Not all city t-shirts are created equal. Some end up stuffed in the back of the drawer after one wear, while others become the go-to shirt you reach for again and again. So what separates a “meh” city tee from a truly great one? We’ve thought about this a lot at Big Little Cities, and here’s what we’ve learned.
Like a lot of things, It starts with comfort. A shirt should feel great the second you put it on and you should feel like 'oh yeah, I like this'. Not stiff, scratchy, or boxy. That’s why we print on Comfort Colors blanks. They’re garment-dyed, which means they already have that broken-in softness from day one and only get better with each wash. A city tee should feel like it’s been part of your rotation for years, even if it just arrived yesterday.
Then there’s the fit. This is all subjective. Some people want a great city shirt that isn’t oversized or slim. But each their own, the best shirts are the ones that bring you a little bit of joy when you put them on. As long as you you're not to the point of discomfort. It should hit that sweet spot: relaxed enough to move with you, structured enough to look good layered under a jacket or worn on its own.
Of course, design is where things often go wrong. Too many city shirts lean into clichés—loud graphics, oversized skylines, or something from a souvenir shop. A great city t-shirt should be something you actually want to wear out, not just a novelty you feel embarrassed ot wear around your hometown. Unless you are going for a more hipster ironic look, then those tees are great for that. This why we keep it simple: just the city name, cleanly placed in the upper left. It’s minimalist, timeless, and subtle enough to work everywhere from a coffee shop to a night out.
Finally, a great city shirt should be personal. It’s not about being trendy or flashy. It’s about carrying a little piece of where you’re from or where you feel at home, right there with you. Have you ever been walking down the street and someone is wearing something that you have a connection to that makes you say 'Hey, I'm from there, too!'. That’s the connection we design for: a shirt that looks good, feels good, and quietly says, this is my city.
At Big Little Cities, we think the perfect city tee blends comfort, fit, design, and meaning. That’s what makes it more than just a t-shirt—it’s something you’ll actually live in.
