Given that these shades are consider 'complementary', why can a blue and yellow color palette be so disastrous in the wrong ...

Complementary colors live on opposite sides of the color wheel. Imagine red and green, blue and orange, or yellow and purple. Or move a half step over on the wheel, and combine a yellow-green color ...

If you feel yellow gold looks best ... material, or color. However, because those clothes go on you, and you have a natural hue to your skin, it's a good idea to pick colors that complement your skin ...