Erin Carpenter is an American model, actress, and dancer who was extremely frustrated when it came to purchasing proper undergarments for her entertainment career. It was especially hard for Carpenter to find hosiery that matched her skin tone. She spent a lot of time and money dying and spray painting tights and shoes for castings and performances because most brands did not produce the right shade of nude to create a great colour match.

Carpenter shared these frustrations with her peers. The lack of nude-for-you undergarment assortments were leaving professional dancers of all races unprepared and uncomfortable to perform. Carpenter fearlessly turned her frustrations into problem-solving solutions by starting a company called Nude Barre, which is the one-stop shop for women of all races to purchase eco-friendly and durable hosiery that matches their skin tone. There are many shades of nude to choose from.

Carpenter says that people assume she made these products only for women of colour. “But some Knicks Dancers were pale and needed lighter colors than the typical ‘suntan.’ They had olive skin, or they were fair with yellow undertones. Those colors didn’t exist”.

Now they do. While most competitors were only offering four to eight shades of nude across a couple of sizes, Nude Barre offers twelve shades and across extended sizes. There are bralettes, fishnet tights, convertible opaque tights, footed opaque tights, and seamless thongs across the shades of nude from an XS to XXL, and there are children’s sizes too. Items like slips, shapewear, girdles and knee-highs are in the pipeline. The items are only available online from the Nude Barre site for now.

There’s a Nudemeter on the site that helps you find the items that best match your skin tone. All you have to do is answer some questions and take a selfie to discover the right nude for you. You can also order swatches if you need to get nude hosiery for large groups of people.

Nude Barre intimates are empowering, as well as practical, durable, affordable, and versatile. You can wear them to dance and perform, or as regular everyday fashion — just like these lovely Nude Barre models above are doing. I don’t wear opaques because I prefer sheer hosiery, but I like to wear dainty fishnets. So I’ll be trying a nude-for-me pair in the Autumn when I need to refresh my hosiery collection.

New initiatives to address systemic racism within the fashion industry, the best sunscreens of 2020, and other style news that made headlines this month.

• Long Tall Sally, the world’s top clothing brand for tall women, is closing.
• Gap reports a $932 million loss after closing 90% of its global stores during the COVID-19 shutdown.
• Aurora James, founder of sustainable accessories brand Brother Vellies, started the 15% pledge campaign after the murder of George Floyd. Goal is to call on major retailers to pledge 15% of their shelf space to black-owned businesses.
• Following criticism over her company’s lack of diversity and treatment of former Black and POC employees, Leandra Medine Cohen announced that she would “step back” from Man Repeller, the site she founded in 2010.
• Harper’s Bazaar appoints Samira Nasr as its first-ever black editor-in-chief.
• The Council of Fashion Designers of America has announced new initiatives to address systemic racism within the fashion industry.
• Actor and eco-fashion advocate Emma Watson is joining the board of Kering, the conglomerate that oversees Gucci, Balenciaga, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta and Alexander McQueen.
• Here are the best sunscreens of 2020 according to consumer reports.
• 11 Honoré has launched an in-house private-label collection.

Fun Fashion Fact

Did you know that sequins became popular in the 1920s, inspired by the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922 in which gold discs were found sewn to the young king’s clothing. Early sequins were made of metal, but by the 1930s lighter weight alternatives made of gelatin were introduced. One drawback: these would melt if your body grew too hot or you got caught in the rain.

Team Shorts reigned supreme in our poll a couple of weeks ago, especially Team Ultra Casual Shorts. Today’s set of outfit ideas is for those who like to keep it very simple and super relaxed over the Summer. The looks have a high longevity factor so you can wear them year after year. 

The outfits showcase neutrals, but feel free to choose any colour palette. It seems odd to wear heels with the outfits because of the extra relaxed integrity. That said, a wedged espadrille might work. If you’re after a bit of height, try incorporating flatforms or chunky sneakers. I’m amazed at how my own chunky white Seinfeld sneakers create height without arching my foot or looking like I’m wearing heels.

1. Statement Birkies

Combine a pair of chino shorts with a semi-tucked fluid tee, and finish off the look with a pair of metallic, pastel, white or bright Birkies. A few things elevate the look here. The tee’s longer, scrunched sleeves and side slits look a little more interesting than a basic short-sleeved tee. The semi-tuck adds structure. The metallic Birkies add unexpected shine and are more substantial than a pair of rubber flip flops. This outfit would be as cute with white shorts.

2. Quintessential Shorts and Tee

Graphic tees are a lot more meaningful if the slogans make a strong statement and evoke a lot of emotion. Combine an emotive graphic tee with a pair of denim shorts, and finish off the look with sneakers. White Birkies work well here too.

3. French Inspired

This is the most classic of the four, and great for Team Stripe. Combine a pair of navy or white shorts with a navy and white striped tee, white sneakers, and Bob’s your uncle. Semi-tuck the tee for a bit of structure, if you like. Casual loafers or sandals can work equally well. Add a denim jacket if you need a third layer.

4. A Little Dressier

The last option is a little dressier, if that’s more your cup of tea. Combine a pair of black Bermuda shorts with a tucked olive shirt. These paper-bag shorts are pleated and have a belt, but that’s not an essential style detail. Fold back the cuffs or scrunch the sleeves of the shirt for textural interest. Add a pair of black sandals, a straw bag, jewellery, watch and eyewear as desired.

Many of my clients and friends wear sleeveless tops and dresses, but all too often the armholes hang too low and wide for their preferences. This is especially true with unstructured sleeveless tops and dresses that are breezy in hot and humid weather. 

Here and some solutions to this particular fit problem.

1. Add A Breezy Sleeved Layer

Adding layers like lightweight gauzy cardigans and shrugs, or very lightweight Summer jackets in cottons, silk, rayon and linens will hide too wide and low sleeveless armholes. Of course, this does not fix the problem when you take off the topper. But for some of my clients and friends this makes little difference because they don’t bare their arms anyway. They wear sleeveless tops because they layer more easily, and keep on the layer.

2. Wear a Decorative Bra

It’s fun to wear a pretty bra thereby making small glimpses of it part of the outfit. For example, you can layer a black bra under a patterned sleeveless top or dress that has black in the print. That way the small parts of bra that are revealed at the armholes become part of the patterned design and top/dress. You can also layer a decorative sports bra under a breezy and wide armholed tank. The sports bra has the added benefit of wicking away perspiration on a hot day.

3. Wear a Decorative Camisole

This option is less popular because wearing a camisole under a sleeveless top or dress can feel overly warm in hot weather. That said, it can work if you don’t run hot, or it’s a comfortable layer in air conditioning. A thin and strappy AIRism camisole from Uniqlo will do the trick because it’s ultra thin, moisture-wicking, and cool to the touch.

4. Alter the Side Seams

Sometimes you can take in part of the side seams of the top and dress to reduce the size of too wide armholes. This type of alteration tends to work well when there is room in the fit of the bust because you’ll narrow some of the bust circumference when you take in the side seams. This is exactly how I’m making the too wide and low armholes on my new sleeveless Boden midi dress fit perfectly.

5. Don’t Worry About It

You’re hot, and wearing a sleeveless top or dress with a regular bra feels the most comfortable. If a bit of non-matching beige bra is visible when you lift, stretch, or swing your arms — it’s just a bit of bra. Chances are low that other people will notice or be bothered by it.