As someone who takes fashion pretty seriously, I‘ve tested out my fair share of menswear brands over the years. But few have managed to earn regular rotation in my closet like Wax London. Their focus on premium fabrics, meticulous fits and ethical manufacturing creates versatile staples I find myself reaching for season after season.
After discovering them back in 2018, I‘ve become a devoted customer – even making a visit to their new London flagship store. Below I‘ll break down my experiences with the brand after multiple orders worth of first-hand testing. Consider this your no BS review from a fellow stylistically conscious gent!
Quick Take – Wax London Pros & Cons
Before diving into a play-by-play of my experience, here‘s a high level view on some of the brand‘s major advantages and downsides:
Pros
- Thoughtful fabric selection and precise tailoring creates flattering, versatile pieces
- Garments feel luxurious and well-crafted – worth the prices
- Responsible manufacturing and business practices are a rarity
- Their slim but not skinny cuts suit my athletic build
- Items transition smoothly across seasons
Cons
- Sizing can be tricky, especially for stockier builds
- Limited brick and mortar presence to try items in person
- Some fabrics show wear faster than expected
Now let‘s get into the nitty gritty details across multiple orders worth of first-hand testing.
Elevated Essentials – Reviewing Wax London‘s Bestsellers
Known for their takes on menswear classics rather than flashy trends, Wax London delivers wardrobe essentials perfected. I‘ve purchased several of their best selling items over multiple seasons – here‘s how they stacked up in real world use.
Wax London Whiting Overshirt
The Look: Lumberjack Plaid Overshirt
My Take: Near perfect overshirt for layering
The first piece I purchased from Wax London over 4 years ago, this shirt set the tone for their devotion to fabric and craftsmanship. Cut from custom Italian wool woven with subtle navy plaid, it walks that fine line between rugged and refined. I‘ve worn it layered over oxfords in fall through to tees in early spring and it never misses a beat.
The substantial fabric thickness provides real warmth while the adjustable button cuffs keep things dialed in. After several cold water washes it still looks fresh. My only nitpick lies with the fabric content – while the wool construction promises durability, more delicate handling is required to avoid pulls and pilling.
For layering flannels and overshirts though, it‘s achieved permanent status in my closet.
Wax London Strood Trousers
$$ Price: $120
The Look: Expertly Tailored Trousers
My Take: Elevated alternative to denim
I‘ll be real with you – until discovering the Strood Trousers, I always considered myself strictly a jeans guy. But the precision cut design and flawlessly polished fabric of these pants bring tailored refinement without sacrificing comfort. I‘ve since stocked up in both navy and charcoal pairs that fill the gap perfectly between sweatpants and stiff suit trousers.
They feature a trim but not skinny fit that suits my athletic build well. The clean front visuals hide 4 way stretch fabric with hidden elasticated waist for unlimited mobility. I can squat, lounge or sprint for trains with ease unlike any business trousers I‘ve owned.
The Stroods suit both semi-formal occasions with button downs and more casual affairs paired with knits and tees. For globetrotting creative types like myself, they‘re an extraordinarily versatile travel pant ready to document your next adventure.
For pants connoisseurs, you‘ll appreciate their ingenious hybrid of sweatpant comfort, denim styling and custom trouser craft. They retail around $120 but I‘ve scored multiple pairs for under $100 on sale.
Wax London Chet Waxed Bomber Jacket
The Look: Waxed Canvas Moto Jacket
My Take: Hardwearing style ready for anything
Living in temperamental spring climes known for fickle weather, versatility and durability rank high when evaluating outerwear. Enter the Chet bomber constructed from rugged, weather-resistant waxed cotton canvas. I‘ve worn it cycling through spring showers and navigating winter sleet storms alike and it‘s bounced back unfazed.
The waxy surface sheds water, snow and dirt with ease while the cozy brushed lining keeps cold winds at bay. Vintage inspired brass hardware and ribbed hem/cuffs reinforce motorcycle roots in a timeless silhouette.
As someone who frequents music festivals and embraces bold color, I appreciate its low key vibe – it layers seamlessly with graphic tees and vibrant sweaters without appearing overly stylistic itself. For three seasons and counting of regular wear, the sturdy build still looks box fresh while fending off the elements in style.
If you find yourself regularly braving the fourth season or simply seek bomber jackets minus bulky logos, the Chet is a sound investment.
Responsible Practices Win Customer Loyalty
Beyond delivering impeccably crafted product, Wax London impresses with their diligent supply chain management centered on ethics and sustainability. At a time when transparency lags sorely behind in fashion, they willingly share detailed insights on partner factories, right down to working conditions and wage breakdowns.
As someone who favors brands that treat people and planet as priorities (not just profit), its reassuring to see their level of proactive accountability.
