Fashion: Cut the mustard

To wear this season's hot colour, take inspiration from cyclists and deep-sea fisherman. And beware of the malevolent influence of Big Bird and Rupert the Bear, says Susie Rushton

Golfers, deep-sea fishermen, Tour de France cyclists and Norwich City football club. Not the most obvious style icons one could hope for, granted, but they are all streets ahead in fashion terms this season because of their affinity with the colour yellow.

Perhaps a more convincing source of custard-coloured inspiration is Miuccia Prada's spring/ summer 2005 catwalk. A long-time fan of yellow, Prada this season has splashed the sunny shade across both its eponymous line and the Miu Miu diffusion, often combining it with beige to temper its brightness. That's where Big Bird went wrong: such is the impact and irrepressible zing of yellow, you only need a single element - as minor as a tie - to make a statement. If you're feeling braver (and given that we've already seen a couple of recent seasons in which bright colours figured heavily, you should be), a yellow shirt, polo shirt or even a raincoat are the best ways to wear the hue.

In the past, yellow has unfairly been labelled difficult to wear; in fact, you just have to choose how you combine it with care. But whatever anybody tells you, avoid yellow trousers. Unless your name is Rupert the Bear.