With style icons like Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, Bella Hadid and Kate Middleton famously wearing the tank top, there is no doubt that this little garment continues to make a fashion statement. Known as the tank top, sleeveless pullover, sleeveless jumper or sweater vest in the US, what are the origins of this enduring piece of knitwear?
The garment has firm sporting roots, with its lineage being traced back to the heavy wool sweaters worn by rowers and athletes. Indeed, The Oxford English Dictionary lists the first use of ‘sweater’ in 1882, in reference to the woollens used by rowers to encourage profuse sweating. By the turn of the century, the sweater, had lost its perspiratory function and become a more standard jacket substitute. It also seems to be at this point, or shortly afterwards, that the idea was first had to cut off the sleeves, they were cut simply off or left out to give arms more freedom of movement during active play.
Interestingly, the term tank top comes from ‘swimming tanks’, the name for early public indoor pools, where competitors wore sleeveless ‘tank suits’.
By the 1930s, the sleeveless knit pullover moved into mainstream men's fashion, being popularised by American presidents like Woodrow Wilson and Herbert Hoover on golf courses as well as on Ivy League campuses.
Then in the 1970’s, the unisex boom paved the way for androgynous fashion and knitted tank tops once again experienced a massive peak as a unisex wardrobe staple. With brands championing bold patterns and vibrant styles featuring Argyle, intarsia graphics, and deep ribbed trims, often layered over patterned collared shirts. From Ali McGraw in Love Story to Robert Redford, Paul McCartney, Diane Keaton, The Osmonds and even Frank Spencer! The tank top was synonymous with the fashion of the decade.
But the 1980’s weren’t ready to say goodbye with Princess Diana keeping the sleeveless pullover in the forefront of the fashion zeitgeist. In the decades that followed, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the tank top had disappeared, but the truth is that the well-dressed have been wearing it in plain sight and with class forever.
More recently and shedding its dated ‘maths teacher’ stereotype, the tank top is certainly having a moment, being re-championed by contemporary style icons like Harry Styles and high-end fashion brands. The tank top has re-asserted itself as a highly versatile piece of clothing, it’s sporty and preppy, but also spans workwear to smart casual with ease.
Today, this core layering piece functions as a year-round transitional garment, shifting effortlessly from chunky and oversized knits to lightweight and cropped. Layering is really just putting one item of clothing on top of another, though instead of just slinging things on and hoping for the best, it pays to spend time working out what sits well together.
Whilst the Americans call it a knitted sweater vest, and here in Britain we call it a tank top, (and to add to the confusion, our vest is known as a tank in the US!) the sleeveless pullover has been an enduring garment for more than 100 years.
Here at Teviot Knitwear, we are proud to champion the multi-named and multi-talented tank top. We offer a range of sleeveless yet endlessly wearable tank tops and sleeveless pullovers, all handcrafted here in Hawick, Scotland. Our luxurious Women’s Tank Top is knitted in superfine lambswool and is available in 6 gorgeous colours. Worn over a shirt or a tee, or on its own in warmer weather, this beautiful fine lambswool tank will elevate any outfit throughout the seasons.
And coming soon, our new Argyle tank top as modelled above, will be available in an exciting range of colourways. Not forgetting our men’s button-up sleeveless vest in luxurious cashmere which will be on sale in our autumn collection. Watch this space...
Sleeveless. Endlessly wearable.
