The humble cotton tank top does more daily work than almost anything else in a wardrobe, which is exactly why getting it right matters so much. Worn alone on a hot day, layered under a blazer, tucked into trousers at the office, thrown on under dungarees at the weekend. The tank top never stops. What lets most of them down is fabric that goes thin after three washes, straps that stretch out of shape, or a fit that never quite sits right across the chest. We’ve been through enough disappointing basics to know what separates a genuinely good cotton tank from one that looks fine in the shop and falls apart in rotation. The ones we’ve chosen here have weight to them. They hold their shape. The colours stay true. Some are relaxed and boxy, which we love for casual dressing. Others are more fitted and work beautifully under tailoring without adding bulk. None of them are fussy. That is rather the point. A great cotton tank top should disappear into your week and make everything else easier to wear.