Pippa Middleton’s sunshine yellow dress and voluminous waves at the US Open in 2012 was a combination that’s perfect for summer.
Many of us have our go-to neutral summer wardrobe staples that work for us without fail - whether it's a selection of floaty dresses, your best jumpsuits or linen co-ords. However, that doesn’t mean you should never mix things up and with the sun finally shining in the UK we’re certainly tempted to bring out our more colourful items too. Yellow might seem like a rather tricky tone to style, but a pop of sunshine yellow can be so striking and we’ve still not forgotten Pippa Middleton proving this with her pre-birthday outfit back in 2012.
The Princess of Wales’s sister attended the US Open Quarter Finals in New York the day before her 29th birthday wearing a vibrant yellow dress by Phase Eight, with her hair in beautiful waves. As with many of the clothes worn by Pippa, this piece was the epitome of timeless simplicity when it came to the design.
Shop Our Favourite Sunshine Yellow Pieces
Currently reduced in the summer sale, this midi dress is sure to make a statement whenever you wear it and it's not so formal that you couldn't easily wear this in the day with trainers or flat sandals. The pockets are a handy touch and it's made from breathable linen.
If you're not looking to dress fully in yellow but like the idea of a yellow accessory then this clutch bag is lovely. It also comes in a huge range of other colours and is big enough to fit your essentials. The shoulder strap is practical and the faux suede material adds texture to a look.
This knitted top is such an affordable way to incorporate a pop of yellow into your summer wardrobe. Appropriately named 'sunshine' the shade is stunning and the T-shirt is crochet-inspired, with classic short sleeves and a crew neckline.
Shop Essentials For Voluminous Waves
If you want your waves or curls to stay perfectly in place and keep their volume and texture then hairspray is the affordable product that makes all the difference. This one is extra strength and is an affordable addition to your styling process.
No matter the type of curls you want to create, if you're looking for a heat styler then this is well worth considering. The tapered barrel means you can create both big bouncy curls and softer, glamorous waves that last. It's suitable for all hair lengths and is lightweight and easy to use.
This blow-dry spray is designed to be applied to damp hair before styling and helps to strengthen strands and add flexible hold and shine. This is a great product to use if you want your waves to last for longer.
Pippa’s sunshine yellow dress had a classic shift shape to it, with a modest crew neckline and three quarter length sleeves. The skirt fell to just above the knee and all over the body of the dress was delicate lace which finished in a scallop hem at the bottom. The sleeves were unlined and so here the intricacy of the lace cut-outs was even more defined and gorgeous. Pippa Middleton’s dress came in two colourways, one of which was a creamy white, however she went all out for the US Open and went for the fabulous yellow option.
She’s never been afraid to wear bright colours and although red is one of her personal favourites, yellow is another one of those tones she’s worn a lot over the years. Sometimes Pippa sticks to more pastel yellow hues like the lemon yellow dress she wore to King Charles and Queen Camilla’s coronation but the bright yellow gave her tennis outfit a sense of fun.
The eye-catching colour had a warm undertone that looked sensational with her wedges and bag. Pippa accessorised with Russell & Bromley wedges with a jute sole and soft tan-toned uppers and carried a Kate Spade handbag with natural raffia detailing.
Both worked perfectly with Pippa’s dress and their pared-back colours meant that the yellow wasn’t overshadowed or overpowered in any way. This is a great trip if you want to wear more yellow this summer as neutral, classic accessories help to balance out the brightness of the hue.
To complement her outfit Pippa wore her glossy brunette hair in voluminous waves that she left loose, in a centre parting. Her hairstyle is something we want to recreate with our hair curling tools of choice and, of course, the best hair products for humidity now the weather is warmer.
When curling your hair, it’s important to remember that preparation is a step you shouldn’t miss out, if you want to make curls last longer.
"Preparation is absolutely key when it comes to styling curls," Adam Reed, legendary hairstylist and founder of ARKIVE previously told Woman&Home Digital. "Good prep will prevent the curls from coming out quickly. Try a blow-dry spray or lightweight mousse."
Pippa Middleton’s glamorous waves held in place throughout the Quarter Finals at the US Open and had plenty of volume too. In recent years she’s tended to wear her hair in looser waves or straight, though Pippa went all-out with a twisted, half-up, half-down look for the Wimbledon 2024 Men’s Singles Final that showcased similarly pretty curls.
-
If you like the butter yellow trend, you'll love the even brighter shade Eva Longoria's wearingWe all know butter yellow is huge news this year, and Eva's hot take on the trend is inspiring me
-
How is Race Across the World filmed? Exploring how the BBC reality series is madeAn incredible amount of planning and logistics goes into bringing the show to your TV screen
-
Kate Middleton broke royal tradition on wedding day after she ‘had her heart set’ on key detailThe Princess of Wales isn’t someone who breaks with royal tradition or protocol a lot, but she reportedly did on her wedding day.
-
Queen Letizia’s cropped Maje blazer has all the elegance of Chanel and it’s got us shopping boucle stylesThere are some items that make you feel instantly more put-together whenever you wear them and we think a boucle jacket is one of them.
-
Princess Eugenie gives knitwear a spring makeover with short sleeved jumper and satin skirt at poignant London visitPrincess Eugenie isn’t a working member of the Royal Family, but she’s a dedicated Patron of several vital charities and organisations.
-
Bye skinny jeans, hello palazzo trousers - Meghan Markle nails New York spring style with her ultra-wide leg lookJeans will never fully be replaced in my wardrobe but I’ve been finding myself drawn to wearing trousers more and more recently.
-
Kate Middleton is that you? Her floral dress, side-swept fringe and pink blazer deserve a comebackThe building blocks for the Princess’ signature style were always there in her looks and this outfit can easily be updated for 2025.
-
I’ve been writing about the royals for years - here’s what I predict Kate Middleton will wear at Easter (and what I wish she’d wear instead)All eyes will be on the Princess of Wales if she attends the Royal Family's Easter Sunday church service for the first time since 2023
-
Kate Middleton's go-to bag for special occasions is a wedding season essential you'll reach for time and time againThe Princess of Wales always reaches for the same elegant style of bag for formal events and it works beautifully for weddings.
-
Kate Middleton declares baker boy hats back for 2025 in new Love Actually-esque outfitThe Princess of Wales's signature style is all about timelessness but that doesn’t mean that she never gets on board with trends.
