Why Butter Yellow Is Suddenly Everywhere

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 several 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 more playfully 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.”