What's nude for your skin colour?

Salone Monet’s nude heels in six different shades

Funnily enough, it was the OZY newletter (from the media outlet that’s in rather bad odour these days) that highlighted heels “for every shade of nude”.

I looked up the designer they mentioned. Sure enough, Salone Monet had six shades of nude. Her website had a trademarked line “nude is not a colour”.

Indeed, it is not, for all that nude has long been portrayed as a pale peach, beige or ivory.

I still remember, years ago, the delight I felt when Boots, a British health and beauty retailer and pharmacy chain, offered many different shades of its No 7 foundation. At last, my brown Indian face could find a layer of cream that harmonised with its natural skin tone.

Shade diversity — in foundation creams and high heels — are the point at which inclusive aspirations find a retail outlet.