'What's Your Nude?' Facebook Campaign, Tara Raines Tackles Lack Of Brown Colored Bras (POLL)

Black women can pretty much expect that anything labeled "nude" from cosmetics to undergarments isn't going to match our skin tone.

The blushes, buffs, off-whites, fleshes and "barely there" colors offered don't represent the millions of brown-skinned women ready and willing to spend some cash.

Tara Raines, a 31-year-old psychologist in Los Angeles, is one of those women and she's fed up, especially when it comes to finding bras.

When she learned that for more than 30 years, her mother, family members and friends had been dyeing their bras brown to match their skin color, Raines decided to issue a call to action titled "What's Your Nude?"

She maintains that there would be no need for DIY bra dyeing projects if bra manufacturers understood the demand for more color options -- and the amount of money that could be made.

"Women of color have tremendous spending power in the U.S. and it's absurd to think that in 2012 we are essentially disenfranchised when we shop for lingerie. It's my hope that this campaign will drive not only awareness, but swift action by bra makers,"Raines told WWD.

Black women in general have a wide spectrum of skin tones, so it would be nearly impossible for most bra companies to create shades that represented every shade of "nude." But simply offering one brown option would be a great start.

"I don't think it's too much to ask that bra makers include darker hues when manufacturing their collections," said Raines. "Women of color deserve to look and feel sexy, and a big part of that is looking like ourselves."

So in celebration of Black History month, Raines is asking that on February 1 women click the "like" tab at Facebook.com/morebrownbras and contact their favorite bra manufacturer or retailer by mail, phone, email or social media (Twitter hashtag #whatsyournude)

Raines is drumming up support slowly but surely. WWD reports that more than 260 women have signed up thus far, and Raines has even gained a few high-profile fans.

Actress Holly Robinson Peete clicked the campaign's "like" button on Facebook and singer Chrisette Michele tweeted her support. Raines reached out to the "Epiphany" star via Twitter to call her attention to the problem and yesterday Michele tweeted back:

@ChrisetteM
chrisette michele

@WhatsYourNude lol! U know? Now that I think about it, you're positively correct!

January 30, 2012 1:19 am via Twittelator Reply Retweet Favorite

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Comments

[Great Goliath]

01:43 PM on 02/20/2012

Well obviously this is a issue, but why don't women of colours other white or very pale create the own types of bra.
For example using African Americans (AA) though the issue affects many more. African americans were for a long time disfranchised in media for example. They were not allowed or excluded in way or the other from beauty pangeants, while on TV their depictions were less than flattering or maybe didn't highlight AA issues. There were few if any stores that sold or manufactured product for AA's hair and skin. What did AA's do ? They created their own pangeants, they created their own TV-channels (BET is an example, but is now white owned and caters to ALL people, especially those who like booty, which is ALL men regardless of race). They created their own product for hair and skin.

These are a few of the many examples where AA's have done things for themselves when they in one way or the other are or felt excluded. Why is this case different ? Sure you have the usual suspects claming that AA's are resorting to race politics or some such. Like when some whites claim their should be WET (white entertainment televison) because of BET, exposing their ignorance of why a channel like BET even came into existence.

Stop bitching and do what AA's have done since the emancipation decleration. Take the issue into your own hands, it's a AA tradition in line with the entrepreneual spirit of

[LadyDusky]

08:24 PM on 02/12/2012

In the 1980s, I worked as a lingerie fitter in a large department store which had a big African American customer base. Back then, we hardly had any bras in shades of brown. Every so often, we'd carry a Vanity Fair number which was a light smokey tan but that was about it. If women wanted something that more closely matched their dark skin they had to go with black.

It always seemed so strange to me that lingerie didn't come in more realistic color choices. The demand was there. I see that there is more available in the stores now, manufacturers need to update their color names and buyers need to be more mindful of the colors they select for sale, tho. At least with hosiery there has been a spectrum of colors from very light to very dark for years, no matter what they're called. Cosmetics have changed drastically over the last several decades to address different skin tones and make that money, it's time the lingerie folks do the same.

This should be a no brainer for the marketing peeps and the store buyers.

[MadeInSanPablo]

06:23 PM on 02/05/2012

Just another reason to cause a riot over NOTHING. I've seen plenty of shades of dark brown bras. Waste of an article about something so ridiculous.

[sweethinga1]

11:39 PM on 02/02/2012

Wow this is very wrong how could lingerie companies miss this opportunity. This is a no brainer, think of the woman in, U.S., Canada, Indian, Brazil, Columbia, ok I'm up to a few hundred million. So I'll stop, get the hint. If every woman of a darker color then WHITE, bought a bra that $10.00, that's a Billion BUCKS.......YIKES! Quick call my stock broker, I'm going public. I'll call it, Brownziers, ok it's copywrited, I just write it so it's mine so back offfff! ! ! !

