A curated selection of the best tank tops from Australian and New Zealand designers
IMAGE VIA @NAGNATA/INSTAGRAM
WORDS BY GENEVIEVE PHELAN
Simple is the new sexy.
Tanks. They’re the pinnacle of ‘basics’, taking you from a day-to-night basis with just a few clever adornments and accessories at afternoon intermission. It seems, in the last twelve months, the humble racer-back-style tank (maybe with a slight crop) has ascended to the peak of trend-worthiness, and I couldn’t be comfier.
Paired with gold chains and tailored trousers, or scaled back against your favourite bike shorts for a latte run – whatever you’re doing, a tank top of the right calibre and quality fabrication can be an ever-wearable wardrobe weapon.
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Layer in cooler climes, bare your arms when it’s warm. Build out a tonal collection, spliced with an occasional colour or print here and there for endless outfit options. Here, we say our thanks for the best tanks going, from the crème de la crème of Australian and New Zealand designers.
Blanca
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Reliquia Jewellery’s well-dressed sister brand Blanca offers a collection of colourful summer staples – like breezy button-downs, relaxed shorts and the perfect fitted tank. The Becca Tank’s sporty cut works on a variety of bodies and boob sizes (it’s been tested) and is available in basic black and white, plus a fun bright pink.
Karameleon
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Karameleon is a one-woman label based in Bondi. All the design, hand-painted prints, content curation, packing and postage is done by a solitary fashion whizz. The showstopper of your hot vaxxed summer antics? This rollicking ‘Yee Haw’ tank in a baby blue.
Maggie Marilyn
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Maggie Marilyn nails sophisticated minimalism like no other, and in the most considered, conscious way. The 01 singlet comes in a paint-palette of colourways, like a zesty, vibrant green and a deliciously-rich navy. In the iconic New Zealand designer’s words, “All good things start with a good base”. Its thinner straps make for a more ‘fashion’-type tank, with some halterneck-adjacent flair.
Friends with Frank
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Expanding its ‘classics collection’ with each bi-annual release, Friends with Frank has added butter and chocolate shades in a signature tank cut. Crafted from cocooning ribbed-knit organic stretch cotton, these tanks feel fit for elevated wear.
Assembly Label
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Hailed for its ‘always on’ trove of streamlined, functional, well-made essentials, Assembly is no stranger to a winning tank top. The Meike offering comes in at a wallet-friendly price point, made from premium cotton for slip-on comfort and summer-proof breathability.
Nagnata
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Loved for its collection of luxe athleisurewear, Byron-based label Nagnata’s collection of high-quality tanks is too good to confine to your local gym. Made from the brand’s signature ‘sculpting’ knit, these tanks give a bodysuit-like fitted effect – made for wearing with oversized denim.
Lé Buns
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Echoing the versatility of Lé Buns foundation pieces, the brand’s apparel is all about bedroom to beach transitions and elevated off-duty wear. Expect double-lined organic cotton, minus any elastic, so each garment is self-supported for all-occasion wear. I’m particularly partial to the Luna Ribbed Crop.
Nude Lucy
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If it’s more of a crop you’re hunting for (to meet some high-waisted pants beyond halfway and flaunt a midriff), Nude Lucy’s button-front creation has a short silhouette and snug body-fit. This waffle stretch cotton also allows for some texture-play when you’re wearing linens or denim down below.
Matteau
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A bit of a twist on the commonplace racer-style is Matteau’s nod to the naughty nineties. This square-neck knitted tank takes a bandage approach to the tank, making a strong case for evening attire and coming in a trio of core colours – black, white and brown.
Nobody Denim
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Trust the denim experts to nail the art of basic tanks and tees – a baggy jean’s best friend. The Melbourne-based label’s Luxe Rib Cutaway Tank is crafted from a stretchy viscose blend, made for layering under knits in the cooler months.
Bassike
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It would be rude to talk about ease-of-dressing and smart basics without mentioning Bassike. Its wardrobe of tanks is pretty extensive, ranging from plain and simple iterations to more sunshiney, playful designs like this stripy slip-on. Bassike works with GOTS-certified organic cotton, cultivated without the use of toxic pesticides. This means your core wardrobe is renewable, better for you, and better for the planet.
Wynn Hamlyn
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This ribbed knit halter top is a certified summer (and winter) bop. Wynn Hamlyn understood the assignment when meshing fashion-forward designs with functionality. You’ll know his keyhole cut-out tanks and sleeved tops well, too, forever taking the simple and banal pieces we love, but making them interesting via peculiarities of shape and texture.
Kowtow
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If you’re really looking to nail a baseline black and white duo of singlets, take a scroll through Kowtow. These mindfully-made mid-weight organic cotton jersey garments will likely stick around in your wardrobe for a long while. Timeless in style and design, and coming in at the $69 mark, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better skivvy of biodegradability and simplicity.
Blanca
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While you may be partial to Blanca for its cult-favourite striped long-sleeved shirts, did you know the label also makes a mean singlet? 100 per cent cotton and a perfect length, you won’t need to tuck this one into bottoms, or bare too much skin at your midsection. It’s a sportier vibe than the rest of the lineup, so bike shorts can be quickly subbed for a denim skirt if you’re going from athleisure to lady of leisure.
Arnsdorf
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A wildcard silhouette, for a bit of spice in your tank vault, this one-shoulder cut comes in the cutest shades of summer-ready pastels. With an asymmetrical twist, it’s a fun departure from the traditional tanks we know and love. The Pia Tank is made from substantial GOTS organic cotton rib, coloured by GOTS dyes and knitted here in Australia. The label’s Roberta Tank is also a great addition to any wardrobe.
Jac + Jack
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I am very partial to a Jac + Jack tank, especially when layered with the rest of the label’s supple softwear. These newcomer ribbed tanks are dubbed a ‘wear-with-anything style’, cut from ribbed, stretchy jersey for a hugging fit. Dip it under flowing linen pants for the easiest off-duty fit.
Henne
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Lime has been touted as the colour of the season for spring-summer ’22 a few times, and this Henne racer tank may as well be all the evidence we need. The striking green is a statement maker but looks effortlessly put together when toned down with some denim below. Henne weaved its favourite basic with thick luxe rib fabrication, featuring a high neck and a low-scooping cut underneath the arms.
Country Road
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A clean, thick neckline binding is often the sign of a good-quality top – like on this Fitted Jersey Tank from Australian favourite, Country Road. Crafted in a soft cotton jersey, this wardrobe staple – available in trending colours like bright red and fuchsia – is fabulous paired with some delicate chains and an oversized shirt.
Genevieve Phelan is Fashion Journal’s Lifestyle & Careers Columnist. Her writing fuses introspection with investigation, calling on her own personal anecdotes and the advice of admired experts in the realms of intimacy, money, friendship, careers and love. You can find her here and here.
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