People Are Skipping Plain White Tank Tops for the Trend That Makes Outfits So Much Cooler
I love a plain white tank top just as much as the next person. They’re easy to throw on, they’re chic, and they’re lightweight. But if you want to spice things up, there's a new tank top trend to consider, and it's far less boring than basic white ones. The style I'm shopping instead right now is shirred shirts.
To make my outfits cooler, I have a few styling tricks. I'll add either pops of color, accessories, or texture (my personal favorite). Trends that include a textured fabric (such as Issey Miyake's signature pleats) are always on my radar. Right now, the texture trend I can't get enough of is shirred shirts, brought to the forefront recently by American designer Conner Ives, who you might know from his viral “Protect the Dolls” T-shirts that celebrities have been wearing. Ives didn’t invent the shirred trend, but he did bring it back in a modern way. On the designer’s recent F/W 25 runway, and before that, his F/W 24 runway, football shirts, polo tops, and, yes, tank tops all had shirred texture.
While celebrities and influencers alike love Ives’s “Protect the Dolls” T-shirt, they're also obsessing over his shirred tops. Supermodel Alex Consani was spotted during Milan Fashion Week wearing a shirred football shirt turned cropped top by the designer. Blackpink’s Jenni also sported a shirred shirt by Ives on her TikTok. Both are style icons, setting trends regularly. Seeing these trendsetters and other influencers wear shirred tops prompted me to go shopping IRL and online because I’m bored with my plain white tank tops. Keep scrolling to follow my journey and find the perfect shirred top to make your outfits 10 times cooler.
More Shirred Shirt Inspiration
Conner Ives F/W 24
Conner Ives F/W 24
Conner Ives F/W 25
Alex Consani wearing Conner Ives
Shop the Coolest Shirred Shirts
Kerane Marcellus is a New York-based writer. She joined the Who What Wear team in 2025 after writing for Essence Magazine and freelancing for a number of other arts and culture publications. Fashion is a form of expression that she encourages everyone to take part in. There is no right or wrong in getting dressed! When she's not writing, she's reading in the park or gallery hopping in the city.
-
I Spent My Downtime This Weekend Shopping Chic New Fall Arrivals—33 Standouts From J.Crew, Abercrombie, and Old Navy
Immediately adding to cart.
-
This Chic Brand Sells Out the Moment New Pieces Drop on Nordstrom—31 Standout Finds I'm Adding to Cart Before They're Gone
Did I mention almost everything is under $100?
-
Striped Shirts Are Always In, But Not *This* In—These 28 Will Make Every Outfit Cool
Fact.
-
Bring On the Transitional Weather—29 Perfectly Chic Pieces From Nordstrom to Wear Straight Through Fall
Effortless dressing right this way.
-
This T-Shirt Trend Was "Out" for So Long It's Hard to Believe It's Cool Again
Proof that everything comes back eventually.
-
Dripping in Wealth Is the Vibe—These 32 Elevated Nordstrom and Zara Summer Finds Fit the Bill Perfectly
Under $200 and guaranteed to sell out.
-
If You're Over T-Shirts and Shorts, This Is the New Summer Uniform to Wear With Sneakers
Even Rihanna says so.
-
I Swear By Elegant Outfits—35 Standout Items That Would Fit Right Into My Closet
Here's to a chicer outfit rotation.