Expensive-Looking and Non-See-Through—We've Found 9 White Tank Tops Worth a Place in Your Wardrobe

They might’ve been a beacon of Brat summer—as Charli XCX wisecracked, the key to achieving this self-indulgent aesthetic is a “Bic lighter and a strappy white top”—but white tank tops have gone the way of the ballet flat. That is to say, the best white tank tops have transcended micro trend status and simply become a wardrobe staple that chic dressers wear in spades.

Sure, their appearance on proclaimed internet It girls Julia Fox and Rachel Sennott in the "360" singer’s music video for the single might’ve helped the style garner a reputation as an essential for hedonists. However, long before they were given this label, white tank tops were revered as a simple and unfussy top that allowed for endless styling possibilities.

What began as a base layer designed to be hidden in plain sight beneath shirts, the white tank top first took to the spotlight in 1951 when American heartthrob Marlon Brando bared his bulging biceps in one during the black-and-white melodrama A Streetcar Named Desire.

Fast forward through a co-sign from Freddie Mercury, the frontman famously donned a white tank top for Queen’s magnum opus Wembley performance in 1986, and a runway debut in Helmut Lang’s late ‘90s fashion shows staged in New York, this former undergarment laid the foundation for outfits based upon function and a reserved approach to skin-glimpsing style.

While these days we’d never associate white tank tops with the naked dressing movement, there is something worth acknowledging about how cohesive this body-conscious garment is when mixed into your existing sartorial arsenal.

It’s this quality that has made them such a desirable fashion fundamental. They look as apt when teamed with structured denim jeans and a floaty button-down when running errands through the city as they do when layered on their own with polished white trousers during balmy summer days, as Rosie Huntington-Whiteley demonstrates below.

"White tank tops are the best wardrobe staples because they are seasonless, a perfect layering piece, and timeless," explains the founder of contemporary womenswear brand All My Love, Georgie Dorfman. Based in California, Dorfman adds that because the piece is so minimal, it's important for a minimalist aesthetic, so a white tank is really about "the shape and fabric."

But not all white tank tops are created equally. Given how widespread they are, there’s a certain threshold for pieces that can truly be dubbed as a “best white tank top”. They must be non-see-through, thick enough to appear smooth over your bra and also made of a fabric that’s generous enough to conceal any underarm stains.

This is something we’ve been discussing here atBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing lately, as we noticed, despite its popularity as an easy basic, a gaping absence of this silhouette across our editorial team.

So, where a recommendation is required, I will deliver. After crowdsourcing suggestions around the office and taking to the high street to test best-sellers for myself, I’ve curated what is the definitive list of the best white tank tops to shop. From ribbed to racer backs, see the nine styles you’ll want to slip into below.

The 9 Best White Tank Tops for Women

• The Best Overall White Tank Top: Mango V-Neck Knitted Top, £23
• The Best High-Street White Tank Top: H&M Ribbed Vest Top, £7
• The Best Luxury White Tank Top: Loewe Anagram Cotton-blend Tank Top, £325
• The Best Non-See-Through White Tank Top: Other Stories Fitted Tank Top, £9
• The Best Ribbed White Tank Top: COS Ribbed Tank Top, £17

1. Mango

Style Notes: After relocating to London from Sydney earlier this year, Mango became a high-street solace for me when it came to investing in chic items that served my new life in the city.

As the brand isn’t available in Australia, I was instantly besotted with the way it offered expensive-looking pieces that were both trend-forward and quite different from the other stock standard styles you’d find stocked at your other favourite retailers. This tank top is the perfect example of that.

The garment itself featured a subtle V-neck, thin straps and a very fine fine-knit touch, though these qualities didn’t lead the style to look flimsy. In fact, it was the opposite, given that it was composed mainly of durable and breathable viscose—a semi-synthetic fibre derived from regenerated wood pulp. T

he plunging silhouette gave the top an opulent quality, like something you’d see stocked at Khaite’s Manhattan boutique or made by an independent luxury fashion designer. What I adored most, though, was that the style was seamless and sat flush across my chest, contributing to the tank’s sumptuous feel.

Here I’m wearing it in a size small and paired it with a whimsical white cotton poplin skirt, truly a summer outfit idea I’ll be replicating for years to come.

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2. Zara

Style Notes: Another high-street haven, Zara offers quite a lot of different tank tops, so it was difficult to whittle it down to the piece you see here. This white tank top actually was one of the most sturdy that I tried on, with a thick touch and a built-in bra that makes it perfect for everyday wear.

