Butter yellow is spring’s color of the moment. Like most trends, what appears to have happened overnight has been in the works for a while. “Butter yellow has trended consistently at various points in time for years now. I know this because people always tag me when it gets mentioned somewhere!” says writer Harling Ross Anton, who puts out the substack Gumshoe. She coined the term “stick of butter” years ago to describe her love of stacking together pieces in various shades of pale yellow for a monochromatic look that, despite its subtle color, pops. “I think this latest iteration has been buoyed by a lot of star power: Timothée Chalamet at the Oscars, Sabrina Carpenter wearing the color a lot on tour, etc.”
Hypervisibility is one factor contributing to its recent surge. Red carpet aside, butter yellow has quickly become a runway mainstay, spotted across a myriad of spring/summer 2025 shows—from Alaïa’s gauzy peplum trousers and Toteme’s slinky cape gowns and buttery leather handbags to Chanel’s tailored jumpsuits and pleated floor-length gowns.
Then there’s our shifting relationship with fashion. As the weather starts to warm up, our clothes naturally follow suit, transitioning from deep merlots and chocolate brown to softer shades. “As we welcome a lighter, softer palette to our wardrobes for spring, buttery yellows bring a sunny warmth to outfits,” says Linda Cui Zhang, associate fashion director at Nordstrom. That warmth, seen in fresh spring buds and the soft light of dawn, conveys a sort of optimism—a fresh start—which feels more necessary than ever.
Butter yellow is also surprisingly practical as far as shopping and wearability goes. “There’s versatility in the color. Yellow feels fresh and serves as a pop to foundational neutrals like brown, navy, and gray. It brings energy when mixed with pastels such as soft pink and light blue,” adds Zhang. Meaning, you don’t have to do a complete overhaul of your wardrobe to enjoy a piece (or several); butter yellow can play nicely with your existing evergreen staples.
Because it’s such an easy color to blend, you can approach styling in a number of ways. Anton prefers to ground her butter-yellow look with dark shoes, like chocolate-brown loafers: “It provides some contrast, so it doesn’t feel too on-the-nose. I also love to sprinkle in a pop of bright red somewhere. I think it goes so nicely with pale yellow. A red sock or a red cardigan is a standby.”
But the easygoing yellow can also make a statement. For Zhang, its soft, bright tone is perfect for mashing together with colorful prints and rich textures. “The harmonious clash of color, prints, and texture from the fall shows, specifically Marni and Chloé, are inspiring me to wear yellow in a more playful way now: a butter-yellow top paired with a jacquard-pattern pant is on my vision board, and adding texture/shine with an animal print shoe, raffia bag, and charm jewelry.”
Below, we’ve shopped out five looks that can serve as a guide on how to work the butter-yellow trend into your everyday wardrobe.
Just a Hint
Wardrobe staples, like a button-up, make great entry points for trying out a new color trend. Chances are you already have several pairs of blue jeans and richly colored outerwear that can easily transition into the spring with a little fine-tuning. That chocolate-brown blazer will suddenly feel new against a buttercream shirt.
Hommegirls 70s Pocket Poplin Shirt
& Other Stories Single-Breasted Linen Blazer
Frame Le Jane Ankle
Tory Burch Bow Cap-Toe Logo Ballerinas
Head to Toe
Commuting into the office isn’t the most uplifting experience, but donning buttery shades of yellow from head to toe can certainly brighten your mood. The key to making sure the monochromatic look doesn’t fall flat is to play with texture. Try styling a fuzzy knit and breezy linen trousers layered under a relaxed barn jacket, finished with a braided leather handbag.
Alex Mill Britt Work Jacket
Lisa Yang Juniper Brushed-Cashmere Sweater
Gap Linen-Blend Relaxed Straight Ankle Pants
Bottega Veneta Small Loop Camera Bag
Better With Blue
Two pastels are better than one. Instead of ditching all of your bright blues to make room for yellow, pair them together. A butter-yellow polo layered over a light-blue bottom, like Auralee’s dreamy gingham skirt, feels playful yet polished. Add a pair of heeled flats and a sculptural clutch to make the look work for boozy brunches and evening cocktails on the rooftop.
Vince Wool & Cashmere-Blend Contrast-Collar Polo Sweater
Auralee Airy Smooth Cashmere Maxi Skirt
MM6 Maison Margiela Anatomic Ballerina Flats
Completedworks Lunchbox Pleated Leather and Resin Clutch
Or With White
Memorial Day may still be a few months away, but you can get a head start on all of your head-to-toe white looks now. A structured butter-yellow jacket is perfect for adding some warmth to white jeans and flats.
Posse Rio Linen Shift Jacket
Agolde Luna Frayed Barrel-Leg Jeans
Khaite Lotus Small Textured-Leather Tote
Reformation Britt Ballet Flat
The Statement Piece
If you really want to let the color shine, lean into print and texture. A statement yellow jacket can instantly bring life back into a routine white button-down and navy skirt uniform. Pair with a neutral heel to balance it all out.
Dries Van Noten Floral Jacquard Crop Satin Jacket
Citizens of Humanity Camilia Shirt
Miu Miu Technical Fabric Skirt
