Tank tops are the 'Quiet Luxury' basic everyone's wearing rn—here are some chic staples plus how to style

When it comes to your capsule wardrobe, no piece is more essential than a tank top. Somehow, the humble vest just manages to elevate the simplest of outfits, while simultaneously being a great piece to layer under all your fall knits and shirts. It really is the definition of a style 'basic'.

So it's really no wonder that the vest has become something of a uniform for 'Quiet Luxury' lovers and IT girls everywhere, thanks to its clean, classic shape and casual but sophisticated vibe. Take the highly coveted Loewe 'Anagram' tank top for instance, which according to Lyst was one of the hottest products of 2023.

So, if you're looking to add a staple tank top into your own style rotation, here are our picks of the best quality-tops, (because the struggle to find one that isn't partially see-thru is real) and how to style them all year long...

Our 6 tank top picks to elevate your style

If you're going for a capsule Quiet Luxury look, there are a few failsafe places to shop chic tank tops...

• Arket: Another great one-stop for basic, with over 10+ tank top colorways
• Banana Republic: Shop thick, ribbed tank tops in staple wardrobe shades
• COS: Great for high-quality basics, especially tanks and T-shirts
• H&M: Budget-friendly tanks and tees, available in classic, neutral shades
• Weekday: Our beauty writer, Naomi LOVES these tank tops for fit and overall shape
• ZARA: Offers a wide range of tanks in different cuts and colors

When it comes to selecting a good tank top, we look for the following criteria; fit, thickness and color. 

Fit-wise, the most popular style of vest is a 'racerback' style as well as a classic, rounded neckline, with wide-ish straps. We also suggest stocking up on neutral shades, especially white, grey and black but the beauty of a tank top is even statement colors can become staples in your rotation.

Thickness is the real minefield with tanks, so we'd recommend hunting for ribbed or cotton materials, because we ourselves, are very familiar with the agony of buying a new tank top and putting it on, only to find it's basically sheer. And while we're loving a bit of the 'exposed bra' trend, sometimes you just want an opaque top, okay?!

How to rock tank top outfits IRL

Now, there's no hard and fast rule to rocking a tank top, but personally, we love the classic combo of a white tank, blue jeans and sneakers—like the Adidas Sambas—or a racerback vest paired with an oversized shirt and some suit pants (a true work capsule wardrobe fit). 

A tank top is perfect for a casual and low-maintenance look, when you want to look cool but also just want to chuck on a top and pants. Take this recent Emily Ratajkowski serve for instance...

She proves how chic a statement color like red, which is predicted to be a big fall shade, can be in tank top form. There are really no limits to what you can pair them with...

Emma Chamberlain, for instance, can often be seen sporting a white tank, with denim shorts and Dickies trousers—accessorized with a pair of Emma's eclectic sunglasses of course. You can also pair them with skirts, 'Boxercore'-esque shorts, or under cardigans, the options are endless.

For a very 'Quiet Luxe' vibe though, we'd recommend opting for a monochromatic look with your tank top, like a white outfit or a black one. And don't forget to add a pair of statement, Hailey Bieber-approved earrings and a few spritzes of these Quiet Luxury perfumes.