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?
It’s sad to be afraid of color. Yellow has been in my wardrobe since childhood, and I’m happy to see it trending. My mother said yellow made her look sallow (which I think was all in her head) so I got to wear the yellow for her.
I had my left hip replaced 8 years ago and just had my right knee replaced 3 weeks ago. I highly recommend making a medication chart with names of medications, frequency to take, instructions, and mark the time as you take them. My meds have such a variety of instructions, i.e. take 1x day, 2x day with food, every 4-6 hrs., try to spread intervals between doses, etc. It gets confusing. I also added a laxative column. There is also a great medication reminder app called Medisafe. You can have multiple profiles and they have some cute reminder sounds.
I also recommend an ice machine. They are available with a variety of features and start at $150 for a basic one or you can rent the top of the line machines that have programmed timers and do not need ice. I am icing as we speak.
Wishing your husband a speedy recovery. You get your rest too.
We are writing the meds down because it’s so hard to keep track of!
Perfectly normal to be concerned with your husband’s surgery, but how nice for him to be out of pain down the road.
I saw a whole display of soft buttery yellow at Nordy’s the other day and wondered how to style that color. I love how you’ve done it with the blue! Soft, fresh, spring vibes!
The save or splurge outfits today are another hard one. I picked the bag that was the spendy one but thought the save sweater looked more expensive.
Yellow – I too never wear yellow unless there is a faint hint in a scarf. I love seeing all the yellow daffodils in bloom.
So far no replacements for me. I always hear hip is the easiest to recover from – friends have had it done. But knees are a challenge – a small % have no major improvement and are in pain . My brother is still having knee issues 1 1/2 years later! Ouch!
Oh that is a shame, I’m sorry to hear it.
Thoughts and prayers for successful surgery and recovery . I know many friends who have had the surgery. Very good results for them .
I need to try on a buttery top to see how it looks . I am warm toned skin with silvery white hair . More white I think .
Jennifer, wishing you and your husband well with his surgery. A very good friend had hip replacement late in October, he was up and down his stairs within 4 days of the surgery and back on his bowling team last month. It is life changing for the good…..
Wishing your husband a successful surgery and a speedy and smooth recovery!
I am seeing lots of butter yellow, but it is not a color I wear except in scarves. It does not suit my cool coloring.
It’s funny but I’ve never experimented with it since I was in my 20’s, so I’m feeling it’s time. If not now (when it’s everywhere), when. And why not?😉 Thank you
I have had both knees and both hips replaced. The first hip went great. They fractured my ankle when they did the second hip. Had to leave the hospital in a boot and it really slowed my recovery. Also one leg is significatly shorter than the other one. PT is very important for recovery. Walking really helps. Prayers for a speedy recovery for your husbnad.
Even with the issues, I would do it again.
Wow, that’s rough. Thanks for sharing your experience Linda. I’m hoping he feels the same.
I had both hips and one knee replaced within a year. With the second hip, I was walking over a mile around the lake 9 days after surgery. I have had no issues and am so grateful every day for these replacements! Prayers for your husband ….. he should start moving around as soon as possible. I hope he forgets he even had the replacement soon, while he is busy leading his life!
Wow!! That’s so encouraging. Thank you for sharing. How long did you have to wait between the hip and knee. He needs a knee even more than a hip but they wanted to align the leg first.
I have loved colour my entire life (I am now 69), and yellow tops the list by a huge margin. In fact, my après wedding going-away outfit in 1977 was a 3-piece ensemble (slacks, skirt, and jacket) in a gorgeous butter yellow that I sewed myself. I, of course, have other colours in my wardrobe but if, say, a new sweater or shirt comes along, calling my name, my first colour choice is yellow.
I wish your husband a speedy recovery from his surgery.
That’s so fun! Thank you Elizabeth.
From my own husband’s experience with hip replacement healing & recovery, I think you will be pleasantly surprised by the speed of recovery and how little adjustment to active living it needs. All will be well…
Thanks Jan. I’m hoping so. They just took him back.
I had hip replacement 10 weeks ago today. The first few days were uncomfortable but I stayed ahead of the pain so it was tolerable. I used a walker for three weeks then a cane for a few days. Rapid improvement from the third week on. Now I have stiffness after sitting for awhile but totally normal mobility. I wish your husband well. It’s an amazing procedure.
Congrats on your surgery. I hope he gets his mobility back too
Thinking of you & your husband Jennifer & sending healing hugs from Brentwood Bay, Vancouver Island!
Nancy
Thank you
I haven’t been in the stores much over the past few months, but when I was recently I saw a lot of yellow. Like you, I wear mostly neutrals. I don’t have any yellow in my closet and I wasn’t even tempted by what I saw, but now that spring weather has arrived I’m wishing that I’d taken a closer look and tried on something in that colour.
Now that my eye is tuned to it I’ll be trying on a lot of it to test out.
I love butter yellow, such a bright cheerful color. I don’t have any butter yellow clothes, so I will keep an eye out. Good luck to hubby, I know he will be fine, the surgeons have this surgery down pat.
They sure do. He said the surgery will only take an hour!
I love bright yellow! It is such a happy color and I get so many compliments when I wear my vest
or floral scarf. Butter yellow is too washed out for me unless it is mixed in with a nice floral, stripe or plaid.
Wishing your husband the best. My SIL has had two replacements and has benefited a lot. Light yellow is nice on others, but if I’m going to spend the money on a new sweater, then I’ll purchase in my good colors. I bought a navy cardigan from Talbots several weeks ago to replace an old one and expect it to be a workhorse in my closet as well. I also got a burnt-red color, which is dressier, to spice things up a bit. These are my last purchases for the foreseeable future.
My friend decided after having hip surgery she wished she hadn’t waited that long. She was really good with her PT. I think that’s really important. My Mom would never wear yellow because she was really blond and felt it made her look washed out. I like it but am kind of on the fence about it I loved it when I was younger and had really dark hair but not so sure about yellow with silver hair. What do you think?💛
We will find out because I’m going to try a ton of it on! My hair is blond with lots of silver 😉
Best wishes for a successful operation and smooth healing process!
Thank you Susan
My husband has had both hips replaced. He waited a long time to decide on the first, and then was thrilled with the results. Second one started bothering him, and he immediately took care of it, even in though it was still during Covid. He is the peppiest 74 year old of our group and keeps up with our young grandchildren in biking, softball, hiking, racquet sports, etc. No more roller blading for him, but most everything else is a go! Committing to the physical therapy is the key. Take care of yourself in this recovery also – extra driving and chores for you in the interim! Best wishes!
That’s so encouraging! Thank you
Best of luck to your husband for a speedy recovery.
Thanks