5 Dapper Celebs Wearing Wife Beaters With Their Outfits
Though the name is controversial, the wife-beater is equally humble as it is a fashion statement. As an undershirt, the tank, also known as an a-shirt, guinea tee, or simply a "beater" is a sleeveless, ribbed, fitted top perfect for wearing under tops. As an iconic garment in menswear, the beater is the ultimate layering shirt, both functional and fashionable, with an infamous name attached to the shirt.
But why do we call the ribbed tank a wife beater?
According to Mic, the 1947 arrest of James Hartford Jr often gets the credit for giving the A-shirt its problematic name. Taking place in Detroit, police apprehended Hartford for beating his wife. In the city's newspaper, the headline "the wife beater" ran alongside pictures of him wearing one of the ribbed tanks stained in blood and the horrific name stuck with the garment.
Despite the contentious reputation, the wife-beater remains a staple in menswear. The ribbed tanks serve as undershirts absorbing sweat, compressing your figure for a slimmer appearance, and they can hide your nipples from poking through your shirt. They're also worn as a component to complete looks. Topped by jackets and button-downs or worn as the main shirt in an outfit, a crisp white wife-beater can be your outfit's make or break.
Looking for wife-beater outfit inspiration, check out these five celebs styling in their wife-beater.
TYGA
Relaxing under the palm trees, Young Money Cash Money Record's rapper Tyga layered an oversized pictorial top over a wife beater. Styled with a pair of light jade pants, the "Faded" artist completed his look with Off White Sunglasses and a cross-chain.
MYLES TURNER
Basketball player Myles Turner integrated the wife-beater into an everyday get-up by layering the undershirt under a pair of denim overalls. Painted with suns, moons, stars, and smiley faces, the Indiana Pacers Center paired his arts-and-crafts-inspired dungarees with low-top Nike Air Force Ones, minimal jewelry, and eyewear.
WIZ KHALIFA
Sitting bar side, Wiz Khalifa left his lightweight windbreaker zipped open, showing his wife-beater underneath. A pair of light wash skinny jeans, sky blue boots, sunglasses, and jewels around his neck and wrist finalized the rapper's rocker-casual look.
A BOOGIE WITH DA HOODIE
A Boogie With The Hoodie decided to kick off spring wearing a wife-beater with a two-piece short set. Layered under the black and white short-sleeved button-down, Air Jordan Retro 5s, and black and white socks added the finishing touches to the Bronx native's warm-weather look.
SWAE LEE
Rapper Swae Lee kept it super chill by wearing his wife-beater as his main shirt. Lee paired the white tank shirt with colorful blue and yellow low-top kicks and orange shorts.
Thumbnail Image Courtesy: Instagram/Tyga
