Blake Lively treats a tank top as the quiet part of an outfit that is otherwise anything but quiet. Her formula, over and over, is a fitted basic under statement denim, sharp tailoring, bold pattern or serious jewelry. Recent looks have included a black tank with dark jeans and a trench, a gray tank with sequined double denim, and a white tank with polka-dot trousers and leather tailoring. What I like about copying her is that the expensive-looking part is usually the trousers or the shoes, not the tank, so the idea scales to most budgets. Below are twenty outfits that turn her expressive celebrity style into things you can wear on a Tuesday, plus what I look for in the tank itself and how to borrow the maximalism without looking dressed up for a premiere.
What Separates a Good Tank From a Cheap One
Because the tank is the plain piece in every one of these outfits, it has to be a good plain piece. Almost all of the difference is in four details, and you can check each one in a fitting room in under a minute.
- Weight: hold it up to the light. If you can see your hand clearly through a white tank, it will show your bra and every line of a waistband.
- Armholes: raise your arms. A good cut stays close to the body; a cheap one gapes and shows the side of your bra.
- Straps: wider straps hide a regular bra and sit straighter on the shoulder. Thin straps need a strapless or a bralette.
- Length: it should reach past the waistband of high-rise trousers so it stays tucked when you sit down.
Cotton rib with a little elastane is the easiest fabric to start with; it holds shape, survives the wash and doesn't cling the way thin jersey does. Black and white are the two I'd own first, then gray, which turns out to be the most useful under denim.
1. Blake Lively Black Tank Top And Dark Jeans Outfit
This is the one I'd copy first. A fitted black tank tucked into dark straight-leg jeans, long enough to break just over pointed black pumps, then a beige trench draped over the shoulders. The trench is what makes it hers: a long light layer against a dark column draws the eye up and down. A small embellished bag, a tennis necklace and loose waves. For daytime, swap the pumps for pointed flats and wear the trench properly on, because draped coats slide off the moment you carry anything.
2. Blake Lively White Tank Top And Cutout Jeans Outfit
When the jeans are the show, the tank has to do almost nothing. A plain white fitted tank with embroidered or cutout jeans keeps the eye on the denim. I'd test cutouts sitting down before buying; openings at the knee and thigh stretch and shift once you bend. Denim or pointed blue heels carry the color down the leg. Add sparkling earrings, a few rings and a small metallic clutch, with a navy blazer for cover. If cutouts feel like too much, embroidered jeans and nude pumps give you the same idea at half the volume.
3. Blake Lively Gray Tank Top And Double Denim Outfit
Gray is the right tank color for double denim because it breaks the two blues without adding a third. Start with a fitted gray tank and high-rise jeans with a little sequin, metallic thread or crystal detail. An oversized light-wash denim shirt goes over the top, open or resting on the shoulders. Barely-there silver sandals keep the bottom light. One honest caution: embellished jeans scratch the inside of bags and catch on knitwear, so keep layers smooth. Silver drops, a cocktail ring and a small gray bag. Jeweled pockets are the low-sparkle version.
4. Blake Lively White Tank Top And Polka Dot Pants Outfit
Here the tank is just a clean white break between busy pieces. It gives black-and-white polka-dot pants room to breathe. High-waisted, tapered or gently wide, tank tucked. A fitted brown leather blazer adds the contrast she likes, and black heeled sandals with a little metal pick up the pattern. With this many statement pieces I repeat the same three colors, black, white and gold, so the outfit reads as a plan. Smaller dots and a cropped length suit petite women; larger dots read better on a taller frame.
5. Blake Lively White Tank Top And Wide Leg Jeans Outfit
Most people underrate how much a ribbed tank's weight matters with wide-leg jeans. A thin one clings to the bra line and looks like underwear next to heavy denim; a substantial rib holds its shape. Tuck it into high-rise, medium-wash jeans with a floor-skimming hem. The color goes on the feet: red, turquoise or yellow pointed pumps, with a bag in a related shade. A slim leather belt separates the top from all that denim. A bright cropped cardigan for cooler evenings.
6. Blake Lively Black Tank Top And Trouser Suit Outfit
A tank under a suit takes the stiffness out of tailoring faster than any blouse. Choose a scoop or square neck that sits close to the body, then a jewel-toned suit in emerald, burgundy or deep teal. I push the sleeves up a little to show bracelets; it signals the outfit isn't for a boardroom. Metallic pointed pumps, a top-handle bag and bold drops finish it. On a curvy figure, a single-button blazer that closes at the waist is far more flattering than a boxy double-breasted cut, which adds width at the chest.
