Unlock the Secret to Sexy Nude Underwear with Natalie Roser's Exclusive Insights
How do you make basic, nude underwear sexy? A question very few would know the answer to, so we went to the expert - Natalie Roser!
Australian Fashion Model Natalie Roser is the creative mind behind Rose & Bare, the lingerie brand that believes every woman deserves underwear made with her specific skin tone in mind.
We got intimate with Natalie about how she started Rose & Bare, the process of selecting the perfect nude shades, directing and modelling on Rose & Bare campaigns, and more!
We at Souszy have been in love with Rose & Bare since we first started stocking your pieces back in 2020. How did the idea of Rose & Bare come to life?
Thank you so much! The idea came to me many years ago when I noticed that the 'nude' underwear available in Australian stores didn't come close to my skin tone and there are a number of Aussie women with a similar colouring to me. I was working as a model and the underwear that was meant to be invisible never was. My idea was further encouraged when I found that a friend of mine who is an Australian Sudanese model was wearing black as her nude underwear. I was unaware that there were no nude options for women of colour, so I decided it was time to solve that problem.
How long from idea to execution did it take to create the first Rose & Bare collection?
Five years! I hit a lot of speed bumps including self doubt, physical manufacturing challenges, and trying to learn about everything as I went along. I do feel very lucky though as the slow burn has meant that I have a product that I'm incredibly proud of.
Like a true 'Nude' specialist you have a nude shade for everyone, which you have nailed! Was it a complex process to choose the correct colour for each shade?
It definitely was a tough decision to narrow down the colours to just four. It was a process of trying to cover as many women as possible on a start-up budget. I spent a lot of time on market research and colour testing with friends and family to find tones that complemented a majority, and were also beautiful colours in their own right. I actually love wearing the colours that aren't my 'nude'. They're all so pretty, even if they don't match my skin.
What has been one of your biggest learnings since starting Rose & Bare?
That you need to have people around you to help you on the journey of a start-up business. People to talk through ideas, manage crises, aid in the labour and problem solving. It was scary and stressful taking this on solo, which is why I brought my Mum in to Rose & Bare. She's the operational side - all the logistics and numbers, while I'm the creative force. Having that team environment was essential for me to get to where we are today.
You have everyday essential bras and bottoms covered. What are your top three best sellers?
Top three would be the Little G which is my favourite for everyday wear due to it's invisibility, our Strapless Bra which is underwire-free and so comfy on a night out, and more recently our Lace Bralette which is part of our beautiful lace range. They are all complete wardrobe essentials and so you get so much wear out of every piece.
You've done hundreds of photoshoots but I'm sure nothing would have compared to being in a photoshoot for your own brand! What was that like?
It was surreal. I shot the first campaign on the Northern Beaches at this amazing house. I remember buzzing all day. It was the first shoot I'd done where I was modelling but also being a creative director, producing and trying to keep everyone happy and on track! I was exhausted. It was such an amazing shoot and the whole team really pulled together to create the feeling of the brand.
It's so amazing to see you going from strength to strength both in Australia & your new home town of LA. Could you give us some insight into how you got started in the modelling industry?
I started modelling when I was 13. I entered a modelling competition through Girlfriend Magazine, and that lead me to signing with my agency who still take care of my work today! I was very fortunate to be able to continue to study at school and university before deciding to commit to a move to Sydney from Newcastle after I graduated. This moved allowed me to allocate more time to modelling and turned it from a hobby to a career.
Souszy and Rose & Bare are aligned in that we both want women to feel comfortable and empowered in their own skin everyday. When do you feel your most comfortable?
Souszy and Rose & Bare are aligned in that we both want women to feel comfortable and empowered in their own skin everyday. When do you feel your most comfortable?
For me comfort comes from my family. I am definitely at my most comfortable at my home with my loved ones. No one knows me like my family and my partner, so I find myself switching off my filter and being 100% myself.
Can we expect any new collections in the coming months?
YES! Butterflies in the tummy! I'm so excited. I've been slowing working on perfecting the next collection for Rose & Bare, and with a bit of a COVID-19 hiccup, we should be starting to see these come in over the next few months.
This article was originally published in May 2020
