calm combination, and a yellow piece with white trousers looks fresh and light.

Taupe sits between beige and grey. It also works well with muted yellow. How to use this shade is explained in our guide how to style taupe. You can find beige pieces in the beige clothing collection.

Styling mustard yellow: brown, beige and black

Mustard yellow is a dark, warm yellow with a hint of brown. That is why it goes with earth tones: brown, camel, beige, olive and cream. These colours make a warm, harmonious picture. Olive works too: mustard yellow and olive make a muted, autumnal pair.

• Mustard and brown: The classic for autumn and winter. A mustard jumper with brown trousers is quickly put together.
• Mustard and black: Black makes mustard yellow clearer and more graphic. It suits the office and evenings.
• Mustard and navy: A calm alternative to black, especially with denim blue.

You can find brown pieces in the brown clothing collection and black pieces in the black clothing collection.

Styling yellow with blue and grey

Blue and grey are the cool partners of yellow. They take the warmth out of yellow and make it fresher. Lemon yellow and sunny yellow in particular come into their own this way.

Yellow and blue. Light blue and denim blue look light and summery. Navy is a little more serious and goes with mustard yellow. It matters that both colours are not equally strong: if the yellow is bright, the blue can be muted.

Yellow and grey. Light grey and charcoal are calm companions. A yellow top with grey trousers is one of the easiest combinations and works well for the office.

Lemon and sunny yellow: styling bright shades of yellow

Lemon yellow is fresh and slightly cool, sunny yellow is bright and warm. Both need some calm beside them. White, cream, light grey and blue keep the outfit clear. Sunny yellow with white looks summery, sunny yellow with navy looks clear and sporty.

A very light, soft yellow is a world of its own. If you wear a delicate butter yellow, you will find separate colour ideas in the guide how to style butter yellow, for example with cream, pink and light brown. This guide covers the whole range of yellow from lemon to mustard.

Yellow with yellow is possible too. Combine a light with a darker shade of yellow and put white or beige in between so that the tones do not clash.

Wearing yellow in autumn and winter

Yellow is not only a summer colour. In the cold season you often see mustard yellow, because it goes with knitwear and earth tones. A yellow jumper brings colour to brown, grey and black.

Burgundy also goes with mustard yellow if you like a strong, warm autumn look. Which other colours belong with it is explained in the guide how to style burgundy. You can find a selection of knitwear in the jumpers for women.

A tip for getting started: wear yellow first as a scarf, jumper or bag before you build a whole outfit around it.

Three outfits with yellow

Warm and autumnal. Mustard jumper, brown trousers, brown ankle boots and a bag in camel. All the tones come from the earth-colour family, so the outfit stays calm.

Fresh and light. Lemon yellow blouse, white or beige trousers and light shoes. Add a cream jacket when it gets cooler.

Clear and modern. Yellow top, grey or black trousers, black shoes. Little jewellery, so that the yellow stands on its own.

Matching items in the shop: tops for women and beige trousers.

Frequently asked questions

What colour goes with a mustard yellow jumper?

Brown, beige, cream, black and navy. Brown is especially harmonious because it picks up the warm mustard yellow.

Do yellow and black go together?

Yes. Black gives yellow a clear frame and suits the office and evenings. The easiest way is to wear the yellow on top or in a single piece.

Which trousers go with a yellow top?

White, beige, grey, navy and denim blue. Brown also goes with mustard yellow, and white goes especially well with lemon yellow.

Do yellow and pink go together?

Yes, as a deliberate colour accent. The combination looks calmest when both colours are light and soft and a neutral such as white or beige is added.

How do I start wearing yellow if I am unsure?

Start with a single piece such as a jumper, blouse or bag and combine it with beige, white or grey. A muted tone like mustard yellow is often an easier start than bright yellow.

Can I wear mustard yellow and lemon yellow together?

Yes, if a neutral sits in between. For example a mustard jumper over a white blouse with a lemon yellow scarf.