My Quest for the Perfect Summer Tank Tops

By Christian Allaire

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One of this season's hottest, celebrity-approved pieces isn't a luxe designer bag or fresh-off-the-runway shoe. Rather, it's a classic tank top. As the summer temperatures have dialed up, stars like Rihanna, Kim Kardashian, and Irina Shayk have been stepping out wearing the sleeveless wardrobe staple. They’ve worn it with everything from athleisure, like Rihanna, to a button-up and dress pants, as seen on Kendall Jenner.

Given the classic top's versatility, it's clearly a must-have this summer: You can pair a tank with just about anything, dress it up or down, and your look will instantly feel airy and effortless. Only problem is, finding the perfect one isn't as easy as it sounds.

In my own quest to find the perfect summer tank top, I’ve learned that there's an art to finding the perfect style. It has to feature the right silhouette and durable material (because, let's face it, they don't last too long.) Starting my research, I decided to nail down the ideal silhouette first. I looked to the spring runways for inspiration: The new crop of catwalk-worthy tanks—as seen at Bottega Veneta, Coperni, and Dion Lee—are all super fitted to the body, in a thin (and clingy) material. Some, like Lee's, feature sexy cutouts or asymmetrical hemlines to them, but a classic fitted style is best for maximizing styling options. What you can have fun with, however, is the neckline; After trying on a few styles, from scoop-neck to V-neck, I found that a squared neckline actually looks and feels best on me.

Bottega Veneta spring 2023

Dion Lee spring 2023

With a silhouette in mind, it was then time for the durability test. You’ll want to look for tanks in materials that will wash well, and wear over time. (Since tanks are so fitted to the body, they absorb every inch of sweat—which means frequent washing!) Trendy tanks in silks or crochets are fun, but hardly investment pieces, given they don't wash well. Instead, you can't go wrong with a durable cotton tank. Upon test-driving a few finishes, I found that ribbed cotton lasts especially long, and it even has more stretch to it, too. (Cotton tanks will, however, always shrink after that first wash—consider sizing up.)

These parameters led me to finding my winning style: I’ve been wearing 2(X)IST's cotton square-neck tanks nonstop. They hug the body, are slightly more stretchy than your standard cotton tank, but don't suffocate you. The squared neckline feels modern and flattering. And the best part is, they even come in a convenient 2-pack (at $36 for two, they’re a cost-efficient staple). While there's certainly more luxurious options available on the market—see: The Row's $350 Frankie tank—my perfect summer tank proves that you don't have to spend a lot to like right on-trend. And, like Riri or KKW, I’ve been wearing them with virtually everything, including under my go-to dress shirts or blazers for work. Now, it's time to find your perfect one, too.

Below, shop 10 more tank tops that are perfect for summer.