Butter Yellow Is The Colour Of The Year, And This Zara Dress Proves We’re Not Finished With It Just Yet

What's your favourite summer drink? An Aperol Spritz on a rooftop? A glass of rosé by the pool? Maybe even an iced matcha? For me, nothing says summer quite like Limoncello. It's a drink that instantly transports me to the south of Italy, where my only worry is when I'm next reapplying sun cream and what kind of pizza I'm having for lunch. However, that exact shade, lemon yellow, has slipped straight from our drinks and into our wardrobes this summer, emerging as the vibrant sister of the butter yellow trend we've all been obsessing over. Where butter yellow initially delivered a mellow, almost sorbet-like subtlety, Limoncello (or lemon) yellow arrives with an unmatched energy.

It's in this lemon hue that Zara's channelled into its latest mini dress, the Short Voluminous Dress - a design that epitomises summer dressing at its most elevated, and is practically made to wear to post-swim aperitivos. Daydreams of Italy aside, Zara's latest yellow mini dress packs quite the punch, with several chic details that elevate it far beyond its under-£40 price tag. It's the voluminous hem and cinched waist that first caught my eye, as it adds a little bit of interest to the dress without being too daring, while the round neck is perfect for pairing with a statement gold necklace.

Lemon yellow may seem like a more daring colour when compared to butter yellow, but actually, the bright colour means that it does most of the styling legwork for you. Plus, when Hailey Bieber says that butter yellow is 'played out', you do what she says, even if that means moving onto the next best thing. Style Zara's Short Voluminous Dress with a pair of white kitten heels and a matching white clutch for an evening spent exploring the nightlife Milan has to offer. Or, for days spent strolling in Positano, team the dress with ballet flats and a raffia tote bag (this Dragon Diffusion style has the ability to make any easy day outfit look infinitely more polished).

Just as Limoncello is more than just a drink (it's a state of mind at this point), Zara's Short Voluminous Dress in a similar bright hue is more than just another summer outfit. It not only taps into the essence of dopamine dressing, but it's also proof that donning your favourite sunshine shade can tap into that ineffable holiday spirit (even if your suitcases are now back in the loft). It's the sartorial equivalent of Euro summer, and one which we'll be longing for when the autumnal months soon draw in.

Shop: Alternative Mini Dresses

Main image credit: Instagram/@dilekstudzinski

Gemma Lavers is a fashion commerce writer at Grazia, where she tracks down viral pieces and is as comfortable navigating the M&S new-in page as she is dissecting the latest celebrity look. When not writing, shopping or at Reformer Pilates (a cliché but she's hooked), Gemma will likely be planning her next holiday (and what she's going to wear). For a glimpse into said travels, outfit inspo and life as a journalist, follow her on Instagram or TikTok.