How Should a Unisex Crewneck Fit a Woman? Sizing Tips

You spotted a unisex crewneck you like — the cut looks easy, the color's good, and now you're second-guessing the size. Unisex just means one cut for everyone, drafted on a slightly boxier body than a women's-only sweatshirt. On a woman's frame, that usually means a touch more room through the shoulders and chest and a straighter drop through the hip. Nothing dramatic. But it does mean the size that fits like your favorite women's crew isn't always the same size you'd take here.

Short answer: for a true, sits-where-it-should fit on a unisex crewneck, take your normal size. If you like an oversized, borrowed-from-someone's-closet look, go up one. That's the whole rule, and the rest of this piece walks you through how to check the box, what the fit actually looks like on the body, and how to keep the shape after you wash it.

ARTI Pickleball's crewnecks — the baby blue "Are We There Yet?" crewneck and the olive green "Let's Play" crewneck — are cut the same way and follow the same sizing logic. Both come in a relaxed unisex fit, sizes S through XL, in a heavyweight 350 gram fleece that's 80% cotton and 20% polyester. Everything below applies to either one, and you can see the full range on the ARTI apparel collection page.

Our pick for a first ARTI crewneck

Our pick: the baby blue "Are We There Yet?" crewneck. The color reads soft and easy on almost every skin tone, the heavyweight 350 gram fleece has real weight and structure without feeling stiff, and the relaxed unisex cut is drafted to sit clean on a woman's frame in your normal size. Take an S if you usually wear an S. Size up once for a bigger, cozier look. If olive green is more your palette, the "Let's Play" crew is the same fit in a different color.

What "relaxed, unisex" actually means on a woman's body

Unisex sizing is one pattern drafted to sit on the widest reasonable range of bodies. In practice, that pattern usually leans a little closer to a men's block than a women's. That doesn't mean it's "made for men." It means the shoulder seam sits a touch wider, the chest has a bit more room, and the body drops straighter through the waist and hip instead of nipping in.

"Relaxed" is a separate word doing separate work. A relaxed fit isn't skin-close and isn't a tent. It's the room in between: enough that you can layer a long-sleeve or a light tee under it, enough that it doesn't cling across the chest or ride up when you lift your arms, but not so much that the shoulder seam falls halfway down your bicep.

Put the two together and here's what a relaxed unisex crew looks like on most women in their true size:

• Shoulder seam sits at or just past the point of your shoulder — not on top of the bone, not down your arm.
• Chest and body have 2 to 4 inches of ease — you can pinch fabric at the side seam without stretching it.
• Hem lands around your hip bone — long enough to cover the waistband of most leggings and joggers.
• Sleeves reach just past your wrist bone, with a little room to push them up if you want.

Size up once and every one of those numbers gets bigger. The shoulder seam slides down your arm a couple of inches, the body drapes lower on the hip, and the sleeves start to bunch a little. That's the look people mean when they say "oversized" — and it's the right choice if you're planning to wear it over leggings, layer over a tee, or just want the cozy, curled-into-it feel.

How to check your size before you order

The most reliable way to pick a size online isn't to guess by your usual number, and it isn't to measure yourself with a tape and hope. It's to measure a sweatshirt you already own and love, flat on a table, and compare it to the ARTI crewneck size guide. Sweatshirts vary wildly between brands, so your own favorite is the truest baseline you have.

What you'll need

• A crewneck sweatshirt you own and like the fit of.
• A soft measuring tape, or a piece of string and a ruler.
• A flat, firm surface. A table or a hardwood floor works. A bed works too but the fabric pulls funny.

The three measurements that matter

Lay your sweatshirt down flat and smooth it out. Don't stretch it. Then take three numbers:

• Chest, pit to pit. Measure straight across from the bottom of one armhole to the bottom of the other. This is a flat measurement — the number will be about half your body's actual chest circumference.
• Body length, high shoulder to hem. Start at the highest point of the shoulder seam, right where it meets the neckline, and measure straight down to the bottom of the hem.
• Sleeve length, shoulder seam to cuff. Measure from where the sleeve meets the shoulder seam, down along the top of the sleeve, to the end of the cuff.

