I tried out Kim Kardashian’s SKIMS Ultimate Nipple Bra and as far as I can see, it’s not for women, it’s a gift to men, says SAMANTHA REA

It is perhaps because my bosom is bursting out of my bra that a gentleman in posh Chelsea Green stops in the street and stands there beaming.

But maybe it's my nipples that get his attention, but actually they're not mine.

They're just bits of foam, built into my bra, because I'm wearing the Ultimate Nipple Bra from Skims, the fashion brand founded by reality TV tycoon Kim Kardashian.

In an Instagram ad, Kim K explained, “I'm introducing a brand new bra with a built-in nipple. So no matter how hot it is, you always look cold. Some days are difficult. But these nipples are harder. And unlike icebergs, these aren't going anywhere.”

No one needs help looking cold right now. Everyone is feeling cold as it is winter and the cost of living crisis means many of us are afraid to turn on the heating.

So I didn't think there would be much demand for clothes that make you look cold.

However, the Nipple Bra launched on October 31st and when I looked online a week later it was sold out.

London-based journalist Samantha Rea (pictured) tried out the Ultimate Nipple Bra from Skims, the fashion brand founded by reality TV tycoon Kim Kardashian

Samantha, who wears the bra, says: 'I tested the nipple bra myself, I didn't mind the attention or comments as none of the men had actually seen my nipples'

Who bought all the nipple bras?

I shouted on According to Skims' website, it's sold out in every size and color. Who bought all these nipple bras?!! Message me if you buy one, I need to know!!”

I received responses from men wanting to know more about this nipple flavor lingerie, but I didn't hear from women who had actually purchased one.

Did they really sell out? Or was this a PR stunt to frame the Nipple Bra as the fashion must-have of this season?

It was reminiscent of the naked pop-up restaurant The Bunyadi, which emerged in London in 2016.

At the time, The Bunyadi's website claimed that more than 46,000 people were on the waiting list to eat there. Still, I had a press table for two people, and no one wanted to come with me (except for a guy I had briefly dated once).

So I suspect the figure is made up and that “selling out” of the nipple bra appears to be a tactic from the same PR playbook.

Turning to eBay, I found three Skims nipple bras for sale, none of which were my size, so I picked the best fit and hoped for the best.

In an Instagram ad, Kim K (pictured) explained: 'Introducing a brand new bra with a built-in nipple. So no matter how hot it is, you always look cold. Some days are difficult. But these nipples are harder. And unlike icebergs, these aren't going anywhere.”

The journalist, who wore the bra, added: 'As far as I can tell the Skims Nipple Bra is not for women. It's a gift to men, reinforcing the fantasy that women walk around in a state of permanent arousal, meaning they might be ready.”

The bra cost twice the price of the Skims website, plus shipping from the US, and when it arrived I found I could barely get it on.

After wrestling my breasts into the bra, I noticed I was getting a four-breast effect as my cleavage bulged above the heavily padded cups. My actual nipples were just within the confines of the bra, while the pseudo-nipples were several inches lower.

It's no wonder my bumpy terrain turned heads, but since I was committed to road testing this famous fashion bestseller, I assured myself I looked good and headed out to see how I did. would perish among the celebrities in Chelsea.

Starting at The Pie Man, in Chelsea Green, I warmed my hands with a mug of hot chocolate.

No fewer than huge sausages filled the windows and I was sure that, surrounded by such meaty stunners, no one would notice the synthetic nipples poking through the tight fabric of my top.

I was wrong, however, as I discovered when the older gentleman stopped to enjoy the view.

As I walked along I came across a flower stall on King's Road, but as I was browsing through the flowers a traffic warden appeared and threatened to ticket the Chelsea Tractor I was driving that day.

As a model citizen, I promptly set off, but the traffic controller still took a whole series of photos. Only I'm not entirely sure the focus was on the car.

“The Nipple Bra launched on October 31st, and when I looked online a week later it was sold out,” Samantha revealed

I think my personal speed bumps (or at least the ones in my bra) had hijacked his attention. It wasn't really a card he wanted to give me.

Walking down King's Road I passed the newly opened Mexican restaurant Ixchel. It's drowning in connections with the Made In Chelsea crowd, so I was hoping to connect with some celebrities.

Chic people are known to be unconstrained by middle-class conventions such as not drawing attention to the nipples, so who knows – maybe they're the ones who bought all the nipple bras?

But if anyone saw the fake cherries on my Belgian sandwiches, they were too polite to say so.

At home I posted pictures of the day out on my social media, except I didn't mention that I was wearing a nipple bra. The result is several men inadvertently foaming at the mouth over two pieces of foam.

“Didn't anyone tell you it's rude to point?” asked a man at X after his question with crying emojis.

“My eye was stuck to the screen,” one guy said on Instagram, explaining that he had zoomed in on the photo.

“Was it a cold day?” asked another, with an open-mouthed emoji. The wink emoji was also common in the comments.

“The majority of men, with manners and a sense of social etiquette, will grow if they publicly comment on women's nipples,” pointed out the journalist, pictured wearing the bra.

Just as a caveman's instincts warn him of a saber-tooth cat being killed, perhaps men are wired to notice hard nipples: “Aha! Evidence of excitement! I could be in there!'

The majority of men, with manners and a sense of social etiquette, will outgrow public commentary on women's nipples.

However, given that a subset of men feel compelled to comment when they see an erect nipple (or what they think an erect nipple is), I don't understand why any woman would want to wear a bra that nipple accentuates. Continue to sound the horn in men's brains.

And apparently it is, because if you look through the reviews of the Nipple Bra on the Skims website, this seems to be a huge selling point: 'Yes, I get a lot of attention!

Samantha said the bra 'didn't fit' and she was 'not sure' which women would want to buy it

'Why else did we buy this bra? The nipple bra looks natural and I get tons of compliments,” exclaims one verified buyer.

“Everywhere I went people were staring at my chest,” stated another verified buyer who gave it five stars.

I road tested the Nipple Bra myself, I didn't mind the attention or comments as none of the men actually saw my nipples.

Instead, they seemed completely unnecessary at the sight of a few bits of sponge that could otherwise have been used as a cleaning agent to wipe down kitchen surfaces.

However, if they had left over my actual nipples (if these had been erect and visible through my clothing), I would have felt extremely uncomfortable.

And I wonder if the massive sales of the Skims Nipple Bra will increase and normalize these types of comments – to the shame and humiliation of women who really just want to go about their day without a running commentary on their nipples.

As far as I can tell the Skims Nipple Bra is not for women. It's a gift for men and reinforces the fantasy that women walk around in a state of permanent arousal, meaning they might be ready.