This season, the classics made a return to the pinnacle of fashion, and surprisingly, the humble white tank dominated. Much like crisp white shirts and blue jeans, the white tank has always been a staple in our summer wardrobe but currently it finds itself de rigueur for all of 2022 and that includes fall. 

From “COVID” casuals, to last season’s over-the-top looks that were meant to herald a return to social freedom, designers now seem to be leveling off their style aesthetic. Transcending traditional ideas of seasonal dressing, a strong case was made for the utilitarian white tank for cooler days. Chloé’s creative director Gabriela Hearst went for a classic combination when she paired her version of the white tank with several beautifully colored five-pocket leather pants. Bottega Veneta’s opening look was a white tank with another fall must- have: the loose, mid-wash jean: pants that quietly screamed luxury, as they were actually made of leather. At Acne, a vision of winter white sprang forth with a scoop-neck white tank matched with white, high-waisted, wide-leg pants. Sparkle was added to the look via chunky accessories — simplicity at its best. 

The history of the white tank is eclectic, from its roots as a swimming top, think of the iconic image of Duke Kahanamoku, to the distastefully named “wife beater” association. In the UK, the tank is known as a vest, in Australia a singlet, and in India, I’ve discovered it’s called a banian. 

But on the runway in Milan, Prada continued its rise back to the top of people’s fashion awareness with a white tank that, of course, came with its signature triangular emblem front and center. Prada’s collection showed just how key this piece will be for fall when it was included a total of nine times in the collection. A must-have piece for the fashion die-hards, it was the topping to a multitude of elegant narrow skirts embellished with crystals and sheer overlay. This hardworking classic brings an element of cool to any look.

Having never really left the realm of our consciousness, the white tank remains timeless and continues to convey effortless style. Undeniably, the beauty of the basic white tank’s popularity is that we most likely already own it, and best of all, designer renditions aside, it needn’t be a wallet breaker.

Kim Smith has been a professional wardrobe stylist in Honolulu since 2004. Born a true Londoner, Smith had a successful career in public relations in the fashion industry in London for more than eight years before moving to Hawai‘i in 2002. Smith’s work spans a vast array of magazines, retailers and television as well as working with individual clients on their specific style needs. See her work at kimsmithstyle.com.