STYLE – Mustard Yellow

While here at The Gentleman’s Journal we’re all for trying out new trends, there’s one caveat with mustard yellow. You’ve really got to want to be wearing it.

It’s not a colour for the faint-hearted; it needs ‘pulling off’. If you look faintly self-conscious about wearing a colour accused by some of being stuck in the 70s, why not try this other season’s hot shade, burgundy?

For those willing to run the gauntlet, read on. We salute you.

Costume National (below) may be just a look for the brave – but it shows how well the tone goes with black. If you’re going to wear mustard yellow in block – another great trend this season – make sure whatever else you’re wearing is as strong as the mustard.

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Burberry’s SS14 show was all about the block colour – and we love what they did with mustard yellow. In a sweater underneath a strong blue coat, set off to perfection by hints of scarlett red and cyan blue, this is this colour at its greatest.

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Burberry had fun with footwear too; see below to buy similar brogues from Florsheim. Look how good a robust print works with the mustard; this colour needs standing up to, not shrinking behind.

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Another approach is to go earthy, like London’s own James Long did on the AW13 runway. Forest green, fawn brown and raw textures really get to grips with the mustard. The rustic vibe of these colours mean we keep this tactic for a casual look.

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Key Pieces

1. The simple tee, in a great tone. This is 1950s, sun-baked California: it’s asking to be paired with a stonebaked denim and some colourful sneakers – maybe the red or turquoise that Burberry sent down the runway.

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Levi’s cotton-jersey tee, £65 from Mr Porter

2. Perhaps more realistically for a British winter, here is Oliver Spencer’s key mustard yellow piece – a beautiful wool-blend, mid-weight roll-neck sweater. Wear it under an open trench coat and some navy cords.

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Sweater, £155 from Matches Fashion

3. This piece has so much going for it, we swoon. The product of a collaboration between Fred Perry and Sir Bradley Wiggins, this pack-away cagoule is light, practical and the warmest of mustards. It folds away into a tiny pouch.

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Cagoule, £ 125 from Terraces Menswear

4. Take a tip from Burberry and put mustard yellow on your feet. It’s a handy way to keep an element of surprise to your outfit – meet someone sitting down and they’ll be in for a treat when you stand up to reveal these exquisite wingtip Oxford brogues. These keep selling out though, so be quick.

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Florsheim, £297 from Lyst

By Charlotte Beale

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