Guide to Designing Personalized Best Friend Shirts Without Being Cheesy

Friendship is one of those things that almost everyone wants to celebrate, but finding the right way to show it can sometimes feel awkward. Custom best friend shirts are a popular option, but let’s be honest, they can go from cute to cringe real fast if the design misses the mark.

The goal isn’t just to wear something matching. You want it to feel real, like the connection you actually have. Whether you're celebrating a lifelong friendship or need something fun to wear to a weekend hangout, the trick is making it feel natural, not overdone. Here’s how to create custom best friend shirts that feel like you, not like a joke at your own expense.

Choosing a Message That Feels Real

The easiest place to go wrong with best friend shirts is the text. If it feels too forced or like it came off a greeting card, you probably won’t want to wear it again. Keep things true to your actual friendship.

Try using something personal instead of pulling from internet quotes. Inside jokes, random words you always say, or matching nicknames all add personality. You don’t need perfect phrasing. Sometimes, “You always steal my fries” says more about your connection than a cheesy poem ever could.

Think about what would make both of you smile, then start from there. A few message styles that usually hit the right tone:

• Simple one-word shirts, like “Always” and “Forever,” if those words matter to you

• Phrases only you two understand, like something funny you once said at a party

• Matching shirts where one completes the other, but with a twist you come up with yourselves

In our best friend shirt collection, designs range from cute and playful to sarcastic and bold, which makes it easier to match the wording to your actual sense of humor. The point is to make it yours. It should feel like it came from you, not from a shelf of mass-made jokes.

Picking Colors and Styles That Match Your Vibe

After you land on a message, the next big piece is the style. This is where a lot of best friend shirt plans fall apart. One person wants bright pink, the other wants black. Or one likes crop tops, the other lives in oversize tees.

Before settling on anything, figure out your shared zone. What colors do you both like? What kind of clothes do you already wear most days?

Since we’re getting into January, it’s smart to think of layers too. In a warmer place like Florida, you probably won’t need thick winter gear, but the mornings and evenings can get breezy. A short sleeve with a lightweight flannel or hoodie adds just enough warmth without making you sweat by mid-day.

Here’s what tends to work best:

• Colors that show up well in photos but still fit into your everyday closet

• Styles you already wear (crewnecks, v-necks, or slouchy fits) so they’re not a once-and-done type deal

• Something that feels easygoing, not stuffy or overly done up

Comfort and practicality go a long way. If you wouldn’t wear it solo, chances are it won’t feel right as a matching pair either.

Design Details That Make the Difference

It’s easy to get pulled into the idea of overdoing a best friend shirt. Fonts, sparkles, clipart, you name it. More isn’t always better, especially if you plan to wear these shirts more than once.

One good design idea can carry the whole shirt. Whether it’s a shared symbol, a quote, or just a cool layout, keeping it simple almost always makes it feel more stylish.

Here are a few things to think about as you narrow in on the design:

• Stick to one or two fonts max. Mixing too many can make the shirt hard to read

• Keep graphics sharp and clean, too many little images can look messy

• Consider “match but don’t mirror” designs, where the shirts go together without being identical

That last one is great if your styles are naturally different. Maybe one shirt says “I call, you answer” and the other says “You text, I sleep.” They make sense next to each other, but also let you stay you.

Making Custom Shirts You’ll Actually Want to Wear

A lot of people design best friend shirts for big moments, vacations, birthdays, reunions, but if that’s the only time you’ll wear them, why bother?

The best shirts are the ones that slide right into your regular weekend plans. Whether it’s grabbing coffee, heading to the beach, or crashing on the couch with a movie, they shouldn’t feel like a costume.

For shirts that feel good to wear more than once, keep this in mind:

• Pick fabrics that feel soft and easy, not stiff or scratchy

• Go for cuts that work with your favorite jeans, shorts, or leggings

• Choose a design that can stand alone even if you're not wearing it together

We use soft cotton blends and high-quality prints on our best friend shirts, so they feel comfortable enough for all-day wear, not just a quick photo. Many of these styles are offered in sizes from XS through 5XL, with options for unisex or fitted cuts, which helps different body types get a coordinated look that still feels right. Sometimes it helps to keep the design on the chest small and simple so it doesn’t scream “look at us.” That way, if you're out solo, it still just feels like you.

Show Off Your Friendship Without the Cheese

Custom best friend shirts should feel like an extension of your friendship, not just something you made for a selfie. They’re most fun when they nod to something only the two of you understand.

If it makes you roll your eyes, it probably isn’t the right direction. But if it makes you laugh, smile, or think about how long you've had each other’s backs, you're on the right track.

Don’t worry about trying too hard. Great designs usually start with simple ideas. When a shirt feels like something you’d naturally wear, and it makes both of you smile, that’s when you’ve done it right.

Creating something that feels like your friendship, comfortable, low-pressure, and honest, is a good place to start. That way, showing off your bond doesn’t feel cheesy. It just feels like you.

Thinking about creating something to celebrate your friendship without falling into cheesy slogans or stiff styles? We're here to help. Our designs focus on authenticity and wearability so your shirts feel just as comfortable as your connection. Whether you're sharing inside jokes or prefer a quieter way to match, our collection ofcustom best friend shirts offers great inspiration. At Adorb Custom Tees, we make it easy to design something that feels uniquely you. If you have any questions or need help bringing your design idea to life, just contact us.