Write the three numbers down and open the ARTI size guide next to them. Whichever ARTI size has numbers closest to your favorite is the size that will fit like your favorite. Simple as that. If your favorite is already an oversized cut, you'll probably match into a size or two down from what you usually wear — that isn't a mistake, it's the whole reason we measure instead of guess.

What if I don't own a crewneck I like?

Use a hoodie, a heavier long-sleeve tee, or a light pullover — anything with sleeves that lands where you want a crewneck to land. Chest and length are the two numbers that matter most for a crewneck. Sleeve length matters a little less because the cuffs on a heavyweight fleece will settle where you push them.

Which size should I get? A quick-pick list

Once you know what look you're after, the choice narrows fast. Read the whole list, then pick the row that sounds most like you.

Take your normal size if…

• You want the crewneck to sit at your hip, not lower.
• You like being able to see your waistband when you wear it with jeans or joggers.
• You're planning to layer a light tee or long-sleeve under it, but not a bulky hoodie.
• You wear a lot of tailored jackets and coats and want your crewneck to fit under them.
• You are somewhere in the middle of the ARTI size range and unsure — start here.

Size up one if…

• You want the borrowed-from-a-friend, oversized look.
• You'll wear it mostly with leggings or bike shorts and want it long enough to cover both.
• You want the shoulder seam to fall a couple of inches down your arm.
• You want to layer a hoodie or a thicker long-sleeve underneath.
• You're between two sizes on the guide.
• You're pregnant, postpartum, or plan to grow into it comfortably.

Size down one if…

• You're on the smaller end of the ARTI S measurement and want a closer, more shaped fit.
• You strongly prefer sleeves that end right at your wrist bone, not past it.
• You know from experience that unisex crewnecks run big on you and you always end up rolling the sleeves.

Most people land in one of the first two rows. If you're truly torn, size up. A relaxed crew that ends up a hair big still looks intentional; a relaxed crew that ends up a hair small stops looking relaxed.

How a relaxed crew sits with what you already own

The reason a unisex crewneck is having a moment is that it plays well with almost every bottom you already own. Here's the picture, piece by piece.

With leggings

This is the pairing the relaxed crew was made for. In your true size, the hem lands around your hip bone — enough to cover the top of most leggings without hiding them entirely. Size up one and the hem drops a couple of inches, which is what you want if you like your leggings mostly covered. Both looks work; it's a matter of how much of your leggings you want to see.

With bike shorts

Sized up one, a relaxed crew is almost long enough to be the whole outfit over bike shorts. In your true size, you'll see the shorts under the hem, which reads more like an actual outfit. Either way, this is a good pairing for coffee runs, the school pickup, courtside layers between games, or anywhere the goal is comfortable without looking like pajamas.

With jeans

Take your true size. A relaxed crew with straight or wide-leg jeans looks pulled together in a way an oversized crew doesn't — the crew sits at the hip, the jeans do the rest of the work. Front-tuck the hem an inch or two if you want to define the waist. High-waisted jeans and a true-size crew is one of those combinations that just works.

With joggers or sweats

Whatever size you took. The point of a matching-fleece look is that everything's relaxed together. The ARTI Pop-Art Sweat Set — a crew and chenille-patch shorts in beige or navy — is the same idea, engineered from the start.

With a skirt or dress

Sized up one, thrown over a slip dress or a longer skirt, the crew becomes the top layer. This is a warm-weather-to-cool-weather trick worth knowing about. The heavyweight fleece has enough weight that it drapes cleanly instead of bunching at the waist.

Where a crewneck is not the right layer

Real talk. A heavyweight fleece crewneck is what you wear around the game — arriving, warming up, between games, watching and after. It isn't the layer to play in. If you want a piece for the court itself, look at ARTI's ringspun cotton tees or browse the lighter pieces in the apparel collection.

Care that keeps the shape

A heavyweight cotton-poly fleece will look great for years if you treat it right, and it will look tired in months if you don't. The rules are the same as for any nice sweatshirt you've owned.

Washing

• Wash cold. Warm and hot water are what break down cotton fibers over time and what fade color fastest.
• Turn the sweatshirt inside out before it goes in. That protects the printed front and cuts down on pilling on the outer surface.
• Use a gentle or normal cycle. Don't overload the machine — fleece needs room to move around in the water.
• Skip fabric softener. It coats the fibers and dulls the hand feel over time, which is the opposite of what you want on something you actually wear.

