Are tank tops everyday wear?

[EagleOnTheWall]

I have one which my mother once bought for me. I haven't worn in a long time and I wore it today, and I hate to say, I kind of like it.

Is it a middle aged thing? Am I turning into my mother? Are they acceptable everyday wear (to the office?) or something best confined to one's own home?

You see, as much as I try to resist Americanisms, I can't help but like "tank top." It differentiates between a vest, which is worn underneath a shirt, and, well, a tank top! I don't like the name sweater vest as much, I wish we called "jumper vests" or similar, but I think having three names for the three garments just makes sense! A vest, a tank top, and a sweater vest.

To answer your actual question, OP, I consider tank tops everyday/casual wear. Probably not for an office without an open overshirt or cardi, but definitely to wear out and about!

I adore my tank tops! My favourite is a vintage Laura Ashley from the 80
soft pink lambswool with kind of sparky bits dropped on it
Also have a gorgeous white stuff beige thicker one cream with flacks
slight digression but I love my Tommy Hillfiger denim tank which has poppers up the front ( love poppers ! )
As well as Vinted I s bought some gem bits from Messina Hembury
i scroll and favourite but most not buy atm
Bipolar wreaking havoc on my finances😢😬

You are confusing American English with British English. Google won’t tell you the difference, in fact as a US company the results tend towards the US.

@Doyouthinktheyknow no idea, mid-40's from the south east. I've genuinely never heard a sleeveless jumper referred to as a tank top.

@EagleOnTheWall it's cos you're much too young lovely, by about 20 years 😉

If that were the case why are UK companies like Brora, Palava and &Daughter calling them "tank tops"?

Admittedly none of these brands are aimed at teenagers but the demographic they are aiming at is I would say a fashion savvy one.

Cos also calls a knitted sleeveless garment a tank top

https://www.cos.com/en-gb/women/womenswear/knitwear/vests/product/striped-knitted-tank-top-red-white-striped-1282944002

I'm mid 40s too and only ever heard a tank top to refer to a knitted sleeveless jumper!

I have a male colleague (mid forties) who is well known for wearing knitted sleeveless tops at work under his suit - he is Portuguese and does it in a stylish European way. Has been his style since he was in his twenties. He is affectionately known as “Tank top!” by our Essex Man client base cos they find that easier to say than his actual name…

”Alright Tank Top!” is mostly how he is greeted.

Or, God help us, a vest and slacks.

This is even more serious than I thought, a schism deep in the heart of Mumsnet. Or should that be Momsnet?

@Floisme - don’t even …

Hardly widespread mainstream brands.

The vast majority of UK retailers refer to the vest style as a tank top.

Are you aware plenty of areas in the UK don’t say “mum”? And no it’s not an Americanism
You’re very little England centric.

That's because I'm English. Do you refer to toilets as bathrooms too?

Just because they've decided an American usage is spreading and they want to use it doesn't make them right!

This article looked like it would be interesting on the topic but you have to pay £24 to read it sadly. The headline, including "tank top" in a list of items that have a specific and different meaning in British and American English would, I suspect, confirm the tank top = sleeveless knitted item in British English argument.

Can't get more mainstream than John Lewis.

https://www.johnlewis.com/jigsaw-cotton-wool-blend-rib-knit-tank-top/p109666291

https://www.johnlewis.com/white-stuff-naria-tank-dark-navy/p113313464

https://www.johnlewis.com/whistles-maisie-button-front-tank-top-navy/p113220197

And your experience of England isn’t even universal in the UK so to refer to things as Americanisms because you don’t say it is nonsense.

Your “example” is hardly validating your point. A toilet is an object, a bathroom is the room.
Are you redecorating your toilet?
Are you putting the towels back in the toilet?

The plot thickens:

Tank top may refer to:

• Tank top (shirt), a type of sleeveless shirt (US/Australian/Canadian English)
• Tank top (sweater), also known as a sweater vest

(wiki)

ps yes, in the midlands, mum is mom.

Yes. The toilet is the room. That’s why we say “he’s in the toilet”. Doesn’t mean he’s standing in the bowl!

I was wondering about the etymology and the word comes from tank suit.

And the name "tanksuit" or "tank suit" (as well as "tank top") alludes to the "tank" or pool in which the wearer swims.

i.e. swimming. 20th century.

There is no “we”.
You say it and that doesn’t make it correct nor universal.

Your “example” is hardly validating your point. A toilet is an object, a bathroom is the room.
Are you redecorating your toilet?
I would redecorate a toilet, yes.
Are you putting the towels back in the toilet?
No, I don't keep towels in the toilet as there is no sink there. I keep them in the bathroom.

And now I am ending our exchange @Hodgemollar, diverting as it is, as we are clearly two people divided by a common language. You may have the last word if that will make you happy. But I wish you well and even 'a great day'.

I never said it was “ universal”? I said it was not wrong. And you literally asked if I would redecorate a toilet or put towels in there!

Why can’t you accept that there might be linguistic variations and both are correct but that confusion may result if a person uses an expression in a context where their cultural background is not clear?

It's only a bathroom if it has a bath in it.