For fashionistas everywhere, the annual Fashion Week shows are the only religious instruction needed.  Every year, our favorite designers take to the catwalks to showcase their latest collections – the Gospel according to the world of fashion and one which dictates what we’ll be wearing for the year.  Although it’s safe to ignore some of the offerings from the catwalk – for example, this year’s ‘cage’ trousers which not only look odd but may get you arrested if you’re not careful, a large number of trends make their way from the catwalk to the shopping mall.

Amongst this year’s trends, there were two stand-outs – and they were both color related.  Color has always played a huge role in the fashion industry and, this year is no different as the brightest stars of the catwalk showed us how it’s done.  Naeem Khan, Christian Siriano and Brandon Maxwell – who has dressed the likes of Lady GaGa and Meghan Markle – all featured collections in yellow and neon brights including green and pink.  As always, it didn’t take long for the usual celebrities to jump on the bandwagon and, soon, the likes of Kim Kardashian and Blake Lively were seen (they could hardly be missed) sporting the new trend.  Although neon worked for Kim and her sister at Larsa Pippen’s birthday party this week, for us mere mortals this trend is a little harder to pull off in 2019 – in fact, we haven’t seen these particular shades on the streets since the 1980s (think Wake Me Up Before You Go Go and those neon leg-warmers!). It’s always important to choose the right shade for your coloring in order to avoid looking washed out and, this is even more vital with bright colors so,  we’ve put together our guide to this year’s neon brights and yellows – and how to make them work for you.

On Vacation

Even the most conservative of us like to brighten things up whilst on vacation – whether it’s the sunny weather or the heady feeling of freedom, this is a time when we’ll often wear clothing that we wouldn’t dream of wearing in the real world.  For that reason, this is the perfect time to dip your toe in the waters of neon brights. Swimsuits, shorts and cute sundresses lend themselves perfectly to the neon trend – and, if you’re feeling brave, you can even add accessories such as hats and sandals.

Festivals

Popular with everyone from teen pop fans to veteran enthusiasts who’ll tell you (repeatedly) that they saw Jimi Hendrix at the Isle of Wight, music festivals are the pinnacle of the summer season for many.  If you’ve ever attended a music festival, you’ll know that the term ‘shy and retiring’ rarely applies to your average festival-goer. Ever since the days of Woodstock, for the most part, festivals live by the mantra ‘anything goes’ – and, this includes fringing, fancy dress and neon – lots and lots of neon.  Festival season is also a great time to try your hand at some funky prints – affordable online stores sell some great, brightly colored printed fabric designs in small quantities so, you can even make your own accessories for a completely unique festival look. Even if you’ve never worn it before, a festival is a perfect time to try your hand at this trend, safe in the knowledge that you’ll be amongst ‘your people’.  If you’re not ready to go full-on, stand-out bright, try a statement neon tee with denim shorts or bright accessories such as earrings, bandanas, and hairbands. 

The pool party

If there’s one event that’s just crying out for a splash of neon, it’s the pool party.  Cocktails, loungers and relaxed fun call for an informal dress so match your outfit to your drink with and neon bright bikini or over the top one-piece.  This is one that the kids can get in on too so hunt out those super-brights for the little ones.  

The office

Yes really!  OK, we’re not advising you to show up to work in an outfit that puts those multi-colored Post-Its to shame but, when done properly, it’s possible to sneak this trend into your working life.  For the more laid back office, try a skirt or dress featuring neon panels against a more neutral background. For those working in a more formal environment, you can still get on board with neon by adding a colorful accessory such as a brooch or bracelet. 

Mellow Yellow

What’s that?  We haven’t got you convinced by neon?  OK, we hear ‘ya – don’t worry, you can still grab yourself a slice of 2019’s color trend.  This year’s catwalks were awash with yellows – from delicate primrose to eye-popping neon. Many of our favorite designers, including Escada, embraced the trend with many featuring models sporting the shade from head to toe.

Although the idea of dressing in yellow may bring to mind images of Big Bird, there are some surprisingly feminine and understated shades out there for the more conservative dresser.  Versatile and on-trend, the following will help you to find the right yellow for you!

Despite being hailed as ‘this year’s color, yellow in the fashion world goes back a teeny bit further than that.   

Back in Victorian times, people believed that yellow was the color of light and sun and, as such, added a glow to the skin.  Ladies of that time were fond of adding yellow to their wardrobe in subtle shades for daywear and slightly brighter hues for seaside vacations as well as shimmering gold shades for the evening. 

Today, yellow is still seen as a cheerful and energy-giving shade and, we take a look at some of our favorites: 

Mustard

A ‘70s staple, mustard is a great way of adding a touch of this year’s favorite color without being mistaken for a Hazmat worker.  For the office, try a chic mustard-colored blouse with a dark skirt or mustard trousers with a black tee for a cool, laid back look.  You can even carry this shade through the colder months with a mustard trench or winter coat – take a style tip from the Queen of Style herself, Audrey Hepburn, and her infamous Givenchy mustard-colored coat with oversized buttons.  

Primrose

Delicate and feminine, this pretty shade of yellow is huge for 2019 and offers a welcome change from white or cream.  One of the best things about this shade is that it can be worn literally anywhere – from a formal workplace to a chic garden party to that well-deserved vacation.  Try pairing a delicate primrose blouse with tailored trousers for a professional look or go for a flirty sundress in this ultimately sunny shade. Not just for the commoners, this shade is so flattering that even the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, chose the shade in the form of an Alexander McQueen out for the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.  Unfortunately, the Duchess sparked rumors of a rift between herself and Ms. Markhle when her outfit, when photographed in bright sunlight, was mistaken to be white (a no-no for a woman attending a wedding as a guest). 

Lemon

If ‘go large or go home’ is your motto then, lemon is the shade for you.  Bold and bright, this shade is a crowd pleaser and can be worn in a number of ways.  For those with a strong sense of the literal, you can find lots of fun cheerful items with actual lemon prints for a zesty, sunshiny look (this one is also great for those still working their way up to color block lemon).  For the more daring, a color pop lemon blouse or shirt paired with electric blue makes an instant statement and, neatly combines two of this year’s most popular trends.  

At this year’s shows, Vivienne Westwood managed to combine the neon bright and yellow trends with a touch of her usual controversy.  Reactions were mixed as the iconic British designer added slogans – some of the inflammatory – to her Spring / Summer 2019 shows. Never one to take a back seat, the designer is famous for being outspoken and bold – which is just as you would expect from the woman who was a huge part of the 1970s punk revolution.

If this season’s neon brights and yellows are a step too far out of your comfort zone, don’t worry – we’ll be back with our color predictions for Fall / Winter 2019 which, rumor has it, includes sophisticated greens and the ever popular rust and camel shades.