Drying

• Tumble dry low, or lay flat to dry if you have the room and the patience. Line drying works too — hang from the hem, not the shoulders, to keep the shoulder seam from stretching.
• Pull it out of the dryer while it's still slightly damp and give it a shake. The last bit of drying happens on a hanger and the fibers stay softer.
• Don't iron the printed area. If you must iron, do it inside out on a low setting.

Between wears

A heavyweight fleece doesn't need to be washed after every wear. If you wore it around the house or over another layer, hang it up and wear it again. Fewer washes means longer life, better color, and a shape that stays the shape you picked.

Frequently asked questions

Do unisex crewnecks run big on women?

Sometimes — but not because of the letter on the label. They run big because they're drafted on a slightly boxier block than a women's-only sweatshirt. In your normal size, an ARTI crewneck fits relaxed but not oversized. If you want oversized, size up one. If you want a closer fit, either size down one or measure your favorite fitted crew flat and match the numbers.

What size crewneck should a five-foot-four woman get?

Height alone doesn't decide sizing on a relaxed unisex crew — chest, shoulder width, and preferred body length matter more. That said, most five-foot-four women who like a relaxed-but-not-oversized fit land at S or M depending on frame. Someone wanting the oversized look at the same height usually goes M or L. Check the size guide against your favorite sweatshirt for the exact answer.

How much shorter is a women's crewneck than a unisex crewneck in the same size?

There isn't a universal number because every brand drafts differently, but a women's-cut medium is usually 1 to 2 inches shorter in the body and a half-inch to an inch narrower at the shoulder than a unisex medium. That's why a unisex crew in your normal size feels a touch longer through the hem than a women's crew you already own. It's the fit, not a sizing error.

Will my crewneck shrink after the first wash?

A cotton-poly blend will move a small amount in the first wash and dry, especially if you wash warm and dry hot. Washing cold and drying low keeps that movement minimal. We don't make shrink-proof claims about any of our fleece — we just share the care that keeps the fit closest to how it arrives.

Is a 350 gram fleece heavy?

Yes, in the good way. 350 grams per square meter is on the heavier end of what people mean when they say "heavyweight sweatshirt." Lightweight fleece is usually 200 to 250 gram; standard is 280 to 320 gram; 350 gram sits above that, with real weight in the hand and a soft-but-structured drape. It's the reason a heavyweight crewneck falls cleanly instead of bunching, and part of why it lasts more than a couple of seasons.

Can I wear an ARTI crewneck to play in?

Wear it around the game — arriving, warming up, between games, and after. A heavyweight cotton-poly fleece isn't built to be a technical performance layer during hard play, and it warms up quickly if you try to make it. For the court itself, choose a lighter cotton tee.

Are the "Are We There Yet?" and "Let's Play" crewnecks the same fit?

Yes. Both are the same 350 gram, 80% cotton / 20% polyester relaxed unisex fit, in sizes S through XL. The difference is the color and the graphic on the back — baby blue for "Are We There Yet?" and olive green for "Let's Play." If one fits, both fit.

What if I'm between sizes?

Size up. On a relaxed unisex cut, sizing up preserves the intent of the design; sizing down starts to pull the fit toward "just a regular sweatshirt that's a little snug." If you're right between and truly unsure, the up-size is the safer call for both look and comfort.

About ARTI apparel

ARTI Pickleball's apparel line is small and made with intent. Two heavyweight crewnecks — the baby blue "Are We There Yet?" and the olive green "Let's Play" — in a single relaxed unisex fit that plays well with what you already own. A Pop-Art Sweat Set. A ringspun cotton tee. Rope and trucker hats. Nothing on the list is meant to be a technical performance piece — it's the layer you wear to court, in the car, at brunch after, and pretty much anywhere in between. The point is that it fits nicely, wears well over time, and looks like something you chose rather than something you happened to have.

Start with the baby blue crewneck if you're new to the line, or browse the whole apparel collection to see everything together. Whichever piece you pick, the sizing logic in this piece is the same: measure your favorite, match the numbers, and if you're still unsure, size up one for oversized or stay true for relaxed.