Table of Contents
The little black dress is a wardrobe staple for women everywhere. Its versatility and timelessness make it an essential piece that every woman should own. A subset of the classic LBD is the little black tank dress – an easy, breezy version that’s perfect for a variety of occasions.
What Makes the Black Tank Dress So Popular
Black tank dresses have a relaxed, yet put-together vibe that can work for daytime casual or nighttime chic. Their sleeveless style makes them a great option for spring and summer, when you want an effortlessly stylish look without being too hot or restricted. The tank cut shows just enough skin to be fun and flirty.
Black is always in style and works with every skin tone. It has a slimming effect and camouflages lumps and bumps. The color exudes confidence and polish. Add on the fact that tank dresses are comfortable, versatile, and easy to dress up or down, and you’ve got yourself a winning combination.
The Beauty of the Basic Black Tank Dress
While trends come and go, the basic black tank dress remains a constant in the ever-changing world of fashion. Its appeal stems from its minimalism – clean lines and a fuss-free silhouette act as a blank canvas you can build upon with accessories, footwear, hairstyles, makeup, etc.
The lack of sleeves puts the focus on the bare arms, shoulders, and décolletage, which further contributes to the sense of effortless femininity. Flowy tank dress silhouettes have movement that is eye-catching and alluring as you walk. More fitted styles highlight your shape in a classy way.
And the exposed shoulder straps provide the perfect opportunity to layer on dainty necklaces or chain straps to inject some personality into your look.
How to Wear a Black Tank Dress
One of the best aspects of the basic black tank dress is its versatility. Dress it up with heels and jewelry for a night out. Pair it with sandals and a crossbody bag for weekend errands. Layer it over a t-shirt with sneakers for a sporty casual vibe. The styling options are endless.
For daytime, keep things sleek and simple with minimal accessories. Stacked bracelets or a medium-sized crossbody bag add just enough flair without overpowering the look. Slide sandals, ballet flats, white sneakers or block heel ankle boots work nicely for running around.
At night, make it sexy with strappy heels, chandelier earrings, and a sleek updo. Or give it dose of feminine charm by cinching the waist with a thin belt and topping it off with wedges or kitten heels.
For a bohemian twist, add a kimono coverup and strappy flat sandals. Toss your hair up in a messy topknot and throw on some long pendant ecklaces or layered beaded strands. Festival ready!
The Perfect Black Tank Dress for Your Body Type
Black tank dresses have an arsenal of necklines – scoop, sweetheart, square, cowl neck and V-neck being some of the most popular. Which style flatters you best depends largely on your body shape and proportion.
Pear shaped women can balance out full hip and thigh areas by drawing the eye up. A tank with a low-cut neckline, like sweetheart, scoop or V-neck does the trick nicely. Sweetheart styles in particular add curves to slimmer bustlines. Pairing these necklines with an A-line skirt creates balance between the upper and lower body.
For slender rectangle figures, cowl and scoop neck tanks provide softness that complements a straighter frame. They can minimize broad shoulders while emphasizing the bust. Low backs are also attractive with this body type. A subtle flare at the hemline gives more shape through the hip.
Inverted triangles can soften square shoulders and amplify curves with triangle tops or halters. The bare shoulders also balance a fuller bust on a smaller lower body. Focusing accessorizes on the neckline rather than the hips draws eyes upwards for better proportions.
Plus size divas rock the black tank dress like no other. The stretch fabric skims over curves in the most flattering way. An empire waist tank is ideal for camouflaging the tummy area. Show off shapely arms and neckline with a halter or cross-back iteration of the LBD tank. Voluptuous ladies also shine in crisscross styles with plunging necklines.
Accessorizing Your Black Tank Dress
The accessories you choose to complement your basic black tank dress have a big impact on the overall look. Certain additions can make an outfit look cheap and gaudy if not done tastefully. The lines are fairly clean and simple, so minimal, high quality accessories work best.
Sparkly statement earrings, layered pendant necklaces, cocktail rings, and cuff bracelets dress up a tank for evenings out. Chunky belts, intriguing brooches and silk scarves add retro flair for daytime sophistication.
For a modern, sleek vibe try a singular striking accessory, like an oversized cuff bracelet, geometric pendant necklace or wide-brim sunhat. Finish with strappy stilettos, wedges or funky sneakers depending on the occasion. Leaving wrists and neckline mostly bare keeps the chic simplicity of a basic black tank dress intact.
Finding the Perfect Fit for Your Frame
An ill-fitting tank dress can transform a fashionista into a hot mess in a hurry. Paying attention to how a dress fits is key to looking and feeling fabulous. Areas to evaluate closely when trying on black tank dresses are the shoulders, bust, waist, and hemline.
The shoulder straps should fit firmly without major gapping. Bra straps peeking out ruins the smooth line the tank dress creates. Most quality tanks have adjustable straps to get that perfect fit.
At the bust the fabric should skim over comfortably without pulling, gapping or poking out. Larger cup sizes may need to size up for a proper fit in the chest area. Shapewear also helps create a smooth, sleek silhouette if needed.
Look for dresses with defined side seams that nip in at the natural waist area. Detailing like rhinestones, pleats, ties or ruching at the waist draw the eye to a slimmer middle. A wide waistband also minimizes bulk at the midsection.
For petites, midi and maxi length dresses can completely overwhelm a smaller frame. Mid-thigh or just above the knee hemlines keep everything in proportion. Average and taller ladies can choose lengths ranging from mini to maxi based on preference and occasion.
Where to Find the Best Black Tank Dresses
The high demand for basic black tank dresses keeps retailers constantly designing new variations. Department stores carry affordable solid options along with more unique designer versions in seasonal collections. Boutiques also offer chic, often more expensive, custom fitted tanks.
For the largest selection, online mega-retailers like Amazon, ASOS, Revolve, Lulus, Nordstrom and Reformation can’t be beat. You can easily filter by size, price, fit, length, neckline and more specifications to match tastes and body type. Free shipping and returns takes the hassle out of finding that perfect LBD tank.
Online shops also provide inspiration with how the tanks are styled on models. This gives shoppers useful styling ideas for putting together entire outfits – accessories, footwear and all. The convenience of round-the-clock shopping is a huge perk for the busy modern fashionista!
DIY Your Own Custom Tank Dress
For the most unique little black tank dress, consider making your own custom creation. Possibilities are endless when you become the designer. Start with a basic tank dress pattern that has good reviews for fit. Solid black, jersey knit fabric with a bit of stretch is the easiest material for beginners to work with.
Add embellishments like ribbons, trim, rhinestones or fabric paint to make the tank dress your own. Distressed details like subtle shredded hems or mesh cutout panels also add major style points. Leave parts of the shoulder straps or back exposed. Try out an open back detail if you’re feeling daring!
For a pop of color contrast, consider adding a vibrant lining that peaks out along necklines or side slits. Contrast stitching with colored thread is a subtle DIY detail. Switch out plain tank straps for multi-colored spaghetti straps.
If you’re handy with needle and thread, the little black tank dress makes for a fairly straightforward, forgiving first sewing project. And any imperfections just add to its funky, homemade charm.
The Little Black Tank Dress – From Day to Night
The little black tank dress continues to maintain a stronghold in the fashion world for good reason – it’s classic, comfy, versatile and effortlessly chic. The basic black tank transitions seamlessly from running errands to formal events and everything in between. Every woman – tall, short, curvy, athletic, edgy or girly – can find a style that brings out her best assets. No wardrobe is complete without this essential LBD!