7. Blake Lively White Tank Top And Floral Maxi Skirt Outfit
A floral maxi skirt needs a plain top, and a fitted white tank is the plainest there is. Pick a high-waisted skirt in a fluid fabric with a print that has several rich colors, tuck the tank and add a slim belt that matches your shoes. Strappy heels dress it up; flat leather sandals are the daytime version. The hem matters: it should just skim the floor in the shoe you wear, because a maxi that pools gets stepped on. Pendant necklace, colorful earrings, a cropped denim jacket over the shoulders.
8. Blake Lively Neutral Tank Top And Cargo Pants Outfit
A beige, cream or taupe tank takes the military edge off cargo pants. Go for high-rise cargos with a relaxed leg and flat pockets in olive, stone or chocolate. Pointed ankle boots or heeled sandals make the outfit read as deliberate rather than weekend errands. A camel blazer adds structure; a colorful mini bag is the Blake-style spike of color. I'd avoid bellowed pockets on the thigh if you carry weight in the hips, since anything in them sits right at your widest point.
9. Blake Lively Tank Top And Denim Shorts Outfit
Shorts and a blazer is a summer formula I give to anyone who wants to look put-together in heat. Start with a colorful tank top in coral, cobalt or yellow, and tailored high-rise denim shorts ending around mid-thigh. An ivory linen blazer, slightly oversized, balances the short hem. Leather platform sandals, a woven tote, a tan belt to tie bag and shoes together. Linen creases within the hour; that's part of its charm, but if it bothers you, look for a linen and viscose blend.
10. Blake Lively Silk Tank Top And Leather Pants Outfit
Softness against structure. A silk tank in a jewel tone with wider straps and a draped neckline, high-rise black leather pants, straight or slightly flared. A fitted velvet blazer adds a third texture, which is very her. Silk shows sweat at the underarms and water spots easily, so I'd keep the blazer on in a warm room. Tuck the tank unless it ends right at the waistband. Faux leather gives the same look and is easier to care for. Pointed pumps, a crystal-trimmed clutch and statement earrings.
11. Blake Lively Striped Tank Top And Bright Pants Outfit
Stripes calm loud trousers down. A fitted black-and-white or navy-and-white striped tank, then high-waisted wide-leg pants in red, green, pink or cobalt. Narrow stripes are easier to wear than wide ones; wide horizontal bands add width across the bust. White pointed pumps or platform sandals keep the brightness up. A printed scarf tied to the bag handle brings in a second pattern in a small dose. Hoops, slim bracelets and loose waves.
12. Blake Lively Black Tank Top And Satin Maxi Skirt Outfit
A matte black tank is what keeps a satin maxi from feeling like a bridesmaid's outfit. Go for cotton or rib, fitted, then a high-waisted satin skirt in champagne, emerald or deep red. Satin is shiny and the tank isn't, and that contrast is the whole point. A fluid skirt needs a firmer tank to hold the shape on top. Heeled mules, a small embellished bag and gold layers. A side slit helps you walk, and a cropped leather jacket gives it structure for cool evenings. Satin creases where you sit, so steam it just before you go.
13. Blake Lively White Tank Top And Pencil Skirt Outfit
A white tank takes the corporate edge off a pencil skirt. It has to be thick and opaque, with a high scoop or square neck, because a thin white tank over a tight waistband shows every line. Tuck it into a high-waisted skirt in tweed, leather or a bold geometric print, ending at or just below the knee. A cropped blazer, pointed slingbacks and a structured bag. I'd put the glamour in one place, a cuff or statement earrings, and wear a smooth nude layer underneath. Good for business lunches and evening openings alike.
14. Blake Lively Tank Top And Colorful Pantsuit Outfit
A tank under a colorful pantsuit makes a bright suit feel easy to wear. Hot pink, vivid blue, golden yellow or purple, with a cream, black or matching tank. Matching the tank to the suit gives a long, unbroken column; a neutral tank is quieter. Platform heels or pointed pumps in a related shade and a contrasting mini bag. The one thing I insist on with a bright suit is tailoring: the shoulder seam should sit at the edge of your shoulder and the trouser hem should be set for your shoes, because color draws attention to every bad fit.
