Everything You Need To Know To Find The Best custom women tops
The Definitive Guide to Ordering Women's Custom T-Shirts
Ordering women's t-shirts is notoriously tricky. Each cut is unique, and each person even more so, which can make finding the perfect sizes, fits, and styles exhausting. If you want to become a women's t-shirt connoisseur, learn about the weird quirks that come with each specific shirt and the tricks that help you order the right ones. Luckily, we know some t-shirt experts. *wink wink*
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To help, we asked several women at Real Thread HQ to share their best advice on ordering women's custom t-shirts and what you can do to ensure you get a t-shirt you'll love.
Emily Cummings, Director of Account Management
Dog mom of the world's most perfect Goldendoodle (totally unbiased.) Currently on a mission to hike in every National Park in the world.
What makes ordering women's custom t-shirts so tricky?
The challenge of ordering women's t-shirts is that there is no "perfect" tee for women. Since women come in many different shapes and sizes and have more varied tastes, picking one uniform blank t-shirt is hard.
When our customers are ordering women's shirts, I recommend starting with blank samples to try on or adding a couple of different styles of women's shirts to an order to provide some options for everyone in the group.
What's the first thing you should consider when determining which t-shirt to order?
The most important thing to be clear is what fit you want! Are you looking for slim-fitting, relaxed, flowy, or cropped...? There are some remarkable women's tees, but the fit can vary drastically depending on the style.
What is your favorite women's t-shirt blank to wear?
I'm a huge fan of this Alternative Apparel cropped tee! The fabric is nice and soft, and the crop is a great length. I love it for days at the beach or running errands around town on weekends.
I also love the Bella+Canvas Relaxed Jersey Tee. It's a great, standard, short sleeve tee. And because it is a "relaxed" fit, it's not as super tight as most women's tees. It also runs in a lot of great colors!
What qualities do you look for when picking a women's t-shirt?
It's all about the fit and how well it wears over time. I want a T-shirt I will be comfortable in all day and that will keep looking great wash after wash!
Gaby Droz, Account Manager
Fashion enthusiast and total Hufflepuff always looking to have a good time with loved ones. She can generally be found living her best life at Disney World.
What qualities do you look for in a women's t-shirt?
I look for what's considered a relaxed fit! Other brands may call it" oversized" or "loose fit." Loose-fit tees are great for styling outfits, and they provide comfort! Another quality I look for in a tee is a good 100% cotton fabric. 100% cotton tees are soft + breathable, and I appreciate a suitable thickness in my shirts.
When choosing sizes, are people better off sizing up or down when ordering women's apparel?
It all depends on the women's t-shirt fit. I recommend sizing up if it is a style leaning more towards fitted. For the most part, women want to feel comfortable. I like advising them primarily on the fit beforehand by sharing the sizing spec sheet, in which they can review the specific dimensions for all the sizes.
Real Thread also offers blank samples that our clients can purchase to check out their preferred t-shirts before mass-producing their orders. I love to provide this to my clients because they can review the quality and try on the t-shirt before making a significant decision!
What is your favorite women's t-shirt blank to wear?
Ooh, great question! My fave t-shirt at this very moment is the WO'S CLASSIC TEE - . It's the perfect 100% cotton tee with a 6.4oz in weight (great thickness!), and this t-shirt offers a variety of pastel colors. Oversized styles are currently trending for women's and men's t-shirts. Their team calls it "Effortless Comfortability," and I'm here for it.
What style of women's t-shirt is popular right now?
From recent orders, I have noticed that the Bella + Canvas t-shirt has been popular and has a relaxed fit style. On the more fitted side, the women's tee that comes to mind will be the Next Level Triblend Tee.
Serra Vitellaro, Account Specialist
Great at parallel parking and being the hype girl to close friends. A firm believer that the little things mean the most. Most likely will ask if her pup, Bruno, can tag along to plans.
What is the most commonly ordered women's shirt?
I see that unisex tees are used the most for order inquiries for both Women and Men! The most commonly ordered Women's T-Shirt I see is Next Level !
What's your personal favorite?
My favorite is Comfort Colors because of its quality, softness, and all the different color varieties it offers.
What advice would you give someone ordering custom women's t-shirts for the first time?
I recommend looking at the measurement specifications of the garments they want. The customer's style and comfort preference depends on how they'd like to wear the shirt, whether it's an oversized look or a slim fit look they're going for!
What qualities do you look for when picking a women's t-shirt?
The materials and weight are the qualities I look for when picking out a Women's T-Shirt. I usually like shirts over 3 oz because I don't like my shirts being too thin! I also want to look at the cotton percentage so I don't have any chances of shrinkage when throwing it in the machine wash.
Tiffany Shields, Account Specialist
Part-time adult, full-time cat mom. Avid gamer and Spotify playlist creator.
