The Chicest Tube Tops to Shop this Summer
Strapless. Simple. Susceptible to reinvention. These age-old, no-frills garments are the key to an inspired summer style.
What does a tube top say about a person? Each time Carrie Bradshaw wore one, whether paired with a newsboy cap or dangerously low-slung trousers, it seamlessly complemented her kooky charm. When seen on Clean Girl figures like Matilda Djerf, it fits into a muted and minimalist aesthetic. In a trend cycle crowded with intricate designs and head-turning patterns, the simple tube top does not fight for our attention, but holds long-earned respect as a shape-shifting staple of the fashion food chain.
At their core, tube tops are time travellers. To some, they’re an emblem of the early aughts, often associated with bedazzled denim and clunky flip phones. To others, they’re a mainstay of modern-day minimalism, embraced by the Kendall Jenner quiet-luxury connoisseurs of the 2020s. A tube top is what you make it; it welcomes renewal and never limits itself to being just one thing.
Perhaps that’s why, on the Spring 2025 runways, the tube top took many forms. Barbara Bui presented corporate-approved iterations by building them into three-piece suit sets. Balenciaga heralded the return of the skinny-leggings silhouette with an array of strapless chemises in solid colours. Chloé presented summer-ready tube top styling, paired with layered accessories and billowy pants.
Barbara Bui / Photography VIA LAUNCHMETRICS.COM/SPOTLIGHT
A more extreme version of the top even creeped its way onto the Met Gala red carpet, where Lorde wore an avant-garde chrome iteration with supple pleating. The backless bandeau inexplicably floated on her chest, bemusing the internet and catapulting the tube top into couture-level complexity.
Forever embedded in pop culture, the tube top is endlessly reinventable and always elevated. Here are the best ways to style it this summer.
Back to basics
Both an errand-running uniform and a night-out no-brainer, the stretchy no-frills tube top is the answer to an undecided summer outfit. Whether you pair with micro-shorts or low-waisted denim, the classic tube top is a cool girl essential.
Denim duty
Opt for the unexpected by doubling on this sturdy fabric this summer. The denim tube top has more shape and structure than its softer counterparts, giving it some textural intrigue. Pair with baggy jeans for a summertime-approved Canadian tuxedo.
Linen look
From sitting at a sunny picnic to sipping a spritz on a patio, the linen tube top is the ultimate uniform for summer breathability. These picks—from curve-hugging silhouettes to loose-fitting loungewear—add an air of relaxation to the tube top’s reputation.
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Natalie Michie is the style editor at FASHION Magazine. With a pop culture obsession, she is passionate about exploring the relationship between fashion, internet trends and social issues. She has written for Elle Canada, CBC, Chatelaine and Toronto Life. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and over-analyzing movies on TikTok.
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