What Is Sizing Like at Ben Sherman?

The short answer: it runs slim, and the fit name matters more than the size

Ben Sherman is rooted in mod and Ivy-league heritage — sharp collars, clean lines, nothing baggy. That DNA shows up in the cut. As a rule of thumb the brand sits on the trim side of true-to-size, particularly across the shoulders and chest. If you're between sizes, or you've built a bit of upper body, size up rather than squeezing in.

The thing that trips people up is that Ben Sherman runs three named fits across its tops, and they're genuinely different garments, not marketing fluff:

Soho (Slim Fit) — the slimmest block. Shaped through the waist with darts in the lower back to keep it clean against the body, and a narrow, tapered sleeve. This is the proper "tucked-in, mod" silhouette. If you're lean and want it sharp, this is the one. If you're not, this is the one that turns into a sausage skin.
Mod (Regular Fit) — the signature, and the one used across most of the range. A touch wider in the body than the Soho, less waist shaping, but still a clean line. For most men this is the safe default.
Union (Easy Fit) — the relaxed cut. Roomier through the body, far more forgiving if you carry weight on the midsection or just can't stand a slim shirt.

So a "medium" in Soho and a "medium" in Mod are not the same shirt. My popcorn-button disaster? Classic Soho medium on a Mod-fit body. Rookie error.

The actual numbers (because guesswork is how returns happen)

Ben Sherman's casual shirts, tees and jersey use standard alpha sizing, mapped roughly to chest measurement:

S — 36–38" chest (91–96cm)
M — 39–41" chest (99–104cm)
L — 42–44" chest (107–112cm)
XL — 45–47" chest (114–119cm)

A few honest notes from handling a lot of their stock over the years:

Shoulders run narrow. If you've got a swimmer's frame, the Mod or Union will sit better than the Soho even if the chest fits.
Formal shirts go by collar size (in inches, e.g. 15", 15.5", 16") rather than alpha — start with your neck, then sanity-check the chest.
Suits are sold as separates across three fits — Camden (super slim), Kings (slim) and City (regular) — with multiple sleeve and leg lengths. Buy the jacket and trouser to your own measurements rather than a bundled "40R" and you'll get a far sharper result.

What to buy, and how to style it

Ben Sherman is at its best when you lean into what it's good at rather than fighting it. My picks:

The Oxford shirt — their bread and butter. Get it in the Mod fit, size for your chest, and wear it untucked with selvedge denim and white trainers, or tucked into flat-front trousers for smart-casual. A button-down collar is doing a lot of quiet work here.
The Harrington jacket — peak heritage. It runs trim, so if you're layering over a jumper, size up. Navy or stone over a roll-neck is a foolproof autumn look.
The knitted polo — very on-trend right now and very Ben Sherman. Slim through the body, so the Soho-cut versions are flattering on a lean frame; go Mod if you want a bit of breathing room.

Trend-wise, the wider menswear mood has swung back toward 1960s-tinged tailoring and texture — knitted polos, half-zips, pleated trousers with a slight crop. Ben Sherman sits right in that lane, which makes it an easy brand to build a capsule around without looking like you've tried too hard.

Brands worth knowing if you like the Ben Sherman look

Part of styling well is knowing where Ben Sherman fits in the landscape — and where to look when you want the same energy at a different price point.

High street

Marks & Spencer — their Oxford shirts and knitwear are quietly excellent value, and the fit is generous and consistent, a good antidote if Ben Sherman's slim cut isn't for you.
Next — strong on smart-casual basics and reliable sizing across a huge range, ideal for building out trousers and chinos cheaply.

Independent & boutique

Merc London — proper mod-revival heritage; if you love the Ben Sherman aesthetic but want something a little more niche, this is the rabbit hole.
Percival — a London independent doing playful knitted polos and shirting with real personality and a slightly roomier, modern cut.
Universal Works — Nottingham-based, beautifully made workwear-inflected pieces; the fits run relaxed, so it pairs nicely with a slim Ben Sherman shirt underneath.

Designer & luxury

Paul Smith — the obvious step up for the British, mod-adjacent man. Sharp tailoring, witty detailing, and shirts that fit slim in a very deliberate way.
Drake's — Ivy and English tailoring done properly; the Oxford button-downs are the gold standard if you want to invest in one shirt for a decade.

Seven brands, three tiers, one through-line: clean British tailoring that rewards getting the fit right.

Never guess your size again

Here's the honest bit. Even knowing all of the above, the only thing that truly stops returns is your actual measurements matched to the brand. That's exactly why we built Tellar — the UK's leading sizing tool. Measure once (bust, waist, hip, or just your existing size in a brand you own) and we match your body to 1,500+ brands instantly. No more squinting at a size guide.

Use the Store Size Lookup to get your precise size in Ben Sherman, COS, Reiss, Everlane, Arket and more — shop with confidence, fewer returns, better-fitting kit. Always free, no downloads, works straight in your browser.

Find My Ben Sherman Size → How To Measure →

And once you've nailed the fit, the Tellar Fashion Hub is there for everything else — a library of free posts from our stylists covering brand sizing, style guides and honest top picks. Always independent, always unbiased, always free. No sponsored nonsense, just the advice I'd give a mate.