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Howling at the moon tees mix detailed vintage nature art with a wink of humor, and that combination has kept them popular for well over a decade. Ours put corgis, wolves, a T rex and even a turkey under a glowing full moon, printed on soft dark garment dyed cotton.

The shirt the internet made famous

You probably know the original even if you never owned it. The Three Wolf Moon shirt was designed by artist Antonia Neshev and made by The Mountain, a clothing company in Keene, New Hampshire. In November 2008 a law student named Brian Govern posted a mock serious Amazon review, and thousands of joke reviews followed.

The joke turned real fast. According to the company, demand made it the top selling item in Amazon’s clothing store, and parodies have popped up everywhere from Minecraft to World of Warcraft.

Why the look still works

There is something timeless about a lone animal under a full moon. The art borrows from old park posters and airbrushed souvenir shirts, so it reads as vintage the moment you put it on. On garment dyed cotton, the cream highlights look faded in, a bit like a shirt you found at the back of a thrift store rack.

Meet the moonlit animals

Here is every animal currently in our moonlit animals collection.

The corgi

A proud corgi portrait over a starry mountain night, with a tiny corgi howling below. See the Corgi tee.

The T rex

A towering T rex rises over a misty pine forest while a smaller one roars at the moon. See the T rex tee.

The turkey

Our Thanksgiving favorite. A wild turkey puffs up under a harvest moon with waterfalls behind. See the Turkey tee.

The raccoons

Not howling exactly, but close. Two raccoons meet a UFO in a moonlit forest. See the Raccoons and the UFO tee.

How to wear one

• Size up one for that slouchy, found it at the thrift store fit.
• Pair it with light wash jeans and a flannel for fall.
• Wear it for the joke and keep it for the art.

Need help with sizing? Our Comfort Colors 1717 size guide walks you through it.

FAQ

Why are wolf and moon shirts so popular?

They mix nostalgic nature art with a sense of humor. The Three Wolf Moon shirt turned the look into an internet favorite in 2008, and it has stayed a vintage classic since.

Do moonlit animal tees look good on light colors?

They are designed to glow on dark colors like black, pepper and navy, which is why our moonlit tees come in deeper shades.

Are these designs printed or screen printed?

Each shirt is printed to order with direct to garment printing at our partner studio in Miami, so the fine detail in the fur and stars comes through.

Our tees are Comfort Colors 1717s, a unisex shirt with a relaxed fit. Order your usual size for a classic easy fit, one size down for a closer fit, and one or two sizes up for an oversized look. The quickest way to be sure is to measure a tee you love and compare it with the chart below.

How the 1717 fits

The Comfort Colors 1717 is a heavyweight, pre-shrunk ring spun cotton tee with a relaxed cut and no side seams. That gives it a slightly boxy shape that drapes rather than clings, which is a big part of its vintage feel.

How to measure a tee you already own

• Lay the shirt flat on a table and smooth out the wrinkles.
• Measure the width straight across the chest, 1 inch below the armpits.
• Measure the length from the highest point of the shoulder, next to the collar, down to the hem.
• Compare both numbers with the chart and pick the closest size.

Size chart

These measurements come from the Comfort Colors 1717 product specifications published by our print partner, Printify. Each size steps up roughly 2 inches in width.

Size	S	M	L	XL	2XL	3XL	4XL
Width (in)	18.25	20.25	22.00	24.00	26.00	27.75	29.75
Length (in)	26.62	28.00	29.37	30.75	31.62	32.50	33.50
Sleeve from center back (in)	16.25	17.75	19.00	20.50	21.75	23.25	24.63

Which size should you pick?

• Closer fit: go one size down from your usual.
• Classic relaxed fit: stay with your usual size.
• Oversized or tucked into jeans: go one or two sizes up.
• Between sizes: size up. Garment dyed cotton looks best with a little room.

Will it shrink?

The 1717 is pre-shrunk, and Comfort Colors’ own care instructions recommend a cold wash and low heat drying. Follow those and your tee keeps its fit. Our full guide on how to wash a garment dyed tee covers the details.

Found your size? Browse every design. Every order is printed just for you, so take a moment with the chart before you check out. Our shipping and returns page has the details.

FAQ

Do Comfort Colors tees run big?

They have a relaxed, slightly boxy fit, so many people find them roomier than a fitted fashion tee. If you like a close fit, try one size down.

Should women size down in a unisex tee?

Many women size down one for a fitted look and stay at their usual size for a relaxed fit. Measure a tee you already love and compare it with the chart.

Will the shirt shrink after washing?

The 1717 is pre-shrunk, so it keeps its size well. Wash cold and dry on low to avoid any extra shrinkage.

Wash your garment dyed tee inside out in cold water (30°C / 86°F or cooler) with similar colors, on a gentle cycle with a mild detergent. Skip bleach and fabric softener, then hang it to dry or tumble dry on low. That simple routine keeps the cotton soft and the print sharp for years.

Why garment dyed tees are worth a little care

Most t-shirts are cut from fabric that was dyed on the roll. Garment dyed tees are sewn first and dyed afterwards, which is what gives a Comfort Colors 1717 its soft hand and slightly faded, lived in color. It is also why each shirt looks a little unique.

The good news is that these shirts are tough. The 1717 is a heavyweight, pre-shrunk 100% ring spun cotton tee. A few easy habits are all it takes to keep it looking like your favorite thrift store find.

Sort by color before every wash

Comfort Colors’ own care instructions for the 1717 say to wash with like colors. Keep your ivory, butter and mint shirts together and wash charcoal, navy and pepper tones in a separate load.

The wash: cold, inside out and gentle

• Turn the shirt inside out. It protects the printed design from rubbing against zips, buttons and the drum.
• Use cold water. The 1717 care label caps the wash at 30°C, about 86°F.
• Choose a gentle or delicate cycle and a mild detergent.
• Skip chlorine bleach. Comfort Colors only allows oxygen based bleach, and you rarely need any at all.
• Leave out fabric softener. Printful’s print care guide notes it can be harsh on printed ink over time.

Drying without the shrink

Heat is the enemy of both cotton and print. Hanging your tee inside out to air dry is the safest option. If you use a dryer, pick the low heat setting and take the shirt out while it is still very slightly damp.

Ironing, storage and what to skip

Comfort Colors advises against ironing and dry cleaning the 1717. Garment dyed cotton looks best a little relaxed anyway. If you really want it crisp, iron it inside out on the lowest setting and never press directly on the design.

Fold your tees rather than hanging them for months on end, which can stretch the shoulders. A drawer or a shelf is perfect.

Quick care checklist

• Inside out, every time
• Cold water, gentle cycle, mild detergent
• Wash with similar colors
• No chlorine bleach, no fabric softener
• Hang dry or tumble dry low
• No ironing on the print and no dry cleaning

Looking for your next favorite? Browse our moonlit animals collection, the nostalgic Never Forget cassette tee, or check the size guide to find your fit.

FAQ

Will a garment dyed tee shrink in the wash?

Comfort Colors 1717 tees are made from pre-shrunk ring spun cotton, so shrinkage is minimal. Heat is what causes most of it, so wash cold and tumble dry on low or hang it up.

Can I put my Thriftem tee in the dryer?

Yes, on a low heat setting. Hanging it to dry is gentler on both the cotton and the print, so do that when you can.

Why does my new tee look slightly different from my friend’s?

Garment dyeing happens after the shirt is sewn, so every batch takes the color a little differently. Small shade differences are normal and part of the look.