What's women's most common problem when picking out custom t-shirts?
The most common problem for women picking out a custom t-shirt is knowing what size you should get and what overall fit you like. I have put on a shirt that was supposed to be my size, and it ends up feeling like I am squeezing into a youth-sized shirt!
Making sure you check out the shirt specs + getting a sample or taking measurements is the best way to ensure you get sizes that will comfortably fit you and anyone who wears your shirt design.
Do the same fit rules apply to ordering tank tops as t-shirts?
Women's style tank tops and t-shirts tend to run smaller in the clothing world - but this all depends on the tank's style. Tank tops are much less restricted, especially in the shoulder area, as t-shirts. We always recommend that you check out those size charts if you are worried about a specific fit.
One pro tip for people ordering women's tees?
Size up!
Women's t-shirts are designed to be more fitted, which could sometimes be less comfortable. If you want something more loose and relaxed, mention that to your Account Manager so we can recommend the right products!
What women's t-shirt would you recommend to a first-time buyer?
I don't typically wear women's style shirts because I prefer a more relaxed fit for T-shirts. However, many of my customers have liked the Bella + Canvas but would recommend to size up.
The more you know.
There you have it straight from the experts themselves. We know this is a lot of info, but luckily, each of these extraordinary ladies is here to help you with all the ins and outs.
If you want to use any of the t-shirts recommended above for your next project, get in touch; one of these pros will help you get the custom t-shirts of your dreams.
Choosing The Best Custom Womens Shirts: 6 Expert Tips
There's a bit of a double-standard when it comes to gendered clothing. Pretty much anything a man can wear, a woman can wear, too (and often look better). However, female-specific clothing on men tends to be more noticeable.
As a result, men's clothing is effectively unisex whereas women's clothing is their own.
When it comes to custom apparel, choosing a unisex option often makes the most sense -- after all, it serves 100% of the population instead of just half of it. However, there are still plenty of great reasons to go with women's shirts.
Unisex vs women's shirts - do the differences matter for clothing customization?
While unisex custom tees are a popular choice because the styles work across all genders, the option doesn't make as much sense when you're ordering exclusively for women (since it's a usually more flattering look).
The biggest differences between unisex and women's shirts tend to be readily apparent.
For example, women's styles are more likely to feature plunging necklines, so a v-neck would drop a lot further.
Another feature is shorter sleeves. While there may not be agreement over how the shorter-sleeve trend started, nowadays it's associated with more feminine t-shirt styles.
Women's styles also tend to feature a tapered look, making them a bit more form-fitting. (Seen above is Sport-Tek's LST360, available in 8 colors.)
6 tips when buying custom women's t-shirts
#1 - Double-check the size on custom women's tees because the fit can vary
Most women have a pretty good idea what size clothing fits them. In fact, some are absolutely certain of it... and that's where they can get into trouble.
The sizing of custom women's t-shirts can vary based on the company, brand, style, etc. In many cases, women's sizes are smaller when it comes to custom t-shirts.
First, always check the sizing chart. If you do just one thing, always check the sizing chart. Always. Even if you're confident that you know your size because you've been the same size for years and everything you usually buy in that size fits you perfectly, you're going to want to check it -- in fact, you may especially want to check it. Always.
Otherwise, you might get an order where everything is way, way too small.
The sizing chart is usually at the bottom-right-hand corner of the screen. It takes maybe a minute or two to check, but it can save spare you some major headaches.
Second, when in doubt, buy a sample. If you're really worried that a shirt might not be the right fit, you always have the option to order a generic printed sample. This is also a good way to make sure the ink color works with the garment color.
Ordering a sample might cost you a few bucks, but it can save you from making an expensive mistake.
The "Buy Sample" button is at the bottom right of a product page (right below that size chart you should always check). As you'll notice, the price for a generic printed sample is listed under the price-per-quantity. In this case, ten bucks could help you avoid a $180+ error.
Finally -- and most importantly -- never just guess. Not only is there no reason to guess, but you're turning ordering shirts into an unnecessary gamble.
#2 - Choose a shirt style
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While short-sleeve t-shirts tend to be the go-to option for custom tees, there are a LOT of other choices (across multiple categories). And, depending on the use, some may be much better than others.
A long-sleeved t-shirt works in many of the same settings, but it's going to be a little warmer. Some women might prefer a long-sleeved shirt if they get cold in air-conditioned environments (like an office) or because they like the look.
One potential downside with long sleeves is arm length can vary so, where a short-sleeved t-shirt will fit all women, there's always a chance a long-sleeve could be uncomfortable.
Polo's make great work uniforms. If you're outfitting employees for your small business, these will be among your best options. An embroidered logo on a polo is a tasteful decoration that makes employees identifiable while giving them a professional appearance (to hopefully go along with their professional demeanor).
