Finding your Nude – a Lingerie Guide

Sometimes you want your lingerie to stand out and sometimes you want it to disappear.
Getting it to disappear is the harder challenge.
~dievca

Shopping for so-called “nude” lingerie can be  a source of incredible frustration for people. dievca? Her skintone goes yellow/olive in winter and brown bear in the Summer. Most items labeled nude are in fact a specific kind of peachy light beige, aka the skin color of some white people. What doe you do if you are mixed-race or a delightful chocolate, maybe a Latte color?

Well, there are lingerie companies out there trying to offer matches. Here are 13 who are still giving it a go in 2018-2019.

Nudz: Nudz offers 10 different skin tone shades inspired by well-known celebrities (Scarlett, Sophia, Adriana, Eva, Zoe, Kerry, Gabrielle, Tika, Lupita, and Alek). All of the underwear is mesh, but comes in different cuts in sizes S–XL.

Naja: This LA-based eco-conscious underwear company offers items in seven different skin tone shades. There’s a lot to choose from: Panty options include briefs, high-waisted briefs, bikinis, thongs, and cheekies in sizes XS–2XL. Nude T-shirt bras are available in A–E cups, with band sizes from 32 to 40.

Spanx: If you’re on the hunt for shapewear, you can find various color options depending upon the product. 4 colors for the Seamless Skinny Britches thigh length shape wear and more for nylon tights.

Hanro: Hanro’s cotton thongs, full briefs, briefs, and shorts (up to XL) and bras (up to 38E) are available in five skin shades. Plus, all the underwire bras contain metal hardware that is free of nickel, chrome, and cobalt.

Love and Nudes: Love & Nudes is the creation of Chantal Carter. Chantal has previously worked as a fashion editor, wardrobe stylist, and product developer  – and was motivated to start Love & Nudes by the ‘glaring absence’ and misrepresentation of everyday products for women of color.

ThirdLove: ThirdLove, a direct-to-consumer brand with a robust try-before-you-buy program. T-shirt, full-coverage, and push-up bras are available in cup sizes AA through G, including signature half-cup sizes, and band sizes range from 28 to 42; thongs, bikinis, and cheekies come in XS to XL.

Smart & Sexy:  Smart & Sexy is a woman-owned brand that makes gorgeous and comfortable underwear – for very affordable prices. Smart and Sexy is the in-house brand for Ariela and Associates – which just happens to be the one of the largest privately held lingerie companies in the USA, selling millions of garments under a plethora of national brands.

Nude Barre: In addition to tights, this hosiery brand also sells a seamless thong that comes in 12  different nude shades.

Rose LeMarc: There is precious little public information available about the brand Rose LeMarc (launched in the summer of 2017). Our thoughts are that they seem to be a Chinese based company who have registered a series of trademarks include ‘Nude Revolution’ and ‘Nude Confidence’. These guys are definitely new to the scene. The strapless stick-on bras and nipple covers come in multiple colors.

Nubian Skin: Four skin tones are offered in both lacy and smooth nylon styles, and a page on the website helpfully shares a guide to which popular foundation shade matches each tone offered. Bras are available in A–G cups, with band sizes up to 40; thongs, boy shorts, and bikini briefs go up to size 2XL.

Buff You Intimates: Rae & Alex, the founders of Buff You Intimates – like so many other FleshTone brands – cite the frustration with ‘beige’ as the ‘standard’ as the impetus for the creation of their brand. Buff You Intimates describe nude underwear as ‘the professional woman’s hidden armour’.

TruNude: Tech-geeking your skintone -“The TruNude website, which is optimized for Apple and Android, and allows you to get matched in just four steps: First, you snap your selfie and get your Personal Color Code. Second, you select your garment. Next, you get fit. Lastly, you finalize your purchase and get your bra.”

BeingU: Entrepreneur Sadia Sisay launched BeingU in 2016, citing her daughter as her main inspiration: “I am determined to ensure she grows up in a world that celebrates women of all shapes, shades and sizes,”

Now, dievca went to all this work for a type of lingerie which Master does not like – but she needs it for under certain clothing. Her practical streak is coming out. XO

A “Thank You” to Fleshtone.net, Racked.com, and The Lingerie Addict