If you have ever ordered a graphic tee online and received something that fit like a sausage casing or a circus tent, this one is for you. Nearly every tee in our shop is printed on the Comfort Colors 1717, so we wrote this Comfort Colors 1717 size guide to explain how it fits, how to pick your size, how to style it and how to keep it looking good wash after wash.
We design all of the artwork in our shop, and we chose this shirt because it feels like a favorite tee from the first wear. Below, we will walk through what makes it different, how the relaxed unisex fit works on different bodies, and how to buy one as a gift when you are guessing at someone’s size.
What Makes the Comfort Colors 1717 Different
Three things set this tee apart from the thin, stiff shirts you might get at a 5K.
It’s garment-dyed
Most T-shirts are made from fabric that is dyed first and sewn second. Garment-dyed shirts are sewn first and dyed afterward, which gives the color a soft, slightly washed, vintage look, the way a well-loved tee looks after a few years. Because each batch is dyed as finished garments, the exact shade can vary a little from shirt to shirt. That is part of the character, not a defect.
It’s heavyweight cotton
The 1717 is heavyweight 100% ring-spun cotton. In practice that means it feels substantial rather than flimsy, drapes nicely instead of clinging, and holds up well as an everyday shirt. It is the kind of tee you can wear on its own in summer and layer under flannel or a cardigan in fall.
It feels broken in from day one
The garment-dyeing process softens the fabric, so the shirt arrives with that lived-in feel most tees take months to earn. People who usually hate new-shirt stiffness tend to appreciate this one right away.
A good example is our Haunted Library tee, a gothic ghost-librarian design that looks right at home on a soft, faded-looking shirt.
Comfort Colors 1717 Size Guide: How the Fit Works
The 1717 is a relaxed unisex fit. Compared to a women’s fitted tee, a unisex cut is generally straighter through the body, with more room at the waist and a looser sleeve. That is great news if you like a comfortable, easygoing shirt, and it is the main reason sizing questions come up.
Here is the simple rule of thumb we give everyone:
- Want a relaxed fit? Women who want a relaxed, everyday fit take their usual size.
- Want a closer fit? Size down one.
- Want an oversized look? Size up one or two, for that slouchy, borrowed-from-your-boyfriend shape that looks great with bike shorts or leggings.
Men can generally order their normal T-shirt size.
The most reliable method: measure a shirt you already love
Size labels vary so much between brands that the best way to choose is to compare measurements. Each of our listings has a size chart photo. Grab a tee that fits the way you like, lay it flat on a bed or table, and measure:
- Width: straight across the chest, from armpit seam to armpit seam.
- Length: from the highest point of the shoulder, next to the collar, down to the bottom hem.
Then find the size on the chart that matches most closely. Honestly, this two-minute step is the most useful part of any Comfort Colors 1717 size guide, ours included. If you fall between two sizes, choose the larger one for a relaxed look or the smaller one for a neater fit.
Our patchwork pumpkin tee is a good shirt to test the “usual size” rule on. It is a cheerful cottagecore fall design that looks just as good relaxed with jeans as it does oversized with leggings.
Styling a Relaxed Unisex Tee
A roomier tee is more versatile than it looks. A few easy ways to wear one:
- The front tuck. Tuck just the front few inches into high-waisted jeans to define your waist without losing the comfy fit.
- The knot. Gather the hem at one side and tie a small knot. Great for an oversized size with shorts or a skirt.
- The layer. Wear it open under a cardigan, flannel or denim jacket in fall. The heavier fabric means it won’t bunch up under layers.
- The full oversized. Size up, wear it long over leggings or bike shorts, and add sneakers. Ideal for coffee runs and pumpkin patches.
A cozy ghost design like our Cozy Spooky Season tee works well with any of these. If you love that look, we have a whole guide to cute ghost shirts for fall.
For something with more attitude, our Become Ungovernable gothic black cat tee looks great with the front tuck and black jeans. There are plenty more in our guide to gifts for cat lovers.
How to Wash Your Tee So It Lasts
Our designs are printed with DTG (direct-to-garment), which means the ink is printed directly onto the cotton rather than applied as a thick plastic layer. The result feels soft and breathable. A little care keeps both the shirt and the print looking good:
- Turn it inside out before washing to protect the print from rubbing.
- Wash in cold water. It is gentler on the print, the garment-dyed color and the cotton.
- Tumble dry low or hang dry. High heat is hard on any cotton shirt, and cotton can shrink a little if it is dried hot.
- Don’t iron the print. If you need to smooth wrinkles, iron the shirt inside out and avoid the design area.
- Skip bleach and harsh stain removers on the printed area.
Garment-dyed shirts are designed to have a soft, vintage color, and that look tends to get even more relaxed over time. Washing cold and drying low helps it age gracefully.
What About Sweatshirts?
Our sweatshirts are garment-dyed crewnecks, with the same soft, washed color as the tees. The same principle applies: check the size chart photo in the listing, and use the measure-a-favorite method with a sweatshirt you already own. Wash them the same way as the tees.
Our Haunted Library crewneck and Black Cat Pumpkin crewneck are good examples, and both make easy fall gifts.
Buying a Tee as a Gift When You Don’t Know the Size
The relaxed unisex fit is forgiving, which makes gifting easier. A few tricks:
- Check a shirt they already own. If you live together, sneak a look at the tag or measure one of their favorite tees.
- When in doubt, go with their usual size. For a relaxed unisex fit, it is the safest guess.
- For a group order, such as matching bachelorette party shirts, collect everyone’s size and preferred fit in one shared note before ordering.
- For a personalized tee, like a custom pet portrait shirt, double-check the size before ordering, since it is made just for them.
- Allow time. Every shirt is printed to order and typically takes about 1–4 business days to make, plus shipping time in the US.
FAQ
Does the Comfort Colors 1717 run big?
It is a relaxed unisex fit, so many women find it roomier than a women’s fitted tee in the same size. That is why we suggest your usual size for a relaxed fit and one size down for a closer fit.
Will my shirt shrink?
Like any cotton shirt, it can shrink a little if it is washed hot or dried on high heat. Washing in cold water and tumble drying low or hanging it to dry is the best way to keep the fit you ordered.
Why does my shirt’s color look slightly different from the photo?
Garment-dyed shirts can vary a little in shade from batch to batch, and screens display colors differently. The soft, slightly vintage color is part of the style.
Is the tee see-through?
It is heavyweight cotton, so it is noticeably thicker than a typical lightweight tee. Most people wear it on its own without any issue.