Nude lingerie for women of color creates buzz

CRAYOLA changed the name of its "flesh" crayon to "peach" back in 1962, but Google "lingerie" in 2014 and you'll find the name "nude" still overwhelmingly refers to light-peachy-beige.

So a simple thing like wearing a white shirt to work isn't simple for a woman whose nude isn't "nude." Do you wear white, and know it'll show? Or a close-as-you-can-get beige or brown - and know it will still show?

Nubian Skin, a new London-based lingerie/hosiery business that has just opened online, is creating quite the splash with its answer: Four shades of lingerie and hosiery that range from a golden caramel to a deep brown with just a hint of rose.

Maybe even cooler? Founder Ade Hassan has keyed each to mainstream makeup lines' foundation colors. So if you wear Mac's NW47 or Bobbi Brown's Warm Walnut, Nubian Skin's Cinnamon is the shade for you. If you wear Bobbi Brown's Golden or Bare Minerals in Warm Tan or Golden Tan, consider Caramel. Other shades are Berry, the darkest, and Cafe au Lait, the lightest.

Lashawnda Becoats, who's written about fashion and lifestyle for years, says, "Every woman of color can definitely relate." Indeed, Hollywood's Thandie Newton and Kerry Washington have both posted about the place, even before sales began: "am excited!" and "Awesome," respectively.

Prices range from about $50 to $60 for bras (which run 30B to 36DD/E, with more sizes promised) and $16 to $25 for briefs and other garments. Shipping to the United States tacks on roughly $25.