Daryl-Ann DENNER IS GETTING US back to basics, IN THE BEST WAY.

The former high school chemistry teacher turned content creator launched nuuds, her elevated essentials brand, in 2022, building on years of experience cultivating a loyal audience online. Born out of her own search for the perfect everyday staples, the brand quickly struck a chord with audiences who were as frustrated with ill-fitting base layers as she was. What started as a small collection of T-shirts has since grown into a booming business with a dedicated team and frequent sold out drops. Her secret? Creating what she couldn’t find—and having the confidence to build it in public.

Read more about Daryl-Ann Denner’s journey in the C&C 100 interview below.

What’s an early memory that shaped how you see or understand fashion today?

One of my earliest memories is realizing that the outfits I felt best in were never the most “fashion” ones, they were the ones I felt comfortable and confident in.

Even at a young age, I could tell the difference between something that looked good and something that actually felt good on my body. And I always went back to the pieces that made me feel like myself.

That stuck with me. It shaped the way I see fashion, not as something you perform in, but something you live your life in. If you don’t feel good in it, you’re not going to wear it, no matter how good it looks. That mindset still drives everything I create today.

Describe the ‘aha’ moment that inspired you to pursue a career in apparel?

It wasn’t one big, dramatic moment, it built over time.

As an influencer, I was constantly sharing and recommending products, but I always felt like nothing was ever 100% right; for me or for the women in my life. I was also personally searching for basics that made me feel confident in my changing body after having kids, and it felt harder than it should be.

Between the women in my family (all different shapes and sizes) we kept running into the same issue: we could find pieces that worked for some of us, but not all of us. That’s when it clicked. This wasn’t just a personal frustration. It was a real gap. Instead of continuing to recommend things that were almost right, I could create something that actually worked for real women with real bodies.

How has your personal style evolved over time? Who or what has been most influential in shaping your approach to fashion?

My style has evolved a lot…having kids really changed everything. After my body changed, there was a season where I didn’t feel like myself, and getting dressed felt harder than it used to. I didn’t have the time or energy to figure out trends or put together complicated outfits.

I needed simple pieces I could throw on and immediately feel good in—things that made me feel confident without overthinking it.

So my style became simpler, but more intentional. It’s less about what’s trending and more about what makes me feel like myself again. It’s about pieces that work every time, that fit well, and that move with me through real life.

“If you don’t feel good in it, you’re not going to wear it, no matter how good it looks. That mindset still drives everything I create today.”

Did you raise capital for nuuds—and if so, what surprised you most about the process?

We didn’t (and haven’t yet) raised traditional outside capital for nuuds, which was a very intentional decision.

I didn’t want the pressure of making decisions based on money or outside expectations. I wanted to build a brand that serves the customer first, not investors, and focus on making the best product we possibly could.

What surprised me most is how much people think funding is the starting point. For us, it was actually the opposite: the connection to our customer was the foundation, and that’s what allowed us to grow. Not having that outside pressure gave us the freedom to build it the right way.

What advice would you give someone trying to turn their fashion career into a sustainable business?

Focus on serving a real customer, not creating a “cool” brand. It’s easy to get caught up in aesthetics or trying to appeal to a certain type of person, but that can quickly become exclusive.

From the beginning, I’ve been intentional about building something that makes people feel included—our mindset is “you can sit with us.” I want our customer to feel seen, considered, and comfortable, not like she has to fit into a certain mold to wear our product.

If you can clearly understand who you’re serving, listen to what she actually wants, and build for her consistently, that’s what turns a fashion idea into a sustainable business.

What advice would you give someone who is struggling to find their signature style?

I think a lot of people struggle with this because it’s actually tied to confidence, not just clothes.

There have been seasons where I didn’t feel like myself, especially after having kids, and trying to “find my style” just made it feel more overwhelming. What helped was letting go of the idea that I needed a defined aesthetic. Instead, I focused on what made me feel good right now—what fit well, what was comfortable, what I felt confident walking out the door in. That became my style. Confidence doesn’t come from labeling your style, it comes from wearing things that make you feel like yourself.

What’s one garment or accessory that can make or break an outfit?

The base layer, and I don't just mean aesthetically. The base layer is the first thing that touches your body. It's what you feel all day. When it's right, you feel good, you feel confident, and that energy carries through everything you put on top of it. When it's wrong, nothing else matters. That's the whole thesis behind nuuds: get the foundation right, and the rest takes care of itself.

What does long-term success look like for your business beyond visibility?

Making women feel confident at a time when they may not feel confident, and bringing them out better on the other side. That's the real work. We like to say confidence is a trained muscle, and nuuds wants to be part of building it. Whether you just had a baby, you're going through a transition, or you just woke up on a hard day; if you put something on and it fits your body and makes you feel good, that matters. Long-term success is being that brand for women at every stage of life. Visibility fades. How you make people feel is what lasts.

What’s one word that describes the era your career is in?

Expansion. We’ve proven the concept, now it’s about scaling it thoughtfully without losing what made it work in the first place