In praise of the tank top. Yes, the knitted sweater vest is a midlife style staple!
As a fan of slightly nerdy knitwear: traditional Fair Isle, classic cardigans, the perfect polo neck – I have been looking for a knitted tank top (or sweater vest as we’re now calling them) for some time. When the tendency is for brands to skimp on sizing and you have a long body, that’s not as easy as it sounds. I do not want to look like I’m wearing a woolly crop top… Success at last. The navy, knitted waistcoat from Me+Em is an ideal length, good quality knit and has a Diane Keaton vibe. Even though I’ve gone a bit Advanced Style with this outfit, the sweater vest would look equally cool with a white shirt, jeans and loafers. Pared back or far out. Take your pick.
Knitwear designer and author Debbie Bliss believes that a tank top is the perfect style solution to help overcome a hot flush. Layering a sweater vest over a simple, white t-shirt or fancy blouse is the answer for women in midlife and beyond. ‘I’m on medication and have been going through hot flushes again,’ the 68-year-old says over the phone, ‘I’ve found that if I suddenly have to strip, it’s easier to pull a tank top off. Fortunately, one of my patterns is for a sideways cable knit with no side seams and lots of menopausal through-draft!’ (The Harriet Tank Top Knitting Pattern, £3.50, LoveCrafts). Being an experienced knitter, Bliss owns a selection of handmade tank tops, ‘They’re great as a body warmer when we take the dogs out – some of my jackets have quite narrow sleeves and you get the extra warmth without the bulk.’
Will you be getting tanked up this spring?
STYLE NOTES: The Merino Button Vest is the from Me+Em. The Botanical Anna blouse is from Boden. And the Super Wide Leg Ponte Trousers are also Me+ Em. All clothes loaned and returned. The suede sneakers were a generous gift from Grenson. Earrings from Auree Jewellery.
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Discussion (27 Comments)
Thanks, Mrs Tonia. I have noticed the post-menopausal bosom myself (mine I mean, not yours)! Leave it with me, I think this would make a good feature. From my experience, jackets unbuttoned or edge-to-edge style always work well – and I think you could wear the knitted waistcoat unbuttoned, too.
Mrs Tonia says:
Thanks Alyson. Yes unbuttoned even cardies a more flattering look I find.
The fair isle I saw recently was at Toast. They have some lovely pieces this season. Lots of green !
Susanna says:
I’m post-menopause at this point, but so glad that tank tops are coming back. One of the only styles from my early twenties that I’m willing to revisit! I just knitted myself one with a “country walks” vibe, and it’s perfect for the very cold spring we are having in San Francisco this year. Love the way you up-styled yours, Alyson – I’ll have to be bolder!
Thanks Susanna – on a daily basis I would probably wear the tank top with jeans but I really like this outfit. Getting bolder!
Bev says:
Oh I love a tank top/sweater vest/slipover – I have two beautiful ones from The London Cashmere Company (think called ‘Piper’) and they get worn in rotation. Also have a nice cream lambswool one from Zara. I found a real nerdy one in a charity shop – an ancient Gap lambswool fairisle one which looks quite ‘funky’ over a summer dress – channelling Maggie Gyllenhaal in Nanny McPhee (??!!) – look it up! I have always loved them as I remember my nan constantly knitting them for my grandad. As soon as they were holey they got unravelled and reknitted in true ‘make do and mend’ style. (That two person thing – one unravelling and the other winding!). As an always freezing cold person I bung these tops over EVERYTHING.
Joanie P says:
I have two black tank tops, both from Uniqlo U (from this year and in 2021). They are so useful and disguise a less than perfect waistline so well!
Dawn Barron says:
Love your articles and that this email pops in just after I’ve just seen you walk past me. I was having breakfast in the window seat of 31 Below. You look as fab in real life! ☺️
Hello! And that’s very kind – thank you. 31 Below looked lovely but we only wanted coffee and a sandwich/ brunch so decided to go elsewhere in the end. Will definitely go back.
Janet Stevens Nixon says:
I’m in the process of knitting my own. I wanted something that was warm but without the bulk of sleeves. Finding just the ‘right one’ was proving fruitless so searched my pattern library and found the ideal one. Looking at the Harriet Tank Top I might knit two.
lizzie g says:
love the small slits at the side of Me + Em knits. for access to pockets, for not bunching up, and for my mid life hips.
