I wasn’t planning to write this post at all. Not that all of my posts are carefully planned, but I do have a general list of topics in my head (and on my iPad) that I keep updating and developing. Sometimes, however, I have an idea in the morning and a blogpost by the afternoon. I enjoy writing those, as they capture something I love about fashion and beauty and life in general: the sudden obsessions I develop, seemingly randomly, for specific styles, flavours, topics and colours.

Sometimes it’s clearly trend-related. I’m pretty sure it would not have occurred to me that frayed jean hems that are shorter in front and longer in the back are extremely desirable, if Instagram and Youtube had not told me so. Now I’m in a desperate need of the unevenly frayed jeans. Other times, the inspiration is less clear. Yellow, for example, is more present this season than it has been a while, but it’s not among the big trends out there. Trend or no, I’ve become ridiculously enthusiastic about the colour recently.

Partly I think it’s the weather. It has been so warm in Brussels that wearing traditional autumn colours seems strange. Yellow is summery enough, but there is a certain ripeness about it that makes it especially suitable for an Indian Summer. I guess I also feel that always using pink or pale blue as my go-tos for a shot of colour has become too predictable, so I’ve added yellow and mint to my list.

Many people find yellow difficult to wear and I can understand why. It’s not a colour that always compliments all skin tones (especially fair ones). And as with bright red, it’s impossible to blend in when wearing yellow. But it’s also the happiest hue I know and if you get the undertone right, chances are you can find a shade that works for you. For me, slightly cooler yellows are easier to wear – I go for lemon curd or pale banana rather than yolk. There is also the age-old advice of wearing difficult colours away from the face: as a skirt or a bag or one one’s nails. Or if everything else fails, consider an armchair.

I’ve worn quite a few nice things to the office during my working life, but the yellow sweater on this image is among those that has received the most compliments. There is nothing remarkable about it except the colour – it’s cheap, the fabric is suspect, the cut is very simple and not necessarily the most flattering. But as is often the case with yellow, people are unable to resist its charm. It’s impossible to be on the elevator with someone wearing the colour of the sun and not remark upon it. It is my current top tip for cheering people up.

Pictured:
– sweater by Zara
– raffia tote bag by Sensi Studio
– shoes by Nicholas Kirkwood for Roksanda Ilincic
– YSL nail polish in Jeune Babouche
– Aerin Gardenia Rattan body cream
– InStyle October issue