Decoding yellow shirts for men

When you think of the colour yellow, there is a sense of joy and calm. It is said that colours are one of the biggest factors when deciding on trends and themes. Indicative of different moods, every distinct hue defines how you are feeling and what is it that you would like to communicate.

Yellow is a hard-to-find shade when it comes to men’s fashion. Its counterpart, mustard, on the other hand, gets a lot of attention as a balancing colour, as a wonderful contrast option but yellow is often ignored. The reasons are many, however, the most prominent reason is that yellow is a tricky colour to style. A contrast too bold or too dull can take away from the essence of yellow and can ruin your entire look. Yellow t-shirts are far easier to style than yellow shirts, and that’s another reason it makes an appearance in the casual section. But here is a guide that should help you to style your yellow shirts with ease for all occasions.

Prints or solids

Now, everyone has a clear choice. One look at your closet and you will know whether you are a person who prefers patterns or solid shades. In either case, a yellow shirt works seamlessly.

Solids Shirts

From mustard, lemon yellow, dull yellow to a bright shade – all hues of yellow spell joy. You can pair a solid yellow shirt with almost anything but remember that the colour needs to be the centre of attention. Just like in all looks, we have one primary or base colour and all other hues should complement that. Solid yellow shirts give you the opportunity to experiment freely without compromising on personal style or going overboard with too many colours.

Stripes Shirts

For the curious fashionista, stripes are a blessing. If solids are too dull for you and abstract patterns too much – stripes make everything better. Striped yellow shirts can come in hues of blue, black, or varied shades of yellow. We definitely recommend keeping at least two to three yellow striped shirts to break the monotony of solids and to bring some diversity.

Striped shirts seamlessly make the transition from formal to casual and that gives you so much more space to experiment. Multifunctional pieces are rare to come by but are extremely useful.

Printed Shirts

We have often been advised to steer away from prints. But, we recommend having fun and enjoying the diversity that prints offer. Whether it’s a yellow shirt with Indian motifs, block prints or abstract designs – all that matters is how you choose to style it. If you are opting for a printed yellow shirt, we suggest choosing cotton for comfort and to avoid a jarring look that might take away from the base colour.

Pairings

When styling a men’s yellow shirt, one needs to keep in mind the pairings. Your shoes and pants have to be in a shade that complements the yellow shirt. You can add character to it by accessorising with your favourite watch or a quirky pocket square if the occasion allows. Here are a few pairings that work well with yellow shirts.

Navy blue

A pair of navy blue pants goes wonderfully with a well-tailored yellow shirt. The pants are a perfect contrast to the boldness of yellow. While the thumb rule is to pair a darker colour with a lighter colour, in this case, you can pair any shade of yellow with navy blue.

If it’s a formal occasion, we suggest sticking to formal pants. For semi-formal occasions, you can substitute a pair of formal pants with cotton chinos. Complete the look with dark brown or black shoes. If it’s a casual outing, you can even experiment with canvas shoes or sneakers. Remember, when you aren’t sure about the occasion or dress code – play safe.

White

This may come as a surprise and might be slightly difficult to pair but white is a wonderful contrast to yellow shirts. If you are trying this combination in a formal set-up, we suggest pairing a tailored pair of white pants with a striped or solid yellow shirt. Finish the look with a silver watch and a pair of black, formal shoes.

In a casual setup, you can let your imagination run and experiment freely. Replace the white formal pants with linen trousers and instead of tucking in your yellow shirt, you can go for a size larger and choose to not tuck it in. To complete the look, you can try a pair of sneakers or canvas shoes. For the more adventurous, you can also try a pair of kolhapuris.

Grey

An underestimated colour, grey hardly makes it to most wardrobes. However, it is not only a versatile shade but it also gives you a lot of room to experiment. With your yellow shirts, you can try shades of charcoal grey, platinum grey, and dark grey.

Remember that with each shade of grey, you will also have to experiment with the colour yellow. Whether you choose light yellow, mustard, or a deeper shade – it needs to come together as a complete outfit.

In a formal setting, you can experiment with charcoal grey, which is quite similar to black but offers a slight variation. A pair of straight charcoal grey pants and a lemon yellow shirt are just what bright Monday mornings at work are made for.

Changing the perception

In most formal settings and also to a large extent for casual events, bold colours are not given their due. One might think it’s too much for a workspace and too loud for a casual occasion. The key is to strike the right balance between comfort and style. If there is a colour or trend that you’d like to try, first find the most comfortable fit and fabric and henceforth move on to the styling.

Remember if you are uncomfortable, the safest of choices will not work for you. A well-fit, easy, breathable shirt takes precedence over any fashion rule. So the next time you want to try a bold colour like yellow, remember to keep it simple and comfortable.

What does a yellow shirt go with?

A yellow shirt with a pair of light or dark jeans will make a perfect combination for a semi casual, evening wear. But if you are wearing a yellow shirt for a party or an occasion, it would match with navy blue trousers or pair it with dark or light brown trousers or chinos for a smart appearance. You can try orange, beige, and green trousers for a funky look.

What happens when you bleach a yellow shirt?

Bleach could damage a yellow shirt, depending on the fabric. For example, it could leave patches on the shirt if the material is mainly cotton. Bleach mainly damages the fibers causing them to break and fall apart. You should avoid using bleach for colored shirts or clothes. Also, bleach can transform a yellow shirt into white. You can wash a yellow shirt in the washing machine or hand wash it delicately to preserve the color.