Monday Musings on Butter Yellow and Save or Splurge
I’ve been musing about color a lot over the last few weeks and written about it here and here. Over the last several months, I’ve read this Little Book of Color, The Secret Lives of Color, and this book on Joy, which covers a lot about color. Clearly, I’m fascinated. And yet, when I glance into my closet, I’m greeted by a serene sea of neutrals. Soft beiges, taupes, crisp whites, ivory, and gentle grays are my comfort zone, my style sanctuary, and honestly, they feel right on me.
But as someone who works with fashion daily, I see a lot of clothes and accessories, and every so often, I find myself tempted by something unexpected. Lately? It’s been butter yellow. Yes, yellow. A shocking concept for me because I don’t own a single yellow item…even in my decor. Butter yellow is having a real moment in 2025, and it’s one of the biggest color trends for spring…right alongside soft pink. I have to say, it’s also looking a lot more wearable this time around.
I’ll be the first to admit that yellow and I have a complicated relationship. Its warmth can clash with my cool undertone, but there’s something intriguing about this new crop of buttery, pastel yellows. The key for me will be to find a version that’s soft enough to flatter…while giving me all the calm vibes of a neutral. That may sound like a tall order, and it might not work at all, but I believe in keeping an open mind. Fashion should evolve with us, not leave us behind. And if buttery yellow doesn’t work, there’s always blush pink, which has been good to me over the years.
I firmly believe that if a color makes you happy, there’s always a way to make it work for your coloring and style. You can wear it further from your face, layer it with colors that do flatter, or just add tiny touches that help you feel current. The goal isn’t to follow rules to the letter, it’s to feel confident and well styled every time we step out the door. I’m on the hunt for a butter yellow cardigan, and there seems to be lots to choose from this season.
Life Update
My husband is getting his hip replaced today. I know many of you have replacement parts, as do many of your partners or spouses. This is our first, and I admit to being a bit nervous. It sounds so radical, yet everyone we talk to is thrilled with the results and says they wish they’d done it sooner. I’d appreciate any wisdom you can share about maneuvering during the recuperation process.
Save or Splurge
Blue with white is such a fresh combo for spring, and I’ve already broken out my white jeans for the season. Here are some paired with a medium blue sweater, woven flats, a straw bag, a floral scarf, and gold jewelry. Can you tell the save from the splurge?
Outfit of the Week
This look of the week is loaded with trending shapes, fabrications, and colors. You could easily add just one to a classic outfit to update it and make it look more current.
Has butter yellow crossed your radar this spring?
I like yellow, you inspired me to pull out a yellow/white cardigan today and wear it.
As an RN and veteran of seeing my spouse through 2 joint replacements, one key is pain control (guarding against constipation) and don’t neglect the home exercise program he’ll be prescribed by the physical therapist.
Best,
Karen
We got all the Rxs for that. Thanks for the reminder about the home exercise. They said he will get a physical therapist but I assume the nagging to do the exercising will fall to me. I’m pretty good at nagging with 47 years of experience.
My husband needs a hip replacement and had a knee replacement about 3 years ago. He is so glad he had his knee done and he was walking in the park in a couple weeks. Best wishes for your husband! Hopefully he will be part of the I wish I had done it sooner club!
I sure hope so. My husband needs a knee the most but they wouldn’t do the knee until they fixed the hip to get the leg in the proper location. My husband wanted to do them together! Thank goodness the Dr said no.
Best wishes for your husband’s surgery and recovery – I haven’t had the surgery myself, but my friends who did all had a good experience and were very happy that they had it done.
Love the yellow trend, always a favorite color of mine (it reminds me of springtime) and most years there is very little available. As for hip replacement, my hubby had one 18 years ago, still going strong. He had lost so much bone they had to lengthen his leg by 3/4 inch. That meant his body had to realign and created new but temporary soreness. One other surprise, which you may already know from friends who have had this done: he couldn’t drive for several weeks. We were not told this until the day of the surgery. It was not a meaningful problem because he was retired and I was working from home so available to drive to doc appointments etc.
No driving! Hmm. That actually make sense. I’ll hide his keys.
I have two hip replacements. My second hip surgeon was really wonderful. He had me rent Vena-go for my legs to prevent blood clots instead of the tight stockings. They pump up and go back down, squeezing and releasing your legs and you can wear them all night. You can take them off easily when you need to. He also had me rent an ice machine that was wonderful to prevent any swelling, and I recovered with these helps better than my first recovery. He also had me rent a stationary bicycle that I wrote every day and it communicated electronically with his office so he could monitor my progress .
thoughts and prayers from me for an easy recovery and a wonderful result.