[clarabo]

01:45 PM on 02/02/2012

I'm white but remember many years ago watching an Oprah episode which dealt with this very topic. I was quite taken and impressed with the programme but apparently no manufacturer took up the challenge

[rationellebelle]

11:08 AM on 02/02/2012

The author of this article is only asking for lingerie manufacturers to consider darker "nude" shades for lingerie. Why are people becoming so defensive about this request?

[Valravn]

04:59 AM on 02/02/2012

I find this slightly funny because I have the opposite problem - everything is too dark for me! I went to try and find a foundation the other day and all the palest one's looked like a bad spray tan!

[glitterik]

04:27 AM on 02/02/2012

Yes, why doesn't someone help these black women by making bras in different colors? Because for some strange reason they cannot manufacture those bras for themselves. None of them. Not one single black woman can start a small company to make those danged bras. Ridiculous.

[ffulluj]

11:23 AM on 02/02/2012

We shouldn't have to start a company. We should be able to get what we need the same way you do, through the masses. Stop telling us what to do because we don't need you to. We can handle this and will be successful AS USUAL. We had to do this same stupid crap with the pantyhose industry 30 years ago. Why do you think CoverGirl has a Queen collection? Because, again, we were successful at getting ignorant people to stop being ignorant. If you're not black and have a problem with black issues, go away or shut up

[Selphie Tilmitt]

03:59 PM on 02/02/2012

Wow, you're saying because black women should go out of their way because they're black? White women aren't expected to have to start their own small company JUST TO GET A BRA. :|

[Krughx]

10:05 PM on 02/01/2012

Hers the poop. Don't blame others for not accommodating your needs. Products are driven by demand. If there was a market there would be darker bras. Perfect opportunity to start a business if the need is there. Don't blame society. You can provide solution yourself.

[divalocity]

08:49 PM on 02/01/2012

Another non-issue! Stop following trends and create your own. Before this crazy nude trend hit the scene, I've seen and read several articles written about the lack of black women finding products for them. Since some women are lost to the fact that black women have always worn colors in the brown family, brown, beige and even black bras are perfect to wear, you're not going to find items that are going to match our various skin tones. Some trends just aren't made for everybody so deal with it! Next!

[TheSarge]

08:47 PM on 02/01/2012

The word "nude" can be crafty and misleading, but I did learn a bit about bra's. lol

[ShannonEH415]

07:34 PM on 02/01/2012

Pretty sure NEITHER of those bras she's standing next to are "nude" for a white woman. Yes, we're white as in Caucasian not casper. You think bright white matches US? Just as well as the millions of black bras match YOU.

Damn those manufacturers, I'm offended...they make bras for the cheetahs, hot pink and green people but not me, it's a shame...

[DeeGreen]

07:21 PM on 02/01/2012

My momma always taught me to wear a flesh colored bra under my white colored T-Shirts.

[TheCynicalTruth]

07:13 PM on 02/01/2012

For the love of god, google the terms "dark skin tone nude bra" the first 20 major retailers and links offer a dark skin tone "nude" colour, do not claim racism simply because you are unable to find an item that you have not shown the initiative to search for. If this is an issue of brick and mortar availability, express an interest in the store ordering a selection of the bras, they do in fact exist and are sold and marketed as "nude" in many colours, in fact the standard offerings are in 20 skin tones.

[valgaavmiko]

07:23 PM on 02/01/2012

The problem is that even major retailers *other than internet stores* such as Victoria's Secret etc. neglect to provide a nude color for darker skin. I do think she's making it seem like there's no way to get a darker nude but out of convenience stores that specialize in underwear should start carrying nudes for dark skinned women.

[Parade Keegan]

07:37 PM on 02/01/2012

Well, they don't even have the white skinned "nude" down as they're all too dark for my skin, it's annoying really so I usually don't wear sheer.

[Mustangallee]

06:36 PM on 02/01/2012

Wow..I wish I had time to care about this!

[GOODDOC1]

09:21 PM on 02/01/2012

But you had the time to red the atricle, and to comment on it.

[Jan Rice]

09:33 PM on 02/01/2012

Yanno...bras shouldn't be showing anyway...it really isn't a matter of life and death to me since mine is hidden...

[sicajae7]

07:45 PM on 02/02/2012

Well if you darker and you wear a white blouse, you bra WILL show through the shirt..not a cute look. Some people have to wear white uniforms...Fortunately I found one for myself ( sunkissed caramel color). This article is not about bras sticking out of blouses(so it does not matter if your "hide" your bra) but to encourage makers that women of color will appreciate if we can get a close match to our tone also.