Got naked ambition? Try wearing nude. The beigy-pink hue favored by Halston in the '70s has come blushing back in sumptuous Gucci leathers and beaded Randolph Duke gowns, giving vixens such as Heather Locklear, Yasmine Bleeth and Gwyneth Paltrow a whole new way to get second looks. "I love the illusion that you can see something, but you can't," says ex-Baywatch babe Gena Lee Nolin. "It's so sexy." Some believe the shade actually improves on nature. Says Halston design director Craig Natiello: "Nude is the great elongator" - especially if, like singer Faith Hill, you're a blonde. "It's a heavenly color on her," says L.A. stylist Garth Condit, who purchased nude gowns, a leather jacket and pants for Hill's wardrobe. "She went ape over it."
     To succeed as a nudist, "pick the right shade," says designer Duke. "It's like makeup." Pink tones set off pale faces best; yellow complements olive skin. Nude's name is a misnomer for most people of color but it looks "great on tan or African-American skin," the designer says. So go faux bare this summer - but be aware of the line in the sand. Advises Duke: "Nude is not a great color for a bathing suit."
with Gabrielle Saveri in Los Angeles