Jane says:
YES!
That’s all I have to say on this matter. Thanks Alyson.
Toast also do tank tops, though I am wondering how complicated can a tank top be to knit..?!Alas it’s a piece that’s not very flattering for those of us with hips and bust – love the way you put it together.
Sara Shaw says:
Hmm, always a matter of personal preference but as one who lived through the seventies, I’d rather not do this style. Just too reminiscent of the decade that style forgot. Everything is eventually recycled in style terms but I have a bit of an aversion to those things I wore when I was a great deal younger. As post menopausal but still experiencing hot flushes(20years and counting…..) I’m not sure there is anything in the clothing department that mitigates the discomfort, though polo necks have been out for me for years, shame as I used to like them.
P.S. Think I’m going to investigate those sneakers, a very good look, Alyson!Maggie Dunn says:
I love a tank top! On 13th January last you posted a fab pic of Amelia Bullmore wearing a lilac shirt and navy tank top which started me on a bit of a tank top phase.
Kerry says:
I suppose that “tank top” means something different in the US. A tank top here is generally a scoop-necked, sleeveless t-shirt that you wear under a blouse or shirt – or alone, if it’s hot. What I see here is a sweater vest.
To-MAY-to/to-MAH-to, I suppose 🙂
Here in Canada, a “tank top” is also a sleeveless t-shirt. I’d never heard the term used for a sweater vest before. Interesting!
Jan Carpenter says:
I want the blouse underneath…such a beautiful print isn’t it a shame to cover it with anything! Would you share where it came from? It does look like spring.
Helen Johnson says:
Hello Jan,
It’s from Boden and called the Anna botanical blouse. There is a link to it at the bottom of the feature below the gallery.
Thank you!
Julie Seddon says:
I love tank tops over blouses in winter and t-shirts in summer when an extra layer is needed but I’m post menopausally too warm for a full cardigan. My problem is finding one that fits my size 22 figure and at a decent price. I love the Brora v neck fair isle ones but the prices are ridiculous – £298 eek!
I like the Me+Em one you are wearing Alison but I’d replace the buttons with something a bit more jazzy.Menopause warm? I never got the hot flushes just more cold than usual. I am always freezing and have just ordered two cashmere jumpers in summer colours so I don’t look too odd amongst the tee shirts at upwards of 25 degrees!
Lorie says:
That sweater vest speaks to me. I’m hauling out the knitting needles and I’ll do a search on ralvery for a pattern. Ralvery is a knitting site online with a vast inventory of patterns.
You’ll find every possible configuration of a style (sweater vest) from buttons up the front, scoop neck, v neck, pullover, or a library look that runs from hip height to mid thigh level.
So versatile and really your making exactly what you want or need!Debs C says:
Great colours and I like a knitted waistcoat. It is interesting the different names we have for the same items. I often buy men’s knitwear and this is a link that might be useful for some that need a larger item, at a decent price https://www.woolovers.com/mens/sleeveless/lambswool-knitted-waistcoat-purple-20170
Tiffany says:
I really want to knit one but also suffering from matronly bust so I suspect it would look ghastly and I’d just end up giving it away …
Denise says:
There was a time when all I wanted was to find a tank top to go over the top of a white t shirt or blouse but could I find one anywhere…. No!
So, thank the god of fashion that I can now find all kinds of tank tops in shops and online to satisfy my want.
Jen 
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As ever Alyson this combination of garments suits your height and shape well. What really makes it look so good to me is the floral blouse pulling the whole together.
I used to wear tank tops. Scottish Merchant natural coloured fair isle in the 70s. Then later various drop shouldered sleeveless bits of knitwear layered over shirts and blouses.
As you write they are most useful as a body warming intermediate layer. In this intermediate weather especially useful.
However with a more bosomy matronly aspect now I don’t find them flattering.
A semi fitted cardigan sleeves pushed up left unbuttoned as my current alternative. It’s a pity. I saw recently a lovely fair isle version short and square in Jigsaw.
Please have a post at some point on what to wear if you are more full chested post menopause. There used to be strict “rules” in the Trinny and Susannah period. No crew necks, v-necks only etc. Current guidance from your perspective asking some of your acquaintances who look good with this type of figure would be appreciated.