Claire's Pick of the Best Yellow Shirt Tops Handpicked by Claire

A yellow shirt earns its place by doing what a white one does, only with more nerve. It works the same way through a wardrobe, sitting under tailoring, layered with knitwear, or worn open over a plain tee, but it carries a warmth that neutral shirting simply cannot offer. The shade matters more than people admit. A true, slightly muted yellow, closer to butter or ochre than anything acidic, sits well against most skin tones and avoids the slightly clinical look that a sharper lemon can bring under office lighting. Anyone building a case for one should look past the colour first and check the shirt basics: a collar with enough structure to hold its shape after a wash, a hem long enough to stay tucked without pulling loose, and a fabric with a bit of weight to it. Thin, papery cotton looks cheap by midday and creases in a way that reads as tired rather than relaxed.

Styling one is less about matching and more about balance. Yellow reads brightest against navy, grey, camel and black, all of which let it do the work without a fight. Denim is the easy option, tucked into straight leg jeans with the sleeves rolled for daytime, or left loose over tailored trousers for something that reads more considered.

For colder months, a fine knit vest or cardigan layered on top mutes the brightness slightly and stops it from looking like a single, shouty statement. It also does useful work under a blazer, where a flash of collar or cuff at the edges adds warmth to an otherwise neutral suit.

Occasion wise, this is a category that flatters daytime far more naturally than evening. It suits meetings that need a bit of energy without looking like an attempt to be noticed, weekend lunches, and any outfit that needs lifting out of the ordinary without changing its silhouette. Worn with tailored shorts or a linen skirt, it becomes obvious summer dressing. Buttoned into a blazer with dark trousers, it becomes something closer to office armour with a bit of personality. The mistake is treating it as a novelty piece for one bright afternoon. Treated properly, with attention to fit and fabric rather than just the colour, it behaves exactly like any other good shirt, only better company on a dull day.