It never fails… whenever I post an outfit, people seem to be more interested in the basics than the actual star of the outfit. For example, I posted a striped cardigan that was on major sale, but all of the questions were about the white tank underneath. That led me to think about how so many of us are always searching for that perfect white tee or a great black tank that works with leggings. So, I rounded up a few of my favorite basic tees and tanks. Each one serves its purpose in my closet, whether it be layering, leggings friendly, or just a good old tee that works on its own.
***Disclaimer with white: Okay, I’m going to say what no one wants to hear. White is see through. Unless we’re talking about a lined shirt or a fabric that’s so super thick that it loses it’s comfort, white is almost always see through… when you wear a white (or any other color) bra. Get yourself a great nude bra and your problem will be solved. In all of the white tees/tanks I am wearing, I have a nude bra underneath. No cami needed.
V-Neck Tees
These SO brand tees from Kohl’s were a top seller last summer. Everyone seemed to love these pocket v-necks. The material is soft, the shirt itself is flattering, and it’s just a great basic tee. It comes in tons of colors/patterns. They do come knotted, but you can easily untie the knot, which gives you some extra length. Don’t let the junior sizing fool you; it runs big. I’m wearing a small.
Target also carries a popular v neck tee, however, I find this one to run shorter than the Kohl’s one. I still like the fit (I wear a medium in these), and they have some cute prints as well, like this camo one.
Crew Neck Tees
Amazon Essentials has a great selection of basics, and these crew neck tees are a winner. They come in a two pack in a variety of colors/prints. They have a decent amount of stretch and wash really well without losing their shape. I wear my true size medium in these.
Target also has a nice selection of crew neck tees. I don’t think these hold their shape as well as the Amazon ones, but they are a bit softer.
V-Neck Tunics
I had many requests for tanks that can be worn with leggings, and these v-neck tunics had great reviews, so I had to give them a try. They do indeed cover the booty, and they also have front coverage too, which for me, is important when wearing leggings. I personally wear these as layering pieces in a size medium. They come in a ton of colors and prints.
I also like J. Crew v-neck tanks. They are soft and comfortable and perfect for summer because of their lightweight cotton material. I wear a medium.
V- Neck Shells
When I think of the word shell, I think about a tank that is meant to be layered underneath a jacket, blazer or cardigan, and these shells are so amazing. For one, they are lined, which means they are not see through at all! They are also longer in the back, so you can wear them with leggings if you choose. These run big, so consider sizing down if in between. I’m in a small.
Crew Neck Swing Tanks
These are another great layering piece for work. Old Navy has some amazing crew neck swing tanks, and they are always coming out with new patterns. These also come in solid colors. I size down to a small in these as I find them to run big.
Embellished Tanks
Sometimes you just want a little something extra in a tank, which is why I love this lace trimmed and button tank. Both just add a little more texture than your run of the mill plain tank. These both come in other colors and fit true to size. I wear a medium in both.
Tunic Tees
I have two tunic tees from Amazon, and it’s hard to choose a favorite, but I might have to go with this cuffed sleeve tee, because I really like that the sleeve cuff is sewn together. I wear this in a small and found it to run big.
This tunic is also great. I initially bought this in a long sleeve, and was super exited when they came out with a short sleeve. Perfect for leggings or layering. I wear this one in my true size medium.
