Can Winters Wear Yellow?
Published: August 6, 2024
One common question in color analysis is whether Winter Types can wear yellow, with a majority of winters having pink undertones and obviously a strong natural lack of warmth; the thought of them in yellow causes many to contort their face, with the sour memories of how sickly they looked in their cousin’s yellow bridesmaid dress.
Assuming you are a Winter, spoiler alert: you can wear yellow. Just because you have cool undertones does not mean you can’t wear yellow and look stunning. That said, this post aims to dispel the myth that Winters cannot wear yellow and explore how you can incorporate this cheerful hue into your wardrobe without looking horrifyingly jaundiced.
The History of the Color Yellow
You didn't think we were just going to explain without getting nerdy on you first?
Did you know yellow is one of the oldest colors in history? Yellow is dated back to the Stone Age, with the cheery color being seen in cave paintings from over 17,000 years ago. Here’s how it’s been used across history:
- Ancient Egypt: Yellow was used to paint gods and skin in art to look like gold.
- Medieval Europe: Yellow could mean warmth or pleasure, but also bad things like sulfur. Bright yellows could show honey or gold, while greenish yellows were linked to negative figures.
- Asia: Yellow is mostly positive. In China, only emperors wore yellow, and in India, it means happiness. Yellow is also important in Buddhism and marks temple doors.
- 20th Century: Yellow became popular in sports with the Tour de France yellow jersey in 1919 and the yellow card in soccer starting in 1970.
CNN reported in an article from 2017 about the World War I experiment of Professor and fellow Color Guru of yesteryear Howard Kemp. Daniella Emanuel writes,
“He designed a room at Ethel McCaul’s Hospital in London, with sky blue ceilings, delicate green floors and lemon yellow walls.”
Only sentences later does Emanuel reveal that it was found that yellow does, in fact, not replace modern psychology methods (if that was not already obvious); She confirms,
“There have been few conclusive studies on how the color yellow alone affects people biologically. But Eiseman said the general mood that accompanies the color is mostly a positive one.”
But the question still remains unanswered, “Which kind of yellow fits into the cool, bold wardrobe of a Winter?”
Understanding Winter's Palette
Winters are defined within the seasonal color palette as cool, deep, and clear. With their higher contrast coloring, winters look best in colors that can keep up with their sharp and captivating appearance. These types shine in clear, cool, and bold colors.
Across Twilight, Moonlit, and Vivid Winters, deep jewel tones, crisp vivids, and deep colors like everyone’s favorite color, black, can be found. The one yellow color found The key to incorporating yellow for Winters lies in finding the right shade that complements their cool undertones.
Your Worst Shades of Yellow…
& What to Wear Instead!
Mustard Yellow – Too Warm
Mustard yellow usually doesn’t look great on winter types because it’s a warm, earthy color. Winter types generally have cool, crisp undertones in their skin, and mustard yellow’s warmth can clash with these cooler tones.
Think of it like this: winter types are like cool, fresh snow, and mustard yellow is more like a cozy autumn leaf. When you mix the two, the contrast can be a bit jarring. Instead, try its green-tinged Spiced Pear if you are looking to add a little warmth to your look in a harmonious way.
Pastel Yellow – Too Light
Now, we all love a good pastel spring sun dress, but Winters stay away from yellow. Just like any muted color, pale pastel yellow can make the sharpness that defines a winter appear more dull or lackluster.
Our favorite swap for this pastel need is the shade of sea glass. This blue-toned pastel with a tinge of green makes Winters sparkle with its cool color profile and soft tint.
Dandelion Yellow – *Close*… but Not Close Enough
A bright but warm yellow with a hint of orange, like the color of dandelion flowers. The color is bold and lively like Winter Types, but because it is so intensely warm, again, the clash with color temperature cancels out, and you are left with a muddied color profile worn in Winter
Your Best Shade of Yellow: Lemon Squeezy
- Cool Undertones: Unlike warmer yellows, “Lemon Squeezy” has a cooler, more neutral base. This aligns well with the cool undertones of winter types, making the color complement their natural complexion rather than clashing with it.
- Brightness: The shade is bright and clear, without any muddiness or muted tones. Winter types generally look best in colors that are vivid and crisp. “Lemon Squeezy” provides this vibrancy, which helps to enhance their appearance and give them a fresh, lively look.
- Crisp Appearance: The cool, clear nature of “Lemon Squeezy” ensures that it stands out without being overwhelming. This is important for winter types who often look best in colors that are sharp and clean, rather than those that are warm or muddy.
- Enhancing Natural Tones: The cool brightness of “Lemon Squeezy” works to enhance the natural cool undertones of winter types. It highlights their skin’s natural clarity and brightness, making them look more vibrant and radiant.
- Contrast and Freshness: Winter types usually have a fair to medium complexion with cool undertones, and “Lemon Squeezy” offers a striking contrast that adds a fresh pop of color. This helps to bring out their best features and provides a clean, crisp look that contrasts nicely with their natural coloring.
- Color Harmony: This shade of yellow fits well within the winter palette, which often includes other cool, bright colors like icy blues and crisp greens. By fitting seamlessly into this palette, “Lemon Squeezy” maintains harmony and enhances the overall look.
Encountering Yellow In the Wild
Tips for Winters Shopping for Yellow
Of course, when shopping, you are not always going to find that perfect, crisp Lemon shade of your dreams. (Unless you shop Your Color Closet, then our stylists will do the hunting for you.)
So, here are some core factors to assess when looking for yellow pieces:
Clarity
We want the brightness of the color to be able to harmonize with the rest of your deep/contrasting natural coloring.
Temperature
When in doubt, lean for cooler yellows. If you are confronted with an orange-yellow or a green-yellow – always go green! You look stunning in blues. If we go back to basics, green is the product of blue being mixed with yellow. So greenish yellow is the way to go in cases like this one!
If these qualities above sound familiar, it’s because they are the same qualities that make up your season type! You may notice “deep” is missing from the line-up above. That’s because yellow is a chameleon color, almost always turning brown when depth is added to the mix. And yes, you can wear black, but brown—you can’t win ’em all Winters!
That’s all for now! As always, thanks for reading!
– Annie McDevitt
Marketing & Affiliate Director | Color Guru Analyst
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