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Just Call It Beige

December 5, 2008 by WendyB

Couture Carrie’s post here reminded me of an issue that has amused me for a while. How did we — at this time when so much we say better be politically correct or else — start calling beige clothes or shoes “nude”? Obviously, “nude” sounds sexier than “beige,” but since not all people are beige under their clothes, it’s a misnomer.

Crayola Crayons changed the name of the “Flesh” crayon to “Peach” in recognition of that fact that not all people have the same skin color … way back in 1962. (Which means my memory of having used the “Flesh” crayon is totally false since I wasn’t born till 1967. Interesting.)

When I got these shoes in June, I described them as “neutral” rather than “nude.”

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Filed Under: fashion trends, shoes

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Alicia/InstantVintage says

    December 5, 2008 at 11:25 pm

    Good point. I always thought that color designation was a bit strange.

  2. Lady Melbourne says

    December 6, 2008 at 12:18 am

    Fascinating observation Wendy, I just call colours by the first descriptive word that jumps into my head!
    LM
    x

  3. Sharon Rose says

    December 6, 2008 at 1:21 am

    Hi there-I adore these shoes, whatever shade they are deemed to be called! Have a lovely weekend!

  4. Annie says

    December 6, 2008 at 2:16 am

    You’re right. It might as well be called “caucasian” lol
    Beige or peach is much better

  5. Fenke says

    December 6, 2008 at 2:32 am

    well i should even say i am rather white than beige under my clothes 🙂 (and i don’t mean that racist in any kind of way.)

  6. Little Lj says

    December 6, 2008 at 3:19 am

    Excellent point, that I first noticed on hosery. I also enjoy calling “beige” hues “biscuit”, but pronounced like the french might do: “bis-kwee”. It makes me feel very continental.

  7. Dale says

    December 6, 2008 at 5:25 am

    You may have just been given a really old box of crayons by someone who knew you’d never stay in the lines anyway.

  8. Songy says

    December 6, 2008 at 5:46 am

    Interesting. I never thought of that.

    Thank you for this. I will stop calling my shoes that way.. it’s now ummm beige.

  9. K.Line says

    December 6, 2008 at 8:29 am

    Ms. Wendy: I know you hate Jezebel, but you might be intrigued to note it did a piece on this very topic – at least I think it was Jezebel. How strange and timely.

  10. WendyB says

    December 6, 2008 at 8:32 am

    K.Line, interesting! Maybe they were inspired by Couture Carrie too. She’s very inspirational.

  11. enc says

    December 6, 2008 at 9:16 am

    I think to be technically accurate, you’d have to call them “beige” instead of “nude,” simply for the reason you point out: not everyone is this shade of beige under their clothes.

    I like “beige” better, but I understand why “nude” is considered “sexier.” Nevertheless, it’ll be “beige” for me.

    They’re hot shoes, in any color.

  12. jds223 says

    December 6, 2008 at 9:59 am

    I was born in 1968, I’m really glad the color “flesh” had been nixed…sounds too much like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre! Ugh.

  13. Karen says

    December 6, 2008 at 10:50 am

    Things that make ya go hmmmmmmm….

  14. KD says

    December 6, 2008 at 1:59 pm

    I like the “bisk-wee” idea a lot. I remember that in kindergarten I would always get annoyed when people called the “peach” marker “skin color”. However, this was not really out of political correct-ness so much as the fact that my skin has always been slightly sallow.

  15. LENORENEVERMORE says

    December 6, 2008 at 4:03 pm

    low fat organic milk with a dash of Arabica Coffee color I’d say! 😉
    C.C is so amazzzing!

  16. Duchesse says

    December 6, 2008 at 4:53 pm

    A “neutral” colour to me is a white, beige, gray, black, even some browns. If you ” I’d see the beige leather of your shoes in my mind’s eye.

  17. Fashion Tidbits says

    December 6, 2008 at 6:03 pm

    they are freakin nice neutral shoes

  18. deep_in_vogue says

    December 6, 2008 at 6:35 pm

    they’re super cute

  19. -h of candid cool says

    December 6, 2008 at 8:39 pm

    those shoes are nice!!

  20. copperoranges says

    December 6, 2008 at 9:22 pm

    i like those shoes in neutral, nude, peach, or beige.

  21. Cellar Door says

    December 6, 2008 at 10:29 pm

    I have memories of “flesh” colored crayons, too, and yet I was born in 1974! What is up with that? Did I have really old crayons?

    Good point, though.

  22. pretty face says

    December 7, 2008 at 2:57 am

    I’m sure I’ve seen brown bras, things falling into the ‘neutral’ as in slightly non-descript category described as nude. But it’s a good point.

  23. melissa o says

    December 7, 2008 at 9:47 am

    I just think the whole concept of “nude” undergarments and hosiery sort of misses the point. I mean, why not just BE nude underneath? Support be damned! Or maybe stuff some biscuits in strategic places.

  24. Siljesfashion says

    December 7, 2008 at 9:56 am

    Interesting observation. Thanks for sharing!

  25. lisa says

    December 7, 2008 at 12:36 pm

    Hmm interesting!

  26. Iheartfashion says

    December 7, 2008 at 5:31 pm

    I could have sworn I had a Crayola that was called “flesh” as a kid too but I wasn’t born then either.
    In related news, I bought a package of “multicultural” Crayolas (yes, that was the real name) just yesterday for my son, who complained that the only skin color he had was a peachy flesh tone. The new box has all the shades from black, brown, and various shades of tan to white.

  27. SnapandPrint says

    December 7, 2008 at 5:38 pm

    They like to periodically change the name of this colour. Makes me wonder what it will be called next.

    If you really want to think about it “nude” is very “un-PC” because not everyone is this colour naked.

  28. alyssa says

    December 7, 2008 at 6:39 pm

    those are fabulous. i really want a pair of open toed oxfords. they’re so sweet.

  29. THE HOUSE OF STYLE says

    December 7, 2008 at 8:49 pm

    hot laced booties with a peep toe?yes please! love these gems by Dolce and Gabbana

  30. penelope says

    December 8, 2008 at 7:35 am

    OMGGGGGGG I love this pair of open toe booties!!!!!!!!!!

  31. ambika says

    December 8, 2008 at 10:32 am

    I feel like I colored with 'flesh' colored crayons too–and was always pissed by how they didn't show up against the white pages of coloring books. & I was born in '78. Hmmm….

  32. Susie Bubble says

    December 8, 2008 at 5:05 pm

    A fash journo point that has been extolled many times by the wonderful Hadley Freeman…it’s the same reason we call grey-beige putty or red, scarlet…. it just reads better in magazines…

  33. fashion herald says

    December 8, 2008 at 7:40 pm

    i love multicultural crayolas! i know i used flesh crayons, and i was born same year. they must have sat in warehouses for years?

  34. [Tara] says

    December 11, 2008 at 1:22 pm

    I’m partial to calling it “light beige” or “cream”…but, you have a good point…nude for one person is not necessarily nude for everyone!

  35. birdie says

    June 25, 2010 at 9:45 pm

    It’s true. Nude isn’t a color, it’s a series of colors. I definitely think those shoes are a neutral tone… they’re almost a “whisper pink”.

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MEET WENDY BRANDES

Award-winning designer of fine jewelry inspired by women's history and pop culture. A former journalist who writes about jewelry, fashion, medieval history, news, feminism, dogs, cats and whatever else is on her mind. Blogging since 2007.
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