Women's tank tops offer a lot more variety than men's. Some are close to their masculine counterparts (as seen above) where the only real difference is the arm holes tend to be further up (since otherwise a woman's bra may show) and maybe the neckline has more of a plunge.
Other tanks might feature thinner shoulder straps, a race-back, a thin strap for a back, tapering for a closer fit, and more.
In short, it's a HUGE selection. (Meanwhile, men just get a few very basic styles -- is that fair?)
Of course, tanks aren't for everyone. You may want to customize a sleeved performance shirt instead. After all, while a tank top is fine for a personal workout, it'd look odd if used as a team uniform.
If you're looking for performance tees, Sport-Tek is among the top athletic brands. Be sure to checkout our full selection of moisture-wicking shirts.
The final major option is a button-up (or dress) shirt. These are more geared towards professional wear, such as uniforms.
Port Authority has a great ladies button-up shirt (LW102; available in 5 colors). It's made with a stain-resistant poplin fabric.
#3 - Consider the various parts of the style (such as with a custom v-neck)
Women's custom apparel has a lot of options, which may or may not be practical depending on your needs. Besides that, however, is the matter of degrees.
You could pick a v-neck with a slightly plunging neckline, but there are also v-neck styles where the neckline plunges almost to the point of indecency (and, for that matter, probably ones that cross it -- although you won't find those here!)
The thickness of the material can also be relevant. People who keep in shape tend to prefer sheer fabric options whereas heavier individuals might be less comfortable with an extremely thin material. (And some people might be more modest or have body image issues.) As such, something that's a little too stylish or uses very thin material might not get worn by everybody. That's why it's important to understand who's going to be wearing the shirts.
If you're ordering custom apparel for a bachelorette party, that might be easy -- after all, it'll likely involve people you know. The same is true if you're giving them out as gifts (with the obvious exception of giving customers a free gift with their purchase). Otherwise, it can be a little trickier. However, if you're in doubt, you may want to go with a relaxed fit or other casual option.
Of course, if you're wondering about garment thickness or other features, you can always buy a sample shirt.
#4 - Will you go with a specific brand?
For some people, brands can be a big deal. And, in many cases, the value provided by brands is far more than just a name.
Gildan, for instance, is known for producing incredibly consistent apparel. Because the company has an incredible amount of vertical integration, they're able to control the process from start to finish.
Three of Gildan's best-selling custom ladies t-shirts are the Ultra-Cotton tee (L; available in 15 colors), the L (seen above, available in 18 colors), and the soft-style junior fit (L, available in 13 colors).
The L is a fuller cut, the L is middle of the road, and the L (seen above) is a more sheer, junior cut (so the sizing is smaller).
Of course, if you want a more stylish look, Bella+Canvas has some great options as well.
The Bella+Canvas (available in 13 colors) is a ring-spun cotton, junior-cut ladies t-shirt with a fantastic look -- although that's unsurprising, considering the company is known for its stylish apparel.
Fruit of the Loom offers a custom women's t-shirt with a slightly more plunging neckline (L39VR, seen above -- available in 5 colors).
#5 - Choosing custom shirt printing or custom embroidery
How do you want to customize your shirt? Will you choose a gorgeous printed design? Or maybe some fancy embroidery?
Your customization choice will affect the kind of shirts you can pick. Not all shirts are thick enough for embroidery, which limits you to print in those cases. Likewise, some shirts may be too thick to print on.
The benefit of printing is you can get a huge design where the individual details show up well. The downside is having a lot of colors in your design will add to the price.
By contrast, embroidered designs usually need to be small (especially since larger thread counts cost more), but the number of colors won't impact your cost. While you can embroider a t-shirt, it's often reserved for polo's, jackets, sweatshirts, hats, and beanies.
It's a great option for a company logo, especially if you plan on using a custom shirt for a uniform.
#6 - Picking a customized t-shirt that's available as either unisex or women's
If you're ordering for a mixed group, you could shop for a t-shirt that comes as either men's/unisex, women's, or even a kids size.
The advantage is you'll have more of a consistency across everything despite going with a mix of styles.
For example, the super-popular Gildan Ultra-Cotton tee (; see above) is available in unisex, ladies, and kids styles -- and comes in a whopping 60 colors). It's a great option whether you're promoting an event, advertising your business, or just giving them away as gifts.
Create your own custom apparel today
Looking to put your own design on some shirts? Maybe you have a one-of-a-kind design idea for ladies t-shirts or are looking to toss your company logo on some women's custom polo's. Whatever the case, Bolt Printing is here to help turn your design ideas into design reality.
You can upload artwork directly into our online design studio or select something from our massive clip art collection (and find matching fonts).
Bolt Printing has experts who can customize a wide variety of apparel -- everything from tees to sweatshirts, hats and beyond. When you order from us, you're getting amazing promotional merchandise at incredibly-low prices.
For more custom women topsinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.