The best white vests

Since its first emergence in 19th-century France as an undergarment for Parisian dockworkers, the white vest has experienced several rebrands. High fashion has laid its claim on the layering basic, with many designers – among them Prada, Loewe and Courrèges – producing iterations stamped with logos for not-so-subtle statement making. The SS25 collections saw figure-hugging styles paired with fringed maxi skirts (Ralph Lauren), vinyl midi skirts (Miu Miu) and tailored silhouettes (Gucci and Cavalli). But which vests are the best? Here, we present the ultimate HTSI edit. 

Best for bigger busts

Wardrobe NYC scoop-neck tank

Minimalist layering label Wardrobe NYC recently introduced a scoop-neck made from Italian cotton-mix jersey with an extra-thick rim across the bust. 

See also: Skims’ Long Tank (£42), which is best as a base layer (the fabric is much thinner) and extremely comfortable: it feels like wearing butter. 

Best for evening

Almada Label Luna tank 

“I lived in this merino wool and cashmere vest last summer,” says HTSI editor Jo Ellison of Almada Label’s best-selling Luna tank top, a classic racerback that is “super-flattering on the shoulders and great for evenings and air conditioning”. For a more ladylike alternative, try Almada’s Liv top with narrow shoulder straps and seamed cups. And if one-shouldered asymmetry is your thing, try the Una, knitted from a sumptuous bouclé blend. 

See also: Extreme Cashmere’s No 270 (£181), a high-neck style made from a wonderfully lightweight blend of cotton and cashmere, gets HTSI assistant editor Ellie Pithers’ vote.  

Best for garçon chic 

Petit Bateau boys’ vest

Those with a smaller bust should try Petit Bateau cotton boys’ vests (£24 for a 2-pack, age 14), which offer “a nice bit of give, while still retaining shape”, as Ellison puts it. They sit slightly higher on the chest and the fabric is absorbent of mild to moderate sweat.  

Best for the Gen-Z-style crop

Los Angeles Apparel crop tank

For Melbourne-based chef and white-tank connoisseur Ellie Bouhadana, “the one I wear every summer is a simple white cropped tank by Los Angeles Apparel”. It has a flattering silhouette that offers maximum ventilation while cooking in the kitchen. Bouhadana likes to style hers with a brooch or necklace. “I just got a cute fish brooch from Merci, C’est Vintage in Paris [see also Wales Bonner’s handpainted pendants]. Or sometimes I’ll put a crochet bra over the top.” 

Best value for money

Hanes men’s vest

“I’m obsessed with the white Hanes vests for men,” says Ellison of the $3 pre-shrunk tank. A multipack ($19 for a pack of 6) will see you easily through the summer. They have a printed label on the inside, so no irritating scratch. They also wash extremely well.  

See also: Community Clothing’s racerbacks, which are entirely plastic-free (£30).

Best for romance

Leset Pointelle sleeveless crew

For lovers of pointelle, the distinctive diamond-motif cotton that immediately calls to mind a Sofia Coppola movie, Los Angeles-based brand Leset makes a cropped crew-neck top with a pretty scalloped trim and a cute spaghetti-strap tank in “cloud melange”. Layer underneath a matching short-sleeved cardigan.   

See also: DÔEN’s mother-of-pearl button-down Lois tank ($108), a forever piece made in the cosiest organic cotton, and Brora’s figure-hugging, lace-trimmed style (£59). (NB, while this is a story about white vests, it would be rude to sleep on the brand’s jewel-toned offering in malachite.)

Best for cool-girl effortlessness

Flore-Flore Esmé tank

Small-batch label Flore-Flore has amassed a cult following since its launch in 2021, beloved for its super-soft, super-stretchy tanks and T-shirts produced at a mother-daughter factory in Portugal. The Esmé – with its scooped armholes, high neck and ribbed trims – sits consistently among the bestsellers (available in six core colours plus seasonal rainbow hues) and has become “the unofficial uniform of the SSENSE buying team,” according to the platform’s buying director, Isla Lynch, who collaborates on exclusive styles each season. I prefer the Hillie (scoop-neck) for less “uniboob”; the Jill (plunging V-neck) and Angie (halterneck) are also essential buys.  

See also: For something more playful, Spanish brand La Veste offers a ribbed round neck with adjustable buckle shoulder straps (£101), best worn with its cotton “fancy pants” in fuschia. 

Best ribbed effect

Toteme Curved Rib Tank

“We’re still seeing the lingering effects of Brat Summer in the popularity of the ribbed white tank tops worn by Charli XCX on her Sweat tour,” says Lynch. For optimal figure-hugging, Toteme’s curved rib tank is a failsafe for many. Alighieri founder Rosh Mahtani wears hers on rotation with her Hanes tank, tucked into jeans from Re/Done or a slip skirt such as this sheer style from Vince. 

See also: Elliot Organics’ Edie tank with narrower straps (£42, made in Spain in limited quantities, alongside matching briefs), AGOLDE’s Poppy tank, £120, and COS, whose ribbed tank top (£25) offers a little more slack and comes in several stripy alternatives. 

Best for sculpting

Tank Air Studio tank

Tank Air’s Studio tank, a blend of 88 per cent polyester and 12 per cent Spandex, is the holy grail of tanks. The Los Angeles-based brand (note California’s dominance in the race) reported a 54 per cent increase in month-on-month sales since launching the product last July using targeted Instagram ads, which have resulted in more than 12mn related TikTok posts. People love its “sculpting” abilities. It sits above the hips, so avoid it if you’re scared of showing midriff.