Last season it was purple. Shortly before that it was metallics. But this season's must-wear colour is arguably the brightest of the bunch: yellow. Pretty much every spring/summer catwalk show featured the sunshine shade in some shape or form, and those hot-off-the-starting-blocks high-street stores have been quick to follow with a dazzling display of mellow yellow dresses, separates and accessories in every shop.

So who does yellow suit best? For formal occasions, full-on frocks and tops look great on those with darker or tanned skin - as Ugly Betty star Vanessa Williams demonstrated with two stunning looks in one busy weekend. The actress wore a 50s-style flared frock in pale yellow to the Directors Guild of America Awards - then adopted a sexier style for the following day's Screen Actors Guild Awards, with an off-the-shoulder, split-to-the-thigh mustard yellow gown.

Meanwhile, Katie Price made the most of her extended winter holiday down under by sporting a cute yellow sundress that showed off her golden tan.

However, if you have paler skin or blonde hair, an all-out yellow outfit can leave you looking a tad washed-out. Instead, try mixing up your colourways - pair yellow tops with jeans, or look for patterns and styles that incorporate yellow. For example, we love the gorgeous sunflower-print dress by Per Una at Marks & Spencer (£45; www.marksandspencer.co.uk). It features bold floral prints with those all-important touches of bright yellow: just looking at it makes us feel like summer's here already.

Beyond patterns, however, you can always give a nod to the yellow explosion with your shoes and accessories. Needless to say, celebrities have already been leading the way - with yellow bags, scarves and footwear much in evidence in the latest crop of paparazzi and red-carpet shots. If you're feeling brave, you could follow German actress Diane Kruger's example and pair yellow shoes with a classic black dress. Try Jane Shilton for gorgeous peep-toe heels in daffodil yellow (£69.99 www.janeshilton.co.uk).