15. Blake Lively White Tank Top And Pleated Midi Skirt Outfit
A pleated midi brings movement a straight skirt can't. Tuck a fitted ribbed tank into a high-rise skirt in metallic silver, soft blue, blush or a bright print, with a slim belt so the pleats don't swallow your waist. Pointed pumps for a polished version, clean white sneakers for a casual one. Metallic pleats crease if you sit on them carelessly; I smooth the skirt under me as I sit. If you're shorter, a hem just below the knee keeps the leg long; taller women can go longer. Sparkly studs and a cropped cardigan.
16. Blake Lively Black Tank Top And Sequin Pants Outfit
Sequin trousers are easier to wear than they look, as long as the tank is simple. Clean edges, no trim, black. High-waisted, straight or slightly flared pants in silver, black or navy. A long black blazer streamlines it, and pointed stilettos disappear under the hem. Sequins scratch the inner arm and catch on knit, so avoid fuzzy layers. Keep the extras to crystal earrings, a small satin bag and one cocktail ring. Embellished side panels are the subtler route if full sequins feel like too much.
17. Blake Lively White Tank Top And Flared Jeans Outfit
Flares and a white tank are a relaxed version of her glamour. High-rise denim fitted through the hip and thigh, flaring from the knee. Tuck a substantial ribbed tank so the waistband shows. Platform sandals or pointed pumps lift the hem off the ground, and I hem flares for one shoe height only; wear them with flats afterwards and they drag and fray. A wide leather belt, big sunglasses, a suede bag and long necklaces to repeat the vertical line. A cropped jacket in rust, camel or navy for in-between weather.
18. Blake Lively Tank Top And Tailored Shorts Outfit
Tailored shorts look more grown-up than denim in hot weather. High-waisted ivory, camel or black, mid-thigh, with a slightly loose leg so they don't ride up when you walk. Add a fitted jewel-tone tank and a matching light blazer for a summer suit. Slingbacks or loafers and a structured bag. The tank should lie flat under the blazer; a ribbed tank bunches less than a slinky one. A silk scarf tied to the bag handle brings in a little extra color without adding another garment.
19. Blake Lively White Tank Top And Linen Pants Outfit
A fitted white tank and wide linen pants is the outfit I pack for any warm trip. High-waisted, cream, sand, pale blue or soft olive, with a clean flat front. Check the pants against daylight before you buy: pale linen can turn see-through, and a lining or a heavier weave solves it. Tuck the tank and add a woven belt. Leather sandals, a raffia tote, big sunglasses. Turquoise earrings or a printed scarf brings in the color she's known for without a full bright outfit.
20. Blake Lively Black Tank Top And Denim Maxi Skirt Outfit
A black tank pulls a denim maxi skirt toward evening. A fitted square-neck tank and a high-waisted skirt with a front slit so you can actually walk. Dark wash looks more polished, medium wash more daytime. Pointed ankle boots or slingbacks lengthen the line. A cropped tweed jacket is the casual-meets-luxe touch she uses a lot. Keep the jacket ending at the waist; anything longer cuts the skirt in half. A chain-strap bag, gold hoops and a slim belt.
Borrowing Her Maximalism Without Looking Costumed
Red-carpet outfits are styled to be photographed from a distance, under lights, for a few minutes. Daily life is closer up and longer, so I scale the idea down rather than copying it piece for piece. The tank helps, because a plain top already removes one statement from the outfit.
My working rule is one loud piece and one supporting piece. If the trousers are sequined or printed, the shoes and bag can carry a little color, but the jacket stays plain. If the suit is bright pink, jewelry is gold and small. Then repeat one color from the loud piece somewhere else, in the bag, the shoes or the earrings, so it looks planned.
The other thing worth copying is tailoring. Her clothes fit, and fit is cheaper than designer labels. Hemming trousers for one shoe height, taking in a blazer at the waist or shortening a strap on a tank makes a mid-price outfit look far more expensive than it is. If you only spend money on one thing from this list, spend it at the alterations counter.
Let the Tank Stay Plain
Every outfit here follows the same logic: the tank stays simple so something else can be loud, whether that's denim, a bright suit, a satin skirt or a stack of jewelry. Start with one tank that fits well and covers what you want covered, and build the contrast around it. Fitted against loose, matte against shiny, one bright piece against neutrals. Pointed shoes and a structured bag make almost any of these look finished. That's how a basic sleeveless top ends up carrying a lot more personality than its price tag suggests.
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