A show shirt should fit close enough to look crisp under your show coat. It should stretch and move with you, because you are an athlete, after all. It should close at the collar without tugging, skim the body without feeling boxy or clingy, and tuck into your breeches and stay there through your last class. At Essex, Talent Yarn®, Luna II and Cambridge show shirts all use the same sizes, so the size you wear in one is the size you wear in all three.
Here is what to look for, shirt by shirt, and how to find your size.
Five Fit Checks Before You Enter the Ring
Try your shirt on with your breeches, and if you can, with your show coat. Then check:
- The collar. It should snap closed and sit flat without pulling at your neck or gapping at the front. A structured collar that stands on its own is what keeps the look crisp under your coat.
- The chest and shoulders. Reach both arms forward as if you were releasing over a jump. Nothing should pull across your chest or between your shoulder blades.
- The body. A good show shirt follows your shape without billowing out the back of your coat or clinging at the waist. Essex show shirts are tailored with a gently tapered body for a neat line with or without a coat.
- The tuck. Get into two-point position. The shirt should stay tucked into your breeches, with enough length that it doesn't pull free.
- The sleeves. With your arms forward, long sleeves should reach your wrist. Under a show coat, a little white sleeve at the cuff is a classic look in the equitation ring.
Talent Yarn® and Luna II: The Same Fit
Talent Yarn® and Luna II share the same fit and the same size chart. Both are pullover show shirts with a snap collar and a gently tapered body that tucks easily into breeches and stays tucked.
- Talent Yarn® show shirts have built-in stretch, a structured collar, and on long sleeve styles, under-sleeve mesh panels for ventilation. Thermoregulating, stain-resistant, UPF 40+.
- Luna II show shirts pair a crisp white Talent Yarn® front panel and a white cotton collar with color through the body, in a buttery-soft fabric with four-way stretch. UPF 35+.
If you already wear Talent Yarn®, order the same size in Luna II. The same goes for the Claire Zip Collar Show Shirt, which shares the Talent Yarn® fit.
Cambridge: Same Size, Its Own Feel
Cambridge is cut from a soft waffle-textured fabric with Coolcore® comfort. The texture adds structure and coverage while keeping the shirt lightweight and breathable, and the tailoring is adjusted to suit how that fabric moves. Cambridge also has a slightly shorter, self-fabric collar. It may feel a little different on the body, but you don't need to change sizes to wear it. Choose the size you wear in Talent Yarn® and Luna II. UPF 50+.
How to Find Your Size
The charts on our Sizing page show garment measurements in inches, not body measurements. The easiest way to use them:
- Lay a show shirt that fits you well flat.
- Measure it at the same points the chart uses: chest, waist, back length and sleeve length. For men's shirts, measure the chest 1 inch below the armhole.
- Match those numbers to the chart for the shirt you want.
Ladies sizes run XS to XXL (sizes 0 to 20), girls XS to XL (sizes 2-4 to 18), and men's S to XL. Shopping for a junior rider? Measure a shirt that fits them now and compare it to both the ladies' and girls' charts. Many of our junior riders can wear either a girls XL or a ladies XS as they move from girls' sizes to ladies' sizes.
Still between sizes? Call us at 800-433-1802 and we'll help you choose.
What Riders Say
"When I think of Essex, I think of quality. They're classic, they fit beautifully. They're just timeless."
Anne Kursinski, Olympic Silver Medalist and Essex sponsored rider
"The fit and comfort of these shirts can't be beat!"
Michele H., verified buyer
The Chronicle of the Horse readers have named Essex Classics their favorite show shirt brand in the Readers' Choice awards nine years in a row, including 2026.
Show Shirt Fit FAQ
Should a show shirt be tight or loose?
Neither. It should skim the body for a clean line under your coat, with room across the chest and back to reach forward in the saddle.
Do Talent Yarn®, Luna II and Cambridge fit the same?
Choose the same size in all three. Talent Yarn® and Luna II share the same fit. Cambridge uses a slightly more structured fabric with tailoring adjusted to it, so it may feel different, but you don't need to change sizes.
Are Essex size charts body measurements?
No. They are garment measurements in inches. Compare them with a shirt that already fits you well.
How do I keep my show shirt tucked in?
Choose a shirt long enough to stay in your breeches. Essex show shirts have a tapered body cut to tuck easily and stay tucked.
Confidence Starts Before You Enter the Ring. Find your size.