By this time we all know that brights, otherwise known as “the almost-garish colors you forgot existed” are a staple for spring. One of the biggest colors is a yellow that you may remember seeing in blazer form in 1980s magazine spreads. Not everyone can wear this season’s saturated crocus-yellow shade, but it looks great with caramel and darker skin tones. (When in doubt, paler girls might want to stick to clear, light lemon yellows to flatter their complexions.)

Stars in the new yellow:
– J-Lo steps out in a yellow tunic dress (and matching bangle) in sunny Miami
– Rachel McAdams in the April issue of Elle: a high-fashion interpretation of strong yellow
– Jessica Alba at the MTV Movie Awards, in a gorgeous tulip-skirt strapless dress
– Beyonce’s leather jacket is a paparazzi magnet while she’s out and about in New York
– Kerry Washington looking stunning in a decidedly springlike (and extremely yellow) gown at the premiere of I Think I Love my Wife

Color pairing guide for spring/summer 2007’s yellow:
– with white: a fresh, summery combination that usually reads as preppy.
– with black: unless the clothes you’re wearing have shapes or details unique enough to steal the spotlight away from their colors, you’re in very real danger of looking like a bumblebee.
– with charcoal gray: an unexpected combination that really works, as gray is a neutral.
– with brown: brown will take the edge off the yellow, so you can use it to temper your look when you’re feeling a bit beacon-like.
– with denim: an easy way to introduce the shade into your wardrobe.
– with anything else: you’re venturing into risky territory, but you could experiment with an unapologetic red, pink, or blue.