The humble white tank top has had a tumultuous life. It was once the poster child of 1950s Americana, with Marlon Brando and James Dean opting for one (preferably stained) when a white tee was just too much. Fast forward 20 years and the tank top was a staple of any ’70s Queer wardrobe, perfect for dancing the night away in. By the 2000s, the white tank top had developed more negative connotations — a “Suns Out, Guns Out” lads on holiday air was intrinsically linked to the tight-fitting essential, let alone more damaging terms. Yet in 2023, the white tank top is a status symbol — how did LOEWE’s piece, for example, become the Hottest Product of Lyst Index’s Q2 2023 report?

LOEWE is not alone. Prada actually beat Jonathan Anderson‘s House to it with the release of its $1,000 USD tank top that went viral on TikTok for its astronomical price point. Prada shortly followed it up with another $1,000 USD piece that was partially made from silk, somewhat justifying the price. Bottega Veneta has released one, as has Courrèges, Marine Serre, and now, Saint Laurent.

It’s a trend that follows on from the buzz of “Quiet Luxury” — no logos à la Bottega Veneta is best, but a tiny one on the chest is a close second. Does it suggest the wearer has more money than sense, or does it imply that something as simple as a tank top must be from a designer brand for the wearer? The answer lies within the details.

Saint Laurent’s iteration is one of the best on the market, switching up the veneer-white tone (perfectly paired with a Ken Doll tan) for something more sophisticated. Here, we find a semi-sheer ribbed knit tank top in “Noir Naturel,” which is off-white in shade and easier on the eye, as if it’s meant to be worn underneath a shirt, perhaps.

Other things that make it exclusively Saint Laurent include the YSL branding embroidered on the center of the chest, its organic cotton fabrication, and the slightly tighter silhouette. Elsewhere, it’s a tank top through and through, with a round scoop neck, thick straps, and a straight hem completing this number.

Saint Laurent’s Cassandre Tank Top retails for £375/$550 USD and it’s available to buy from the House’s website and boutiques now.

In other news, Martine Rose has delivered her new Nike collaboration campaign, “MRSTV.”