I was drawn to the square neckline and thick straps, two elements that you rarely see in tank tops. And while these facts convinced me to love it when I was wearing it, it was actually the slight cowl effect that made me pick it up in the first place. Again, it lacks that bulky edge that lines some tank tops, which made it a winner in my eyes, but I did think that the way it gathered meant it wasn’t crafted with larger chests in mind. (For reference, I’m a DD cup and am wearing a size small.)

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3. Loewe

Style Notes: For Who What Wear's beauty director Shannon Lawlor, the only tank top worth considering and recommending is Loewe's anagram tank top. An item at the top of her wish list, Lawlor tells me that she purchased it in Puerto Banús while on holiday in Marbella, Spain. Don't get me wrong, though—this tank top was far from an impulse buy. "I did need approximately five glasses of sangria to just drop nearly €300 on a tank top, but I'd say that it's probably 5p in cost per wear by now," she said.

"I originally wanted the classic black stitching, and the sales associate convinced me to go for the white as it’s more timeless and less showy. It was the best advice ever," Lawlor adds. "I’ve never seen anyone else with it."

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4. Other Stories

Style Notes: For the meagre price of £19, I was so pleasantly surprised by the make and quality of this Other Stories white tank top. Truly one of the top five best tank tops that I’ve worn, this style sat quite high up my neck, making me feel more polished and streamlined compared to the other collarbone-revealing cuts. I sized up in this style, which I regret slightly, as it gaped around my arms. However, it did fit like a glove around my torso and chest, so I can’t be too admonished. It was also very longline, giving that premium and clean-cut effect that’s seen at brands like The Row and Tove.

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5. H&M

Style Notes: When I asked around theBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing office about the best white tank top they'd rate the highest, H&M's style won out with a resounding lead. After wearing it for an entire weekend, I could see why.

First of all, the fabric was heavy-duty, meaning that even the darkest bra wouldn't have a chance at peering out from beneath the fabric. Secondly, it was really lightweight, meaning that it skimmed my body nicely and even gave me a slightly cinched look. Thirdly, it's hard to turn your nose up at the price. Say what you will about deals, I think this under-a-tenner find could be the best bargain I've seen in years.

From an excursion out to Broadway Markets to a trip to the pub and even a pasta puttanesca dinner, this H&M top looked fresh and crisp through every step.

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6. COS

Style Notes: COS has never failed me with sleek-looking fundamentals. From the brand's style insider-beloved white t-shirt to their admirable barrel-leg jeans, I'm never let down by the styles that hit the London-based brand's shelves. All this to say, the brand's tank top lived up to this hype, but didn't necessarily stand out. It wasn't too thick or too thin, meaning that it slightly showed my bra, yet not in a way that would make me feel uncomfortable wearing it out of the house. It's made of 97% organic cotton, meaning the material felt nice under my skin, but it was slightly frail because of this. If these characteristics aren't a priority to you, consider this style like a true Golidlocks find.

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7. Stradivarius

Style Notes: For Who What Wear UK's video producer and editor, Natasha Wilson, the tank top that's crowned "most worn" in her wardrobe is this unfussy one from Stradivarius. "I normally avoid white tees as they are always see-through, but this tank comes in a thick, ribbed fabric, which is hard to come by on the high street," she adds. "I love how high-quality this tank is for its affordable price point. Even more so, I love the classic racerback style of this. The cut is extra flattering, sitting at the perfect length for my low waisted trousers and skirts."

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8. Skims

Style Notes: Skims is one of the best shapewear brands on the market, but there's so much more to this sculpting titan than just compression wear and bras with built-in nipples. But toBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing junior fashion editor, Imani-Nia Francis-Tsolaki, it's the brand that has the best white tank top. "This summer, I came across the Skims ribbed tank in the Selfridges sale and knew I had to pick it up," she said. "Slightly sheerer than initially expected, there’s not much else I don’t love about this tank. Its fitted fabrication and scoop neck make it one of my favourite throw-on-and-go tops by a mile."

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9. Leset

Style Notes: When a tank top is endorsed by Dakota Johnson, chic enough for Kendall Jenner to design an exclusive 818 Tequila-themed one and become a key part of Emily Ratajkowski's model off-duty uniform, I pay attention.

