ESPIONAGE Long Sleeve Checked Over Shirt BLACK/MULTI SH401

Our clothes are cut for bigger frames, so order the size you measure. If you are between sizes or unsure, call us during shop hours on 01244 376984 and we will help you choose.

XL size guide – big men’s clothing

All measurements are in inches. For international orders, please be guided by the measurements shown rather than your own country’s size scale, which may differ.

How to measure

Chest – place the tape around your chest so that it passes immediately under your arms. Make sure it lies level as it passes across your back.

Waist – pass the tape around your middle at your natural waistline. This lies above your hips and is higher than most people think.

Trousers – for trousers to fit comfortably it is important to order the correct waist size. Please avoid the temptation to order a smaller size by measuring around your hips: it tends to lead to trousers that sag below the crotch and are too long in the leg.

Body length – average back lengths are shown in each product description and may vary between garments. We typically measure a 4XL to get the average length; length increases with size, so add about an inch for each size larger in the XL scale.

Belts – the size shown is the waist size of the person the belt is designed to fit (not the length of the belt), measured in inches from the buckle to the middle hole.

Choosing your size

You may need a different XL size in trousers and joggers than in tops – for example if you are slim-waisted, or measure bigger at the waist than the chest.

Please do not order a size bigger than you measure “to allow for comfort”, or the clothes may well be too big. We only stock clothes from suppliers who design and cut menswear specifically for the larger man, so they already allow room for comfort and movement. As a rule, a 3XL shirt is designed to fit a 50/52" chest comfortably and smartly; laid out flat, the garment itself will typically measure 56–58" at the chest, tapering slightly to the waist.

Where a garment differs significantly from the standard XL scale (Ben Sherman, for example, cuts extra generously), we say so in the product description and give its measurements in inches instead of a typical XL size. Please order by your body measurements in those cases.

If your waist is larger than your chest, which is quite common, order the larger size so that a shirt buttons up comfortably at the waist without pulling or gaping. For example, a 52" chest and 56" waist needs a 4XL despite having a 3XL chest. The shirt will then be looser around the shoulders and chest, and longer in the body and sleeves.

If you prefer a longer fit, the body and sleeve length of tops generally increase slightly with chest size.

Wrong size? Every UK order includes free returns and exchanges – see Delivery & Returns.