T-Shirt Styles Explained: Picking the Right Tee Without "Losing Your Mind"

When I’m trying to decide which tees to use for a project, I always start with a few simple questions:

What are they for? Who’s gonna wear them? And what are they going to be doing?

Because honestly, different tees are better for different activities - it goes way beyond just “style.”

Fabric First: Don’t Freak Out

You don’t want a 100% polyester streetwear tee… unless you enjoy feeling like a plastic grocery bag in the wind. But you also don’t want a 100% cotton ultra-heavyweight tee if you’re out raking asphalt in July. That’s how you unlock “sauna mode.”

And what about those awesome tees for the club’s summer camp? Those kids are doing everything - arts and crafts, hiking, running, somehow losing water bottles every 15 minutes…

For that kind of action, you want something ultra-comfortable with a little moisture-wicking superpower. A midweight triblend is perfect - soft, durable, breathable, and usually in rad heathered colors that scream:

"This is my favorite tee now."

Ok, so we decided who, what, and where - that was wild, but we did it! Woo hoo! 🎉

Now, let’s talk fabrics and weights. Don’t freak - there are literally 41 million options here too. But don’t worry, we got this.

• 100% cotton - universally awesome… almost.

• 50/50 cotton/poly blends - best for working hard or needing that “superpower” I mentioned earlier. Bonus: they don’t shrink, which is always a win.

  
  

Personally? I prefer 100% cotton tees for almost everything, even if they shrink a little. The thing to watch out for is quality - not all cotton tees are created equal. Some brands (no name-dropping here) just plain suck. Their “100% cotton” tees turn into belly shirts after one wash and feel like cardboard. Hell no!

Other brands use soft ringspun cotton (that’s code for rad!) which makes a huge difference in how the shirt feels and wears. Definitely worth it.

When picking 100% cotton tees, make sure the shirt holds its size and shape. Who wants a rad, screen-printed tee if it shrinks into a sad, misshapen crop top? Exactly - no one.

If you’re buying screen-printed tees for yourself, your employees, your club, or whatever, always ask how the brand holds up in the wash.

Material Thickness / Weight / Whatever

Yep, confusing again: 4.5 oz, 5 oz, 7.5 oz, 165 GSM, 300 GSM… yikes!

It’s really simple - it all goes back to that who, what, and where equation.

• Everyday / universal weight: 5 - 6 oz is solid

• Lightweight: 4.5 oz - good for casual, summer, or layering

• Heavyweight: 7.5+ oz - perfect for leisure, long-lasting durability, or cruising in style

Retail graphic tees? Usually 4.5 - 6 oz. Premium streetwear / heavy tees? 7 - 8 oz - ready for long-term wear.

Why Are There Literally a Trillion T-Shirt Styles?

Because clothing manufacturers are tiny chaos goblins with sewing machines. Just kidding - kinda.

It’s because people have:

• different body types

• different tastes / styles

• different comfort preferences

• and VERY strong opinions (like, "I only wear this ONE brand or I will die")

So now we have more T-shirt styles than streaming services… and that’s saying something!

Classic Styles for Screen Printing

Crewneck Tees - The GOAT. Reliable, timeless, safe for all events, and probably outliving all of us. Crews print beautifully because the fabric lays flat, colors hit clean, and people actually like wearing them.

V-necks - Stylish without trying too hard. Perfect for:

• Bands

• Breweries

• Gyms

• Tattoo shops

• People who say “vibe check” unironically

Print tip: the "V" shape changes the print height, so plan your art placement.

Long sleeves - Perfect for:

• Fall festivals

• Winter merch

• Unified crew looks

• Pretending it’s cold in OKC when it’s 68°

• Sleeve prints (which always look sick)

Bold design + long sleeves = instant statement merch.

Raglans / Baseball Tees - Still around and still slapping. Feel like a pro athlete even if your last sport memory was getting hit with a dodgeball in middle school. Perfect for vintage prints, sporty brands, or nostalgic vibes.

Sizing for Group Orders

Brace yourself for CHAOS:

1. Always check the brand’s size chart.

2. Tell people to pick their “regular” size.

3. Prepare for everyone to lie about that size, lol.

4. Order extra XLs. Trust me.

5. Order at least one 2X and 3X even if the group swears they don’t need them.

6. Don’t skip youth sizes if kids are involved - someone will ask last minute.

Sizing is a game. You just learn to play it.

Which Styles Are Best for Screen Printing?

• Crew necks (the GOAT)

• Long sleeves (great for sleeve placements)

• Raglans (smooth blends, print beautifully)

  
  

Real talk: most shirts print great if you have:

• Smooth fabric (less texture = cleaner print)

• Quality cotton or cotton-rich blends

• Avoiding tees that feel like “sandpaper dipped in sadness”

  
  

A good screen print shop can make almost anything look dope - as long as the blank isn’t fighting for its life.

Seriously though…

There are a ton of shirt styles, and it can get overwhelming fast. But any legit screen printing connection in the OKC metro (including yours truly) can help you pick the right blank and get the best possible merch for your project. To browse our t-shirts and apparel for screen printing, check out our catalogs here: https://www.okctshirts.com/get-a-quote