For the uninitiated, I'm talking about Leset, the elevated essentials brand worn by everyone from Angelina Jolie to Kamala Harris. Their cult-favourite Margot t-shirt has Natalie Portman, Hailey Bieber and Jennifer Lawrence's tick of approval—along with my own, of course—but it's the Los Angeles-based brand's tanks that really piqued my interest.

I'm now the very proud of the pointelle-knit cotton-jersey tank. It's a sleepwear-inspired style that puts the comfort in chic. With scalloped spaghetti straps and delicate needlework that gives it the feeling of pinstripes, this airy style is something I see myself wearing for seasons on end. I just envision myself pairing with a matching pointelle knit sweater and matching shorts in summer and a sturdy jacket with jeans in winter.

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Shop More Best Tank Tops for Women

What to Look Out for in the Best White Tank Tops

As a fashion writer, I'm often bombarded with questions like what to look out for in the best white tank tops. This is because I spend more time than most previewing new collections, sitting front row and fashion shows and being privy to the inner workings of the industry. Naturally, by consequence, I spend a lot of time in changing rooms too, so I've learnt over the years the traits that separate a premium tank top from a sub-par one.

The best tank tops should be stretchy enough to move with the body and not constrict. They shouldn't discolour easily and must wash well—you do not want to be racking up hundreds of pounds on a dry cleaning bill for what is a simple tube of fabric with three holes cut out of it. Straps must be considerable in size to hide a bra strap, but not stocky. If the straps are slim, the fabric must be smooth to disguise the ridge of the strapless bra you'll be wearing underneath. Necklines should not be too low or too high, and the underarm area must be spacious enough as not to allow for bulging.

This is a strict criterion, yes. But there are tank tops that adhere to this checklist. Find one that does and you'll love it forever.

Are White Tank Tops Supposed to be See Through?

High-quality tank tops are not intended to be see-through. If a tank top is sheer, this is presumably because the fabric is thinner or more lightweight. However, as London-based influencer Chloe Kath Butler proves below, you can use a see-through tank top to your advantage. The double-layering trend is a strategic way to look more chic and 'in the know' while still keeping your ensemble streamlined.

What Bra Colour Looks Best Under a White Tank Top?

Unless you're going for a Carrie Bradshaw look, white and flesh tones look best under tank tops. This is because they're the most conservative shades that won't look too jarring when peeping out from under the style à la Regina George in Mean Girls.

White Tank Tops on the Runway

Style Notes: Daniel Roseberry embraced this Western staple for his 'Lone Star' inspired autumn/winter 2025 runway.

Style Notes: Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez's Proenza Schouler spring/summer 2024 runway was full of city staples, like this layered tank top look.

Style Notes: For Sabato De Sarno's debut collection at Gucci, the Neapolitan designer cleaned the slate after a period of Alessandro Michele's maximalism with clean lines, structured fits and a white tank top, of course.

Style Notes: Same goes for London's own Maximilian Davis, who took the helm of Ferragamo by paying homage to the Italian designer's connection to Hollywood. (Is there anything more LA than a white tank top?)

Style Notes: Loewe's iconic anagram tank top, designed by the legendary Jonathan Anderson, as it appeared on the Spanish brand's spring/summer 2022 runway. This collection was the first to be staged following the pandemic.

Style Notes: Prada's designer tank top pioneered this trend and the silhouette's revival. One of the first to be designed with Raf Simons's input, the collection was inspired by "commemoration of life and living—of the occasion of the everyday, affording importance to each moment," as the brand wrote in a press release at the time.

How We Chose

These recommendations for the best white tank tops came fromBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing 's editorial team. Spearheaded by fashion writer Ava Gilchrist, this edit was compiled based on personal recommendations and in-depth reviewing. As Gilchrist has worn, tested and tried countless tank tops over the length of her career, she revised her favourite styles and took to the store floor to uncover the new-in styles of note. Wearing them for hours on end and with different outfits and undergarments to test their sheerness and quality, Gilchrist and her fellow editors landed on the 9 best white tank tops.

Why Trust Us

AtBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing UK, fashion is our speciality. Our editors have years of industry experience, from reporting on seasonal fashion trends seen at international fashion weeks to working with some of the most recognisable names in fashion. Every item we recommend is carefully selected based on current trends, quality and real-world wearability.

We regularly try pieces ourselves, everything from bestselling jeans to designer shoes, speak to external experts and fashion insiders and stay closely connected to what our readers are searching for. Our advice is grounded in expertise and has to pass our exceptional taste levels—so you can feel confident in every recommendation.