Upstart in Nancy's shades? (7)
I believe the answer is:
nuances
'shades?' is the definition.
('nuance' can be a synonym of 'shade')
'upstart in nancy's' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'upstart' could be 'u' (start of the word 'up') and 'u' is found within the answer.
The remaining letters 'nances' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for nuances that I've seen before include "Subtle distinctions or variations" , "Fine shades (of meaning)" , "'Subtle variations, in meaning perhaps (7)'" , "Suspicion of" , "subtle shades" .)