When Kim Kardashian and her brand Skims debuted its nipple bra last week, it raised some eyebrows, to say the least.
As the name implies, the latest Skims release features prominent artificial nipples that are most certainly meant to be seen. Blame it on the Y2K fashion resurgence that’s in full swing, with many of us taking inspiration from TV icons like Friends’ Rachel Green and Sex and the City’s Samantha Jones, both of whom did wonders for making nipple visibility cool again.
Kardashian announced the new product in a tongue-in-cheek video ad on Instagram, in which she portrays a kind of sexy scientist (nipples and all), who addresses the camera about the bra.
Skims Ultimate Nipple Bra
“The Earth’s temperature is getting hotter and hotter,” she says. “The sea levels are rising. The ice sheets are sinking. And I’m not a scientist. But I do believe everyone can use their skillset to do their part.
“That’s why I’m introducing a brand-new bra with a built-in nipple, so no matter how hot it is, you’ll always look cold,” she says, pointing to a diagram.
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Some found this ad a clever bit of dark humor, while others thought it was a tasteless step too far—either way it obviously generated plenty of discussion.
“Loving your work, babe,” wrote comedian Katherine Ryan in a comment.
“Is this a joke??? Please tell me it’s a joke!!” wrote another commenter.
However, among the comments that either praised or questioned Kardashian’s sense of humour, there were many that took on a different tone entirely: those from survivors of breast cancer.
“AS A BREAST CANCER SAVIOUR 🎀 I THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!! I'M ACTUALLY CRYING RN 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭,” read one comment.
Another noted that it could also be a wonderful tool for the trans community. “To be honest, this is perfect for trans women who are in transition or women who had a mastectomy/double mastectomy from breast cancer,” they wrote.
