Continued Tank Top Development History

Last time we learned about the earliest origins of vests and why they were called tank top. This time we will continue to see how vests have evolved since the 1930s.

Tank tops in 1930s and 1940s

In the 1930s and 1940s, men were often seen in American movies wearing tank tops. Characters who wear women's tank tops are usually villains who abuse their wives (usually physically). Because of this, vests are colloquially known as "wife-beaters" in the United States. Over the years, they've been worn by A-listers like Kevin Bacon, Bruce Willis, and Nicolas Cage in films like footloose, Die Hard, and Con Air, bringing them further into pop culture and entertainment.

Tank tops from the 1970s
It wasn't until the 1970s that men and women began to wear vests as everyday clothing. Fashion changed dramatically in the '70s thanks to movies, music videos and celebrities. Bell-bottom pants are popular with both men and women, and hot pants have also become popular. In this decade, the general feeling of fashion is that the upper body should be tight and the lower body should be loose. As a result, many people wear tank tops, leather jackets and other material tops with baggy jeans or pants. As the Western world becomes more liberal, more and more people are going to beaches and parks more often in the summer, wearing fewer clothes to soak up the sun and enjoy the warm weather.

Tank tops became popular in the 1980s
By the 1980s, vests would only become more popular. One particularly popular type of vest was the Wehrmacht vest, which emerged due to the surplus of clothing in the German army. The vests soon became available in many stores in the United States, Britain, and other Western countries, and people could buy them at camping stores, souvenir shops, and clothing stores.

Tank tops from the 1990s
In the 1990s, there was a simple fashion trend that continues to this day: a tank top with a pair of jeans. While the jeans of the 90s were more likely pirated than the skinny jeans that are popular today, the idea is still the same. The tank top was paired with a lace-up top to show off the abdomen, which was a favorite for women in the '90s, hence the tank top. These days, vests can be seen in a variety of styles and colors, often worn to the gym, on the beach, or just to the shops when the sun is shining and the weather is warm.

Today, we must be used to wearing vests, but understand the evolution of vests is still very interesting. If you're looking for quality vests, head over to Kameymall.