It’s hard not to notice all of the yellow. I went shopping over the weekend and in the front of almost every store was a section of beautiful spring yellow garments. Perfect for lifting my mood. As we saw in the 2008 Pantone color forecast report, freesia is one of the spring season’s hottest colors.

The whimsy of a spring dress instantly makes me feel good every time I wear one. Anthropologie’s v-neck dress (left) is really versatile because you could dress it up with some pearls or go for a more casual look with a turquoise necklace. I love the burnt, ochre yellow of the sun. This color suited my friend beautifully on Sunday at brunch, just as it did on Kate Beckinsale at the recent SAG awards. My delightful friend commented that like on herself it’s a great color for fairer skin too.

And one of my all time favorite designers, Nicole Miller, has a wide array of yellow dresses this spring. I love her Yin Yang lurex jacquard dress (right) with the twist front bodice and silk trim. It’s the perfect kind of yellow because it’s not too loud. It might even go well with Monique — customized in the Bandelle design studio in golden jade with amber accents. This would quieten down the yellow even further by bringing in some warm, natural tones.

We all know that yellow and black work well together thanks to noted interior designer, Kelly Wearstler. Her iconic designs are so vibrant and dramatic, forcing you to sit down as you flip through her book, Modern Glamour. Wearstler has used the yellow and black combination in many of her hotel and residential interiors just as Catherine Malandrino designed this striking dress for spring 2008. As Malandrino says, “the vibrant colors are the perfect pick-me-up for colder days”. Perhaps Chantal in black onyx with sterling silver rondelles, customized in our Bandelle design studio, would really capture people’s attention because it echos the circle embroidery.

I think we can all learn a lot about color selection as we look through interior spaces and art around us. So I’ll leave you with some eye candy from Kelly Wearstler’s portfolio.

Image credits: Anthropologie, Nicole Miller, Piperlime, Catherine Malandrino, and Kelly Wearstler.