But unlike the double-layered tank tops pop stars wore in the aughts (and the turquoise and baby pink Aeropostale camis I stacked for seventh-grade algebra), today’s take on the trend is far less kitschy. Color palettes are kept simple—black clashed against white, or a muted pistachio mixed with cream. Tank silhouettes are streamlined, and flashy logos and rhinestones aren’t front and center. There’s a refinement at play here that gives the layered-tank look a modern, minimalist update.
Take, for example, Katie Holmes at the June 6 premiere of Happy Hours. Styled by Brie Welch, the actor-slash-writer-slash-director layered a champagne silk camicole-strap tunic by Magda Butrym over a white scoop-neck tank, which wasn’t dissimilar to those I buy in a $15-for-three pack. Her lacy slip would’ve been elegant on its own, but the cotton tank added a grounded, almost grungy element that made the look more complex. One Night Only star Monica Barbaro also jumped on the trend recently, showing us how to play with color with layered pink and red tanks.
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Typically I would balk at the idea of wearing an unnecessary layer in the summer, a season when I strategically engineer my outfits to be as lightweight as possible so I don’t melt into a mush of a woman. But what I’ve come to realize about the fashion set’s new favorite styling trick is that if you choose your tanks wisely—prioritizing loose cuts and breathable materials such as linen and cotton—you hardly feel the extra layer. Instead, it adds dimension and contrast, and makes the overall outfit feel well-considered and intentional. Two tank tops, arguably the most basic of summer basics, now feel anything but.
