Wednesday, August 26, 2026

Not Black, Not White: This Is the New Neutral I'm Wearing for Fall 2026

Tessa Faye O'Connell is a contributor known for her work at various fashion houses, specializing in media and public relations, currently working at Coach as its global PR director. She's a mom of two, working to expand her influence in the fashion space through styling while also just making it out the door on time.

I have a dear friend I met in the industry who has been praising butter yellow since I met her, but for some reason, the full allure of it finally hit me this year. I always believed yellow was too bright or didn't complement my pale skin tone (shout-out SPF 50 year-round!), but I've come to love it as the perfect neutral or pop of color—depending on what day it is.

It's been one of my favorites to rely on this season, and when I travel for work in warmer weather, it makes an outfit feel special without any bold prints necessary. Butter yellow pairs well with all colors of footwear, and I look forward to throwing it underneath a denim jacket and pairing it with jeans all fall.

If you needed a push to try the color finally, here it is.

Butter-Yellow Dresses

Tessa Faye O'Connell wearing a butter yellow dress.

(Image credit: Tessa Faye O'Connell)

Sticking true to summer, this color in dress form makes everything more cheerful and enjoyable and looks great with a denim jacket when you have to emerge into freezing air conditioning.

Butter-Yellow Sweaters

You know I love a sweater, especially one that I can throw on over an all-white outfit or transition seamlessly to the fall.

Butter-Yellow Bags

Tessa Faye O'Connell wearing a butter yellow bag.

(Image credit: Tessa Faye O'Connell)

I was already obsessed with this clutch from The Horse, but it also being in this perfect hue makes it even more fun.

Butter-Yellow Pants

Tessa Faye O'Connell wearing butter yellow pants.

(Image credit: Tessa Faye O'Connell)

You know I love drawstring pants, and yellow is perfect all spring and summer long for work or weekends.

Butter-Yellow Blazers

Tessa Faye O'Connell wearing a butter yellow blazer.

(Image credit: Tessa Faye O'Connell)

I love a classic blazer, but sometimes, you want to feel a little elevated but not too loud for a meeting or client dinner. This elevated color stands out but is not too dramatic.

Butter-Yellow T-Shirts

Why not elevate your favorite basic T-shirt with this color?



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My Curls Only Ever Looked Good on Wash Day, Until I Discovered These 9 Refresh Sprays

I’ve written extensively over the years about my rather complex relationship with my hair, and how it’s only now that I’m in my thirties that I’ve really learned to truly embrace it in its natural form. Now, on wash day, I can say that I really love how my hair looks. When my strands are freshly-washed, conditioned and styled (and as an air-dry loyalist I say styled in the loosest sense of the word) my loose curls and waves have definition and bounce and make me wonder why I ever complain about my hair. By day two, however, it’s a different story. I usually wake up to find that some of my curls have flattened, whilst others have become frizzy, dry or lost their shape altogether. And by day three, despite my hair not really needing a wash still, I’ve usually reached the point where lathering up again is my only option unless I want to tie it all up and avoid looking at it.

Olivia Dean with curly hair

(Image credit: @rachelpolycarpe)

That is, until I discovered curl refresh sprays. Rather than soaking my hair with water and attempting to reshape my curls and waves, or starting the entire wash day routine again, a curl spray is an easy shortcut to encourage your texture to spring back into shape. And they’ve been a genuine game-changer for me. Particularly this summer, where I’ve been juggling childcare, work and holidays and welcome a beauty shortcut wherever possible

What Is a Curl Refresh Spray?

“A curl refresh spray is designed to reinvigorate and enhance curly to wavy hair types, helping you get an extra day or so out of your styling without having to wash, condition and dry your hair from wet,” explains Issie Churcher, creative director at STIL Salon. And while curly girls will be used to having a misting bottle of water on hand to help with styling second and third day curls, using a dedicated curl refresh spray does have added benefits. “They contain ingredients that are not only helpful at wetting down the hair, but they also provide a light conditioning benefit,” says Churcher. “This can help to define and re-sculpt curls, while also adding shine and vitality back into the hair.”

Mica Ricketts before using a curl refresh spray

Second-day hair before using a curl refresh spray. (Image credit: Mica Ricketts)

How to Use a Curl Refresh Spray

“For best results, start by lightly misting in sections, working down the hair from roots to the mid-length and ends,” says Curcher. She recommends avoiding the roots if you have a finer texture to prevent them from looking oily. “Depending on your curl type, a wide-tooth comb or your fingers can be useful for smoothing down the hair, or a light scrunch can be effective at allowing the product to disperse and coat the hair evenly.”

