Mustard Yellow is a Friendly Fellow

As you might recall, the Pantone Color of the Year is ultraviolet, but I think mustard yellow is giving it a run for its money. This trendy fall color exudes warmth and mimics the pretty change in fall leaves, acting as the perfect autumn accessory or pop to an otherwise dull outfit. I realize a lot of people have a love-hate relationship with yellow…it can make your teeth look less than white, it washes you out, it has to be just the particular shade, etc. etc. I get it; the happy color can be difficult to style. But that’s why I love the mustard shade so much. It’s dark enough where it won’t give you the illusion of illness or coffee-stained teeth, but still cozy enough to add all the fall vibes to your wardrobe. Here are 5 ways to stay on trend with mustard this season.

1. Start small with an accessory. Like I always say when trying out a new color or style, start small. A scarf is a great way to experiment with mustard without spending a lot of money or committing to a piece you may only wear once. Not to mention, you’ll stay extra warm! I love how the color matches the flowers in the foreground of these photos and adds a pop to my otherwise neutral outfit.
2. Pair it with other earth tones/jewel tones. If you’re not sure with what colors to pair mustard, think about earth and jewel tone palettes. Earth tones include shades such as rich browns, sienna, burnt orange, and olive green. Jewel tones contain saturated hues of dark turquoise, forest green, purples, and moody pinks. You can’t go wrong with pairing mustard with any of these gorgeous colors, and you can check out my post Earth Tones for an example of a mustard/olive green/brown/denim blue combo.
3. Style it with black. If the jewel and earth tones sound a little too intimidating, you can just stick with classic black (‘cause I’m sure a lot of us have far too much of it in our closets). But I know what you’re thinking: Black and yellow together? I don’t want to look like a bumble bee! Or solicit the singing of a Wiz Khalifa song. Fear not, black and mustard can actually pair quite nicely together. While I’ve never posted an outfit with this combo on the blog, I have worn it numerous times outside of Graceful Rags. If you can imagine, I’ve paired this black mock-neck top, this jean jacket, these mustard pants, and these brown boots together. I also plan on styling the crème polka dot blouse from this post with the black quilted vest I’m wearing today and these mustard pants. The important thing to remember is to add other tones to the black and yellow, such as neutral denim, crème/beige, or rich browns.
4. When in doubt, wear it on the bottom. Since a lot of people feel timid about wearing yellow, styling it on the bottom half of your body (like wearing pants, a skirt, or colored tights) can bypass any of the typical issues tied with the shade, such as making your teeth look discolored or your face washed-out. I don’t own any mustard tops or sweaters, but I absolutely love my golden pants, especially when paired with a floral blouse.
5. Stick to prints. If you’re really not feeling the mustard, I encourage you to at least try it in the subtlety of a print, like this maroon patterned dress. Even just a pop of marigold can take a classic fall outfit up a few notches to a super trendy and stylish look. I’ve been seeing little bits it scattered in all sorts of patterns in stores and online, like this new Cabi top I just got, so surely you can get on board with this popular color in one way or another.

Do you own any mustard items? Do you think you’d ever try the color, or is it just not for you? Leave a comment below and have a great Monday!

Miles of smiles,

Grace

Brown Cableknit Sweater: Banana Republic, $40 // Black Quilted Vest: JCPenney, $15 // Dark Wash Skinny Jeans: A.N.A. via JCPenney, $25 // Black Quilted Boots: Nordstrom Rack, $40 // Mustard Scarf: unknown, $20 // Pink Leather Purse