From canary to neon, next season's trend for yellow is already taking the red carpet by storm

You know a trend is a major one when, regardless of how challenging, stars persist in braving it on the red carpet.
That certainly seems to be the case with the colour yellow, which has become a fast favourite with the A-list in recent weeks.
From Kirsten Dunst in Stella McCartney and Rodarte to Paula Patton at the Golden Globes in Monique Lhuillier, the hue has taken hold in a major way.

Yellow fever: Maria Menounos in Blumarine at the Golden Globes (left), Kirsten Dunst in Rodarte and Stella McCartney at a party for Rodarte (centre) and Willow Smith at the BET Honours (right)

Though the spectrum can range from delicate lemon to greenish chartreuse, the vogue this season really seems to be for a primary bright.
Maria Menouno's Blumarine dress for the Golden Globes was a classic example. The Big Bird yellow hue alone is not for wallflowers, the dazzling sequins made it bolder still.

Of course that is quite a love-it-or-hate-it look. More vintage-inspired takes on the colour have won wider praise.
Will Smith's daughter Willow, 11, continued to prove her precocious fashion acumen in a yellow gown at the BET Honours event last week.

Anything but mellow: Paula Patton in Monique Lhuillier at the Golden Globes (left) and Camilla Belle in Carolina Herrera at the Art of Elysium gala earlier this month (right)

Bright ideas: Yvonne Strahovski in Jenni Kayne at a Golden Globes after party (left), Minka Kelly at the Art of Elysium gala in Oscar de la Renta (centre) and Mireille Enos in Naeem Khan at the Golden Globes (right)

And Mireille Enos looked elegant at the Golden Globes in an embroidered gown by First Lady favourite Naeem Khan.
Give it a geometric shape, or a neon take on the hue, though, and suddenly it looks contemporary. Camilla Belle's Carolina Herrera dress for the Art of Elysium gala earlier this month was at once modern and uncompromisingly feminine.
More streamlined silhouettes came in the form of the Oscar de la Renta gown worn by Minka Kelly at the same event and Yvonne Strahovski's Jenni Kayne dress for a Golden Globes after party.

Short story: Elizabeth Olsen in Emilio Pucci at the Critic's Choice Awards (left), Jennifer Hudson in Roland Mouret at her book launch (centrea) and Kyra Sedgwick in Reed Krakoff at her latest premiere (right)

The colour has proved equally effective with shorter hemlines, as seen on Elizabeth Olsen, Jennifer Hudson and Kyra Sedgwick lately.
And it's even filtered into the off-duty looks of Jennifer Lopez, Taylor Swift and Hilary Duff.
Yellow is not an all-or-nothing situation though. Diane Kruger and Elle Fanning proved that just a flash of the sunshine shade was enough to make a statement at the Critic's Choice Awards.
Miss Kruger's Prada gown, with its panels of grey, cream and lemon achieved that rare balance of unusual without looking like she was trying too hard.
Elle's floaty Rodarte sunflowers made for an imaginative choice too, demure enough for her 13 years, yet interesting enough to demonstrate fashion clout.

Off-duty: Jennifer Lopez at American Idol auditions (left), Taylor Swift shopping in a yellow skirt (centre) and Hilary Duff showing off her bump at an event in Santa Monica (right)

Ray of light: Diane Kruger in Prada (left), Elle Fanning in Rodarte (centre) and Charlize Theron in Stella McCartney (right) prove you don't have to wear yellow head-to-toe to make it work

And Charlize Theron looked beyond elegant in her grey and yellow Stella McCartney printed pencil dress with peplum.
But those inspired to attempt the look should be warned, without an A-list army of stylists, this can be a tricky colour to pull off.
Bolder shades can make those with fair skin look washed-out, while neons can overwhelm even the most dazzling personalities.
Shrinking violets need not steer clear entirely though, accessories, like shoes, bags and belts are a perfect way to tap into the trend without going over-the-top.