Celebrity hair stylist Sam McKnight MBE suggests twisting your hair around your fingers to really enhance the curl after using a curl refresh spray. “For tighter coils, they can be used to style your twists or braid-outs by simply misting evenly through hair and styling. Allow hair to dry before unravelling for a softer, elongated look without the frizz,” he explains. You can even add a little heat with a diffuser if you want to speed up the drying process.

Mica Ricketts after using Hair by Sam McKnight Cool Curls Refresh & Revive Mist.

After using a curl refresh spray. (Image credit: Mica Ricketts)

The Best Curl Refresh Sprays

1. Hair by Sam McKnight Cool Curls Refresh & Revive Mist

Mica Ricketts holding Hair by Sam McKnight Cool Curls Refresh & Revive Mist

(Image credit: Mica Ricketts)

2. Living Proof Style Refresh Mist

Mica Ricketts holding Living Proof Style Refresh Mist

(Image credit: Mica Ricketts)

3. JVN Air Dry Volumizing Wave Spray

Mica Ricketts holding JVN Air Dry Volumizing Wave Spray

(Image credit: Mica Ricketts)

4. Only Curls Curl Refresh Spray

5. Cantu Shea Butter Comeback Curl Next Day Revitalizer

6. Kérastase Curl Manifesto Refresh Absolu Spray

7. Garnier Method for Curls Shape Refresh Spray

8. Gisou Honey Milk Active Repair Leave-In Conditioner

Mica Ricketts holding Gisou Honey Milk Active Repair Leave-In Conditioner

(Image credit: Mica Ricketts)

9. Innersense I Create Waves

How We Tested

I put a variety of curl refresh sprays through their paces, testing them on my hair on days two and three to see how they performed in terms of revitalising texture, reducing frizz and adding definition. As someone who isn’t a huge fan of feeling product in my hair, I also considered their texture and whether they felt lightweight and non-sticky. Plus, I tried to include a range of price points here too.

Why Trust Us

At Who What Wear UK, we know that beauty isn’t one-size-fits-all. Our editors have tested thousands of products over the years—spanning skincare, makeup, hair and nails—and work closely with trusted experts including dermatologists, makeup artists and leading industry insiders to ensure every guide is well-researched, inclusive and relevant to you.

We focus on formulas that deliver, whether they’re affordable favourites or luxury investments. Our product selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how and what we’d truly recommend to a friend.



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Tuesday, August 25, 2026

Before It's Time For Boots, These Are the Anti-Trend Closed-Toe Shoes It Girls Always Wear First

As you know, we're entering that weird transitional time of year in which it's still warm outside, but school buses are on the streets and Labor Day is right around the corner. Fall is coming, and soon we'll stow away the flip-flops in favor of shoes that are a bit more substantial. That said, it's not quite time to start wearing boots. So what staple shoe style do It girls reach for pre-boots as we move into early fall each year? Closed-toe mules. We recently put flat slipper mules on your transitional shoe radar, via Vittoria Ceretti, and now another It girl, Zoë Kravitz, is wearing the high-heel version of the style.

While out in NYC today, Kravitz was spotted wearing a black lace-trimmed camisole with denim shorts. To make the summery outfit significantly more appropriate for fall, she opted for the aforementioned high-heel closed-toe mules instead of sandals or ballet flats. It's not a trendy shoe, per se, as it's around in one form or another year after year, and if you ask me, that makes high-heel closed-toe mules even better. Keep scrolling to see Kravitz's styling for yourself and shop some of the internet's best pairs.

The Transitional Heels on Zoë Kravitz

Zoë Kravitz wearing wraparound sunglasses, a red beaded necklace, a black lace-trim camisole, denim shorts, a raffia The Row bag, and black closed-toe high-heel mules

(Image credit: T.JACKSON/Backgrid)

Zoë Kravitz wearing wraparound sunglasses, a red beaded necklace, a black lace-trim camisole, denim shorts, a raffia The Row bag, and black closed-toe high-heel mules

(Image credit: Backgrid)

On Zoë Kravitz: Thistles sunglasses

Get the Look

Shop More Closed-Toe High-Heel Mules



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Not Black, Not White: This Is the New Neutral I'm Wearing for Fall 2026

Tessa Faye O'Connell is a contributor known f...