What colors go with mustard yellow?

Navy, dark grey, cream, olive and burgundy. Mustard is a muted, golden yellow, so it looks best with partners that share its earthiness.

Find what fits me best

What to wear with mustard yellow

mustard yellow #D1A11C
navy blue #1F2A4D

Mustard yellow and navy blue

Opposites on the color wheel High contrast

Mustard is a deep yellow and navy a dark blue, close to opposites on the wheel, so each makes the other look more intense. Navy's darkness also gives mustard a strong light-dark contrast, which keeps the pair crisp rather than muddy.

When to wear it: All year: a mustard sweater with navy pants, a navy dress with a mustard cardigan, a mustard scarf on a navy coat, navy and mustard stripes on a summer tee. It suits casual offices and weekends.

What to avoid: Keep mustard to the accent or the single top; a mustard suit with navy everything else can look like a team uniform. A bright royal blue in navy's place makes mustard look dirty by comparison.

Suits: Bright Spring Deep Autumn

mustard yellow #D1A11C
dark grey #4A4D52

Mustard yellow and dark grey

Neutral base Medium contrast

Dark grey is a quiet, cool neutral that lets mustard be the only warm, colored thing in the outfit, so it looks deliberate. The contrast is softer than with black, which keeps mustard from looking like a warning sign.

When to wear it: Autumn and winter at the office: a mustard knit with charcoal dress pants, a dark grey suit with a mustard tie, a mustard coat over a dark grey dress. A grey and mustard check or herringbone works in a skirt or jacket.

What to avoid: A mid grey at mustard's own depth flattens both into a dull, dusty look, so keep the grey dark. A charcoal with a strong blue cast can also make mustard look slightly green.

Suits: Deep Autumn Bright Spring

mustard yellow #D1A11C
cream #F2E8CF

Mustard yellow and cream

Tonal: one color, light and dark Medium contrast

Cream is a pale, softened yellow, so with mustard it forms a tonal outfit: one warm hue in a light and a deep version. The lighter shade keeps mustard from feeling heavy and gives the whole look a gentle, sunlit glow.

When to wear it: Spring and early fall: a mustard skirt with a cream blouse, a cream cable knit with mustard corduroys, a mustard trench over a cream dress. Tan or cognac shoes make it a warm, all-earth outfit.

What to avoid: Bright white in cream's place looks cold and cuts the outfit in two. Leave out a third yellow between them, or the outfit loses its shape.

Suits: Warm Autumn Deep Autumn Warm Spring

mustard yellow #D1A11C
olive green #708238

Mustard yellow and olive green

Neighbors on the color wheel Low contrast

Olive and mustard share a muted, earthy warmth and sit near each other on the wheel, yellow beside yellow-green. Together they look natural and relaxed, the colors of a field in late summer.

When to wear it: Fall weekends and travel: an olive jacket with a mustard sweater, mustard pants with an olive shirt, a mustard beanie with an olive parka. Brown leather boots and a denim shirt complete it.

What to avoid: Both are mid-deep and muted, so without a lighter or darker piece the outfit can look drab. Add cream, white denim or dark brown, and leave out khaki, which makes all three blur.

Suits: Warm Autumn Deep Autumn

mustard yellow #D1A11C
burgundy #800020

Mustard yellow and burgundy

Contrasting hues High contrast

Burgundy and mustard sit a third of the wheel apart, one a deep wine red and the other a golden yellow, both softened by a touch of brown. The difference in depth gives the pair contrast, and their shared softness keeps it harmonious.

When to wear it: Fall and winter: a burgundy dress with a mustard scarf or tights, a mustard sweater with burgundy cords, a burgundy blazer over a mustard shirt. It suits Thanksgiving dinners and cozy holiday gatherings.

What to avoid: Equal blocks of the two can look heavy and old-fashioned, so let one lead. A bright cherry red in burgundy's place turns the outfit loud and fights mustard's softness.

Suits: Deep Autumn

Which of these flatter you depends on your color season. Find my season →

Colors to keep away from mustard yellow

- yellow #F5CB2A
A bright, clean yellow next to mustard makes mustard look dirty and brownish, because the eye reads it as the faded version. Two yellows work only when one is clearly paler, like cream or butter yellow.
- hot pink #E8178A
Mustard's golden, earthy depth has nothing in common with an electric, blue-based pink. Beside it the mustard looks dull and the pink garish, and the outfit splits into two moods. For a pinkish note with mustard, a warm coral or peach shares its golden undertone.

Step 1 / 1

Take a selfie in daylight

Face a window, without makeup if you can, hair as it naturally falls. Daylight and no filter keep your real skin tone — colored lamps and beauty filters change the result.

🙂

Your selfie is used for your reading and saved in your private Color Suite only if you go on to a try-on. Never shared, never used for training.

Hold a lemon yellow next to a mustard sweater and the difference is plain. Mustard is yellow deepened with a little brown and green, the shade of the condiment and of late-autumn leaves: warmer, darker and softer than a sunflower yellow. That is exactly what makes it wearable, since it adds color to an outfit without the glare. Chunky knits, corduroy and suede show it at its best.

Cool coloring is the group that struggles with mustard: up by the face it can make the skin look sallow, so a skirt, pants or a bag is the better place for it. Warm coloring, from golden to deep and rich, wears it easily, and so does bright, warm coloring. Its easiest partners, navy and dark grey, are both deeper than it is. Cream keeps it light, olive keeps it earthy, and burgundy makes it richer for the colder months.

FAQ

Does mustard yellow go with black?

It can, but the combination is strong: black and a golden yellow are the colors of a bee or a warning sign, so the effect is graphic. Mustard flatters warm coloring that black tends to overpower, so keep the black away from your face: black jeans or ankle boots under a mustard sweater. For a softer version, swap the black for dark brown or charcoal.

What color pants go with a mustard sweater?

Dark denim, navy, charcoal and dark brown pants are the easiest, because they are deeper than mustard and let it stand out. Cream or white jeans make a lighter spring version, and olive or burgundy cords suit a more colorful fall outfit. Khaki or tan at mustard's depth looks washed out.

Is mustard yellow a warm color?

Yes, clearly warm. It is yellow with brown in it, so it carries a golden, earthy undertone. That is why it suits Warm Autumn and Deep Autumn, along with Warm Spring and Bright Spring, and why it looks most natural with browns, olive, cream and rust.

What color shoes go with a mustard dress?

Brown leather in tan, cognac or dark brown is the natural choice, since its warmth repeats mustard's. Burgundy shoes add a deeper color for fall, and navy or black ankle boots ground the dress in winter. White sneakers keep it casual in summer. Bright yellow shoes make mustard look dirty, and silver looks cold next to it.

Does mustard go with denim?

Very well. Denim is a muted blue, so it sits across the wheel from mustard and makes it glow. A mustard sweater with dark-wash jeans is a simple fall outfit, and a mustard top with light-wash denim works in spring. Darker washes give more contrast and look smarter.