Spring/summer 2025 trends are in, with butter yellow as the new color and polka dots as the latest “it” pattern. It seems impossible to go shopping these days without a sea of yellow or a collection of polka dots of all sizes.

The color yellow, commonly associated with sunshine, differs slightly from the description of “butter yellow.” Vogue.com described the color as “smoothly bridging the gap between elegant minimalism and sunny exuberance.” It ranges in color from a light yellow to an almost crisp white, where it is not too in your face, while also bringing the energy of luxury.

In particular, butter yellow has broken out on the runways this season, seen in Chanel, Miu Miu and more. It has also entered mass shopping, where places like Zara even have a section dedicated to butter yellow items on their website.

The trend has transcended fashion and entered appliances, where KitchenAid named it the 2025 color of the year. They described butter yellow as comfort and nostalgia and said, “The color yellow has the ability to transport you back in time, evoking some of the warmest memories.”

Butter yellow evokes a sunny disposition within people. It creates an outward transition from darker shades of the wintertime and announces that spring has arrived. As KitchenAid described, this shade can bring emotions of happiness and maintain the feelings found in butter. With its golden quality, butter evokes the best parts of a baked good: rich and creamy flavor and texture. Similarly, the color adds flavor and texture to an outfit, pairing best with neutral colors to give an outfit a “pop-out” effect. For these reasons, the quieter yellow has stolen the hearts of the broader fashion community.

Although polka dots have existed since the 19th century, they made a significant comeback in the 2025 spring/summer collections. Trendalytics found that searches for polka dots in 2025 were up 260%, proving the desire for the once-retro print.

This design is not limited to one size; these modern dots have taken on larger proportions or maintained their classic, smaller appearance. The options of the different appearances give this pattern diversity. While the most commonly seen version of polka dots is black and white, these new designs feature a range of colors, both on the pattern and the background.

With these fun trends entering our stores, it’s important to remember that clothes are for everyone and anyone. My own closet is colorful, but I’ve only recently started weaving more butter yellow into the mix. I feel this is a color to stay, given its blendable nature and softer tone from the more vibrant colors.

And to those who have been sporting polka dots since before their return, I encourage you to wear them proudly and celebrate believing in trend cycles. Once something goes out, it will always come back in!

Kayla Kramer is a rising senior at Stern College and lives in Teaneck.