A Humble Summer Hero
And it's (likely) already in your closet!
This TikTok made it’s way to my eyes recently and it was nothing short of revelatory for the simple fact that the item in question is probably already in your closet.
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The TL;DW (too lazy; didn’t watch) is that this TikToker said she spent a summer around a bunch of really rich people (her words not mine) and realized (and I love this) “I’ve done so much more (sartorially) with so much less.”
She said; “If you’re in the room in a white tank top and you’re still the flyest girl in the room, you really are that girl.”
And, I realized, she is NOT wrong. A very under-the-radar hero to any summer outfit is the humble tank top. Mastering which tank is right for you might just unlock the confidence to be the flyest girl in the room no matter the outfit- because really no matter what you wear, you need to lead with confidence.
I wrote a few weeks ago about how my summer uniform is tank top + drawstring pants and as I continue to lean on this when getting dressed, I’ve realized how great I feel in this really simple formula. So, my encouragement to you, is to set aside the vests of yesteryear, the floaty blouses and let a simple tank be your humble wardrobe hero for the summer.
(Interestingly, last summer I was all “how do I make my outfits more interesting?” whereas this summer, I’m actually loving the combinations of simpler pieces as I play with color so I realize this might not be for everyone).
As per the usual, I come with a plethora is photographic evidence to this point, which I will present now;
But it’s not just pants; a tank + skirt is an elite combination;
And if you thought I was going to stop with white tanks, you were wrong because we are making black, grey and all the colors look good in tank form.
Are you saying; these outfits are boring? Well it’s also the perfect base to layer on top of;
And I promise it can even be elevated for an office because it’s the perfect companion to our beloved button down;
Ok now that I’m already over the email limit, hopefully I’ve convinced you that a simple tank top outfit can really create such amazing outfits. But I can’t leave you without my thoughts on styling and shopping for a good tank.
The first thing is so obvious- and yet!- so sneaky because every single photo showed it. Did you catch it?
A tank top should show the top of your pants (or skirt, shorts, trousers, etc.).1
By no means am I saying that you have to show your stomach, she writes with her pants unbuttoned to accommodate bloating, but we don’t want our tanks pulled over the button of our jeans, the drawstring of our trouser, etc.
Keep the bra straps hidden
You can manage this by buying thicker straps that hide your bra straps, by wearing a strapless bra (I bought this one ($64) after it was recommended in my chat) or wearing nipple covers ($26) (what I opt for 8 times out of 10). While, yes, Carrie Bradshaw made showing your bra straps cool, I think the same shirt without the bra straps looks sexier and more effortless.
Tanks need something “big” as a counterpart
When I am thinking of summer tank top outfits, I am thinking of fitted tanks and I think they are best complimented using the Big-Slim-Skin concept popularized by Tibi. The idea here being that you pair something Big with something Slim and show some Skin to create balance in an outfit. Tanks act as a Slim and Skin in a lot of cases so we pair them with pants that are straight or wide-leg. Even just adding a belt can be the “big” element.
I noticed that even in the photos of a tank + skirt, there is good movement in the skirt to give your eye more lines to follow.
Find your perfect silhouette
I made a handy chart of most to least coverage on tank tops and you might have to play around until you find the strap and neckline that you like best. Last summer I bought tanks with a very high neckline and I almost never reached for them. I’ve found, I prefer a scoop or a straight neckline. It takes some playing around to find the silhouette that feels best for you.
Drop your favorite tank top in the comments! I know it’s not for everyone, but I love the dolphin hem because then I can get a peek of skin showing without baring my full midriff (this one is my favorite $38).
I’ll wrap this up by saying that a tank top isn’t exactly a ground-breaking discovery for a wardrobe. But I’m always shocked at how wearing something relatively basic with confidence can make all the difference in the world! As the TikToker said; we can do a lot with something simple.
Shop all links here
Seriously, go scroll back through and you’ll see it!
So you're telling me I SHOULDN'T wear my tank down to my hip bones with two other tanks layered over top and a Von Dutch hat? OK, good to know
Want to shout out the $20 built-in bra rib cotton tanks at Uniqlo. The bras are actually supportive snd hold up after washing. As a large chested person, it’s so freeing to have that cool, easy breezy no bra look in the summer.