What Colours Go With Mustard? How to Wear Mustard Clothes

The colours that go with mustard are navy, chocolate, olive, grey and washed black, along with leopard print, which picks up its warm, yellowy tones. Paired with any of them, mustard clothes work much like a neutral, and the one colour to keep away from mustard is black.

This season's mustard and turmeric pieces include the Blythe and Felicity knits, the Gwyneth and Trinny in fine merino and the Billie Barrel Leg Trousers. They all work with the same colours, and there is a section below on how to start if you do not usually wear much colour.

Why mustard is easier to wear than yellow

Plenty of people who would never wear yellow find mustard much easier, and the reason is the green in it. Our mustard and turmeric shades were chosen with a little green in them, which suits a wider range of skin tones than a true yellow. The green also gives the colour a richer, deeper feel, particularly beside chocolate. Hayley has never found yellow easy to wear herself, yet she has been wearing these shades all autumn for exactly that reason.

The knits, which sit closest to the face, have the most green in them. That includes the Gwyneth Fine Merino Roll Neck in mustard, the Trinny Fine Merino Crewneck in mustard with a dark olive cuff and the Blythe Funnel Neck Cropped Jumper in turmeric. The Billie Barrel Leg Trousers in mustard are a slightly punchier shade with less green, which works because trousers sit well away from the face.

Mustard is a little less expected than the neutrals most wardrobes are built on, but as Hayley puts it, “it does work in a really similar way to a neutral”. That is why it pairs so easily with the navies, chocolates and greys you may already own.

Mustard and navy

Navy is the classic partner for mustard, and the mustard lifts a dark navy so the whole outfit feels lighter. The Billie in mustard works with a navy knit such as the Alex Cashmere Blend Jumper. The neater Gwyneth in navy keeps the top half sleek against the fuller leg. There is more on balancing the shape in our guide to how to style barrel leg trousers.

Rinse wash denim does the same job as navy. The Blythe in turmeric with the Frankie Wide Leg Jeans in rinse wash is an easy pairing, because the mustard picks out the tobacco stitching on the jeans. Our guide to what to wear with wide leg jeans has more ideas for the Frankie.

With a navy knitted skirt such as the Mel Merino Blend Rib Skirt, the Felicity Loose Knit Striped Jumper in navy and mustard picks up the navy of the skirt. The Felicity Loose Knit Jumper in mustard gives more contrast. Both are covered in our guide to jumper and skirt outfits, and a chocolate brown shoe or a navy boot suits either one.

Mustard and chocolate

Chocolate makes mustard feel richer and more luxurious, which suits evenings and the party season. The Felicity in mustard is slightly sheer, so it already feels dressier than a chunky knit. With the Hazel Wide Leg Satin Trousers in chocolate, which have a matte satin finish and a flat front, it makes an easy outfit for an evening out.

The cropped Blythe in turmeric works with the Hazel in the same way, sitting at the waist without adding bulk to the sleek satin. The Billie in mustard goes just as well with chocolate as it does with navy, and the Blythe in chocolate is an easy knit to try it with.

Mustard and olive

Olive and mustard share an earthy, green undertone, so they sit together very naturally. The Trinny puts the two in one knit, either in mustard with a dark olive cuff or the reverse, dark olive with a mustard cuff.

For a bolder version, the Blythe in turmeric with the Billie Barrel Leg Faux Leather Trousers in olive and a leopard print shoe stays close to neutrals while feeling a little more joyful. The Jules Spot Blouse has a mustard spot on a dark base with a slight green tone, so it works with the Billie in olive or in mustard.

Mustard with grey and washed black

Grey and washed black are the gentlest way into mustard if you are new to colour, because they knock the shade back and bring out its earthiness. A mustard knit with the Billie Barrel Leg Jeans in washed black and a light grey coat gives an almost all grey outfit with a little mustard showing. The Ayla Wool Blend Reversible Jacket works well here on its lighter grey side, or on its charcoal side for more contrast.

The other way round works too, with the Billie in mustard and the Alex in charcoal on top. With washed black, the striped Felicity in navy and mustard feels a little edgier than the plain mustard Felicity, and both tone the mustard down. The Jules Spot Blouse works with washed black jeans as well.

Our guide to what to wear with black jeans has more on how washed black differs from a true black.

Mustard and leopard print

Leopard print has yellowy tones of its own, so it picks up mustard very easily. A leopard print shoe is the simplest way to bring it in, and it looks particularly good with mustard and olive.

For more print, the Billie Barrel Leg Trousers in leopard work with a mustard knit, and a neat roll neck such as the Gwyneth keeps the top half simple against the pattern. The Saffy Art Print Skirt, our collaboration with the artist Claire Hankey, has a very subtle mustard tone running through its print. The Felicity in mustard picks it out, which makes a less expected pairing.

How to start wearing mustard

If you do not usually wear colour, mustard is easiest at first in a trouser, away from the face, such as the Billie. A smaller dose works too, such as the contrast cuff of the Trinny or the stripe of the Felicity, and grey or washed black will soften the shade further.

Deciding on two colours to wear alongside your neutrals is the idea behind our guide to building an autumn capsule wardrobe. Mustard is an easy one to choose, because it behaves so much like a neutral. Our guide to how to style a jumper covers knit shapes and lengths in more detail, and there are more pieces in our knitwear and barrel leg trousers collections.

In short, mustard works with navy, chocolate, olive, grey, washed black and leopard print, and it is best kept away from black.

Frequently asked questions

What colours go with mustard clothes?

Navy, chocolate, olive, grey and washed black all go with mustard clothes, along with leopard print. With any of these beside it, mustard works much like a neutral.

Can you wear mustard with black?

Black is the one colour best kept away from mustard, because the two together can look like a bumblebee. Navy, charcoal or washed black give a similar depth without that effect.

Does mustard go with navy?

Navy is the classic partner for mustard, and the mustard lifts the navy so the outfit feels brighter. Rinse wash denim works in the same way, because it reads much like navy.

Can mustard be worn like a neutral?

Mustard is less expected than a neutral, but it works in a very similar way once it sits beside navy, chocolate, grey or olive. That is why it pairs so easily with the colours most wardrobes are already built on.

What colour shoes go with mustard?

A chocolate brown shoe or a navy boot suits mustard with navy, and a leopard print shoe picks up the warm tones of mustard with olive or chocolate.

How do you start wearing mustard?

Mustard trousers, which sit away from the face, or a smaller dose such as a contrast cuff or a stripe are the easiest ways in. Grey and washed black also soften the shade if you prefer to keep an outfit muted.