The Strapless Top Is the Low-Key Hero of Every Cool Summer Look
‘90s Carrie Bradshaw would be proud.
When I think of elevated tube top outfits, the first that comes to mind is the one on every fashion girl's summer moodboard: Carrie Bradshaw, the immortal muse, in a chocolate brown tube top, low-rise butter yellow cargo pants, and a cherry red heart pendant necklace. The Sex and the City outfit is basic in its components but delicious all the same, using unexpected color combinations and the singular, slightly quirky Carrie-ness that makes her style so enviable and influential.
Most of all, Sarah Jessica Parker and SatC's inimitable costume designer, Patricia Fields, made the basic silhouette of a '90s tube top—really, just a piece of fabric wrapped and sewn together with one seam—look sophisticated enough for a Cosmo cocktail hour with Miranda, Charlotte, and Samantha.
Sarah Jessica Parker at the CFDA Awards on June 2, 1999 in her memorable tube top outfit.
Cut to the present, and today's It girls are picking up where Bradshaw left off by up-styling the stretchy, strapless item. Rihanna is merging French-girl fashion with the fisherman aesthetic in a Breton-striped $1,250 Miu Miu tube top. Meanwhile, Hailey Bieber leans into a rich, retro Euro summer energy by fashioning a silk scarf into a strapless top (and wearing it pantsless, of course).
Outside of the A-list arena, I see the New York City fashion crowd using tube tops to stay cool during summer heatwaves—particularly Abercrombie Fitch's linen tube top, a $50 '90s-inspired minimal basic, is getting a lot of wear time in the sweaty city.
In honor of the summer basic that has so much chic potential, I rounded up my favorite tube top outfits that do the style justice. You’ll discover strapless tops teamed with breezy tailored trousers and flowy maxi skirts, as well as transitional combinations and layering tricks to use when fall 2025 hits.
Business Casual
Bonus points if your tube top comes with a coordinating scarf.
Scandi style is known for unexpected contrasts—case in point: how this Copenhagen Fashion Week guest blended business polish with sweet femininity. Recreate the look yourself with a creme-colored tube top, tailored grey trousers, and a sensible top-handle tote.
The It Girl Formula
The baggier the denim you wear with your sandals, the better, according to the Olsen twins, who engineered the polarizing pairing.
To bring you up to speed, flip-flop and jeans outfits are the It girl uniform of summer 2025—and the momentum continues to climb (see: Kendall Jenner's recent take on the combo). Add a black tube top, and the relaxed look lends itself well to the too-cool-to-care attitude of an off-duty model.
Almost Monochrome
Simple in its components but with a high style pay-off.
You don't need to have an exact color match to benefit from the refined effect of a monochromatic look. Instead, it's best to pay attention to the tones of the pieces you're teaming together, like this navy strapless top and royal blue wash denim.
Texture Play
Not only is stretchy smocking very comfortable, it adds a compelling textural element.
Similar to playing with color, experimenting with various textures often adds a well-curated touch of refinement. Take a cue from this Paris Fashion Week guest by opting for a smocked tube top in a shocking pop of color, such as sunshine yellow or blood orange, two of summer 2025's top color trends, and style it with stiff pinstriped trousers and metallic leather flats.
With a Breezy Maxi
Pull out this pairing for your next late-summer drinks with friends.
If you prefer more structure than a form-fitting, stretchy tube top can provide, consider a tailored strapless tunic. Balance out the top layer's sharper design with a gauzy maxi skirt and sleek leather boots.
Strategic Layering
A shock of cherry red is always a good idea.
Tube tops are not solely for the summer, you know. To bring the flirty top into colder-weather seasons, all you need to do is be intentional with your layers. Here, this PFW guest tucked a white tee under a black strapless top for an eye-catching, graphic combo that effectively transitions the strapless staple.
Simple and Streamlined
Looking put-together doesn’t have to require a ton of effort.
Investing in a white tube top as a base opens the door to a ton of styling possibilities, but you'll never regret keeping things simple. Pair your neutral top with minimalist basics, like a slinky navy skirt and black strappy sandals.
A Delicate Approach
Give your tube top outfit a feminine touch with elegant ballet flats.
Lean into the girlhood aesthetic with a flared tube top and cute Mary Jane ballet flat. For balance, complement the look with a pair of straight-leg jeans.
For the Hard Worker
Can a tube top actually be office-friendly? Apparently, this look says yes.
This upscale outfit sends a corporate message with a sharp blazer and high-waisted trousers. If you can get away with a tube top in the office, opt for a lengthy version and wear it as a base layer beneath your blazer.
Black White
There’s no gray area here—this look is as straightforward as it seems.
Juxtapose a dark top with a white bottom, an outfit formula that is beyond easy to style. Add some dimension to a simple tube top with textured cargo pants and pointed-toe heels.
A Fan-Favorite Formula
It Girls everywhere are taking this look for a spin, and soon, you will be too.
The fashion crowd has a long-lasting love affair with black tops and white skirts. You can apply it to your warm-weather wardrobe and carry it into the fall. When temperatures dip, throw a cardigan over your tube top for a fall-friendly look.
Late-Night Look
You’ll want to make room in your closet for this tube top outfit, as you’ll likely be wearing it on repeat.
Round out your collection of going-out outfits with this top-to-toe leather look that was made for a night on the town. Whether you’re dancing the night away with your friends or grabbing drinks with your date, you can count on this all-black look to keep up with your evening social schedule.
Not So Basic
Tube tups don’t have to be boring. Take, for example, this intricate look.
Decorated with shimmering gold buttons, this ornate tube top deserves to take center stage. Wear it with a neutral long white skirt and pare down your accessories to let this top truly shine.
