TANK TOPS SHOULDN'T BE FEARED

As summer staples go, tank tops get a pretty tough time. Mention this arm-showing staple and the mind will likely wander to visions of gym bros and mirror selfies. But that isn't the direction that it needs to go in.

When mercury rises, the obvious benefit of tank tops is their superior ability to keep you cool. And with the right styling, it can also be a winning look.

The 90s and early naughts provided countless style moments that proved the power of a tank. Celebrities who have recently developed a cult-like fanbase from their Y2K outfits such as David Beckham and Justin Timberlake could be found sporting tank tops with the era's signature wide-leg pants.

This mirrors the styling that has made tanks re-surface in our wardrobes over the past few seasons and a new generation of celebs are taking note.

The above comparison of Bella Hadid and Marc Kalman with Victoria and David Beckham makes it clear that they're following a blueprint. And they are not alone in copying the 90s homework, most notably Justin Bieber adopted a stage uniform of Y2K-inspired baggy trousers and super slim tank tops.

Along with the likes of Evan Mock, A$AP Rocky, and Joe Jonas, (whose under-appreciated style transformation is a topic for another day), there's a distinct late 20th-century feel to our recent tank top revival. The undergarment has always been popular for its practical uses, but the look folds into the Y2K resurgence that is dominating fashion right now.

And it isn't just through street style, there are also parallels to be found in high fashion. The 90s saw Dolce & Gabbana create a stir by putting tank tops on the runway, subverting the clothing's macho Italian stereotype.  This was later followed by designers such as Helmut Lang, Maison Margiela, and Raf Simons bringing their own twist to the style, using their differing approaches to deconstruction and counterculture as a way to also play with the tank top's associations.