A sweater vest is an item of knitwear that is similar to a sweater, but without sleeves. It is a popular misconception that a sleeveless sweater and a tank top are the same. This error arose from the differences in American and British clothing terminology. They were popular in the 20th century, particularly in the 1970s in the UK, and are again growing in popularity in this century.
They are also popular among sports fans, who often wear them while playing golf. Those with sports team logos, especially NFL and college teams, are also popular and are frequently seen being worn by American football coaches, most notably Jim Tressel who has been given the nickname "The Sweater Vest" by many American football fans.
Many newer designs feature a return to popular patterns from eras past such as argyle. Other variations include designs of a more modern nature, including stripes.
The name "tank top", recorded in English since 1968, derives from its resemblance to a tank suit, a style of one-piece women's swimsuit with shoulder straps, so called since the 1920s, because it was worn in a "swimming tank", an obsolete term for a swimming pool. A female swimming version of the tank top, the tankini (a portmanteau of the words "tank top" and "bikini"), is also an option.
The Swedish name for this garment is slipover, which would be a very apt description of its usage. One of the most common graphics on a sleeveless sweater is argyle, which is a set of diamonds with another offset diamond graphic. In the sport of Lacrosse, a sleeveless sweater is a common factor of a team member's uniform. Some of the most common of neckline shapes are the V-neck and the crew neck, which is similar to a common T-shirt neckline.