Good idea! He is wearing compression stockings but I hope it’s enough
These joint replacement surgeries have come a long way!! We’re so fortunate to have great health care and to be able to do this and improve our quality of life:). I just had a total knee replacement to improve my quality of life. Why be miserable if there are ways to be better? He’ll be up and walking today, start PT immediately! Hope he has a good recovery🙏🏼.
PY came to the house today to get him started.
Prayers for successful surgery and easy recovery. I still remember my panic when my husband was discharged after quadruple bypass surgery 12 years ago. He’s the RN not me!
Butter yellow thoughts – I have tried a few times over the years since I love it combined with olives, blues and brown but have never felt like me in it. I did wear a butter yellow dress for my son’s wedding 27 years ago but that was to coordinate with the wedding colors.
Make sure your Husband does the therapy and exercises. It makes thebhealing smoother. I have new knees but my sister has had both. Don’t be hard on yourself. Take it a day at a time.
Thanks Kay, I was ottally waisted yesterday so I am taking it easier today
Out patient hip replacement!!!! How lucky are we that we live in these times…. ❤️🙏❤️🙏. You will both ace this!
I was inspired by a previous post on butter yellow and purchased the butter yellow knit shirt. I love it! It works so well with my olive complexion ( I always say, it’s because I’m green!) and wore it with a gray cashmere sweater. I love pastels or “baby” colors compared to the bright neon versions. I purchased many, many years ago a butter yellow cashmere jacket from Talbots and wore it until it literally fell apart! It looked beautiful with flannel gray and camel. I even had a butter yellow sweater set that was also worn to shreds! It’s a beautiful color and is easily worn with grays, camel tan, jeans, white, etc. Thank you for reintroducing me to such a happy and soft color again.
I love yellow. Thirty-five years ago, I wanted a yellow dress for my daughter’s wedding and there wasn’t one to be found.
Best of luck to your husband today and as he heals. I have had both hips replaced and I echo the shared comments and would like to recommend that he buy or borrow an ice machine and use it as much as he can as he heals. That machine is a life saver.
We ordered one. Hopefully it will come soon
I just purchased a butter yellow cardigan. I received many compliments this winter when I wore a jersey cowl neck pullover in that color, so I guess it is a color I should embrace. When my husband had knee replacement surgery I didn’t realize how much I would be needed to help him maneuver daily routines like middle of the night runs to the bathroom, wrapping his leg in Saran Wrap (yes!) for a shower, and driving him to appointments. He did fine and I survived it too!
Hope your husband’s surgery and recovery go smoothly, and I know you will be a compassionate caretaker!
The two things that made the most difference in my quality of life in the first two weeks after my hip replacement were a rented hospital bed, so I could easily change position in the night when I wanted to turnover and couldn’t, and a basket on my walker to carry stuff with me. After a couple of weeks all was well and recovery very easy. Best of luck!
We have a bed that adjusts and it is so helpful
My husband has had both of his hips replaced. The recovery period was less than two weeks each time before he was up and walking unassisted. Praying for your husband to have an easy recovery too.
Prayers for your family as your husband undergoes his surgery today. 🙏
All the best.
Good morning! I have one pale yellow item… a v-neck cabled cotton pullover . Years ago I had my colors “done” and no one could decide if I’m a winter or a summer. So they suggested the less vivid winter colors and the more saturated summer ones. The pastel yellow in the winter colors is the same as my sweater! As long as it isn’t at all gold, and is very pale, I can wear it. Lately too many items seem too intensely yellow.
Healing prayers for your husband today.
Thank you
Your hubs will be soooooooo happy – rehab will be tough now and then and doing the exercises is vital and from what you have shared about him I am sure he will be on top of the routine. There still a few things (like Pilates leg circles) that are not suggested but five years out I find I can easily modify and circle! Mostly importantly his hip pain will be no more! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
I sure hope so. Hard to believe today tho
I have had both hips replaced and belong to the “why did I wait so long” camp. In my experience, the best thing to do is walk a little every day in the beginning and then just continue walking more. I did not do PT just walking and it changed my life. I walk 5 miles every day now and I’m 76.
Thank you!