I Bought the Wrong Women's Patriots Shirt Twice — Here's How to Get It Right

My first women's Patriots shirt arrived in a size medium and fit like something a ten-year-old would wear to soccer practice. The second one was an extra large that hung past my hips like a nightgown. Two returns later I finally understood something the size charts never tell you: the cut of a women's fan shirt changes completely depending on which license the maker holds, and "medium" means about four different things.

I bought the wrong women's Patriots shirt twice — here's how to get it right, and it starts with the jersey versus the tee. If you're looking at a Nike women's jersey, those run slim. Narrow through the shoulders, tapered at the waist, sleeves stopping well above the elbow. Between sizes? Go up. And if you're somewhere between 5'2" and 5'6", don't sleep on a youth XL. Same fabric, smaller price, and the fit is often closer to what you actually pictured. I used to think buying youth sizes was a hack for teenagers. Now I own two.

Then there's the tier question, which matters more than the price tag suggests. Game jerseys are printed — light, inexpensive, and completely fine for a couch Sunday or a September tailgate. Limited jerseys have stitched numbers and a little more structure across the shoulders. Elite jerseys are built to the same spec the players wear: heavier fabric, snugger cut, longer sleeves, and a number that will make you sit down for a minute.

• Game — printed numbers, lightest, easiest to wash, best for casual wear
• Limited — stitched numbers, a bit more weight, still comfortable all day
• Elite — on-field spec, tight through the chest, worth it only if you're a true gear person

Ask yourself where the shirt will actually live. If the honest answer is "the couch, the grocery store, and one game a year," buy the Game jersey and put the leftover money toward a second tee. Nobody at Gillette is inspecting your stitching. They're too busy trying to stay warm.

T-shirts deserve their own minute, because that's where most women actually end up. Cotton tees from the standard licensees are roomier than jerseys and shrink a little in the wash, so if you're between sizes, take the larger one. Tri-blend tees are softer, drape better, and don't shrink as much — they're the ones I reach for when I want to look like I tried without actually trying. The sizing on those runs closer to a normal women's tee, which is refreshing.

As for whose name goes on the back, slow down a second. A Tom Brady 12 is a forever pick. Nobody is going to side-eye that in Foxborough, and it'll still be a good shirt in ten years. Current-roster jerseys are more fun but riskier, because players move. Drake Maye's 10 is the obvious choice if you're buying into the new era — he was the third overall pick in 2024 and ended up starting most of his rookie season, so that number isn't going anywhere soon. Same logic applies to a defensive pick like Christian Gonzalez. If you'd rather not gamble on anyone, a plain "Patriots" wordmark tee is the safest gift on the planet.

Styling is easier than people make it. A women's-cut tee tucked into jeans with a belt looks intentional. An oversized jersey over a hoodie in November is basically the official uniform of the northeast. Knot the hem if it's long, roll the sleeves once, and you're done. I've worn a jersey to a wedding-adjacent brunch and I'd do it again.

Washing them, though? That's where people ruin good gear. Turn it inside out, cold water, gentle cycle, and hang it to dry. Never iron directly over printed or stitched numbers — the heat will melt the print and leave a shiny ghost of the number behind. Skip fabric softener too, it breaks down the fabric over time. Do that and a decent jersey will outlast three cheap ones.

One last thing about gifting, since half of you are probably shopping for someone else. Tees are more forgiving than jerseys, so when in doubt on a shirt, size up — she can knot it, belt it, or sleep in it. A jersey that's too small is just a jersey that hangs in the closet. A tee that's a little big gets worn to death. That's the whole trick, and it took me two returns and a lot of shipping fees to learn it.