They‘ve published commitments to achieve 100% sustainable cotton by 2025, offset all carbon emissions from shipping and use Bluesign certified textiles among other ambitious goals. For a young company facing endless pressure to scale rapidly, they admirably walk the walk when it comes to responsible business.
It keeps me coming back as a conscious consumer – and no doubt contributes to their swelling fanbase.
How Wax London Fits, Styles and What to Buy
As a fitness enthusiast who hovers around 6‘ 195 lbs with an athletic frame, finding well fitting clothing requires some trial and error. In my experience Wax London leans towards trim tailored cuts rather than oversized streetwear silhouettes which tend to swamp my proportions.
I stick to their size Large pieces which fit me well through both core and shoulders while allowing room to layer beneath. For bulky body types (especially through the midsection), I‘d suggest sizing up.
For reference they list garment dimensions alongside photos of models wearing each size on the product pages.
Wax London Size – Fits Like This US Size
XS – Small
S – Medium
M – Large
L – XL
XL – XXL
In terms of styling versatility, my pieces mix seamlessly across smart casual environments – upscale travel, creative workspaces and design-centric social gatherings. The tailored yet accessible vibe pairs perfectly with my rotating roster of graphic tees, cashmere sweaters and quality denim.
For gents seeking luxe leisurewear or office casual wardrobes anchored in tasteful neutrals, their collections offer prime fodder to bridge the gap between streetwear and formal tailoring.
Ordering, Shipping & Returns Policy Breakdown
Having ordered from Wax London every season for multiple years now, I‘m intimately familiar with policies around shipping, returns etc. As an online-first business, its imperative they deliver seamless purchasing and fulfillment.
Here‘s my experience regarding key processes:
Ordering
Wax London offers a super streamlined checkout flow with product filters across types like "shirt", "trousers" etc and style filters like "oversized" or "sustainable" to quickly narrow down options.
Their search works well to pull up specific product names quickly. As someone who revisits often, the "Recently Viewed" module provides a convenient way to jump back to pieces I‘ve checked out previously.
They accept all major credit cards and Paypal, automatically converting pricing into USD, EUR etc so no confusing currency exchange math required.
One suggestion would be offering installment payment plans like Afterpay to improve access for buyers on tighter budgets.
Shipping & Delivery
I typically receive packages 2-4 days after ordering to the Pacific Northwest region of the US. They ship via DHL who provides tracking info allowing you to follow the process.
Everything arrives in their signature recycled paper mailing bags which make a chic statement yet still protect items well during transit.
One call out – orders get shipped from their UK headquarters so Americans should expect deliveries 7-10 days out. Rapid fulfillment but not ultra fast shipping across the pond.
Returns & Exchanges
Thankfully I‘ve yet to need replacements or refunds but browsing their policies, returns are accepted within 30 days in original condition. As expected for an international retailer, US shoppers pay return shipping on exchanges or refunds.
They don‘t currently facilitate exchanges for different sizes but you can return an item then reorder your preferred size. A bit cumbersome yes, but reality of cross border logistics.
An integrated portal allows you to generate prepaid return labels and send items back smoothly. Everything considered, accommodating policies for overseas transactions.
Checking Out The London Flagship Boutique
During a creative industry conference in London last fall, I scheduled time to visit the brand‘s recently opened Carnaby flagship location. Nestled amongst the area‘s bustling pedestrian shopping streets, their minimalist boutique provides a premium real world manifestation of the brand.
Stepping inside you‘re greeted by curated displays of current collection pieces like tapered olive trousers and TEXTURED cotton cardigans. Subdued lighting and chic wooden fixtures reinforce restrained refinement.
I worked directly with an exceptionally knowledgeable sales manager named James who walked me through new arrivals and measured me up for a made-to-order oxford. He clearly took great pride explaining their local manufacturing partners and fabric sourcing anecdotes.
The made to order offering allows bespoke customization like monogramming otherwise unavailable. While sizing remains limited to standard rather than fully custom, the block printing and embroidery personalization impressed.
Overall the boutique mirrors their digitally pioneering roots – more high end showroom than old school tailor. For those after one-on-one expertise and the option to see pieces first-hand, visiting the London mothership makes a worthy retail therapy session.
Final Verdict: Is Wax London Worth the Price?
If it wasn‘t abundantly clear yet, Wax London earns a resounding endorsement from me. As someone constantly evaluating emerging menswear brands, they deliver on all fronts from product execution through to customer experience.
They‘ve secured a distinctive niche modernizing menswear essentials rather chasing fleeting trends. For gents focused on style as a form of creative expression, their tailored staples allow you to stand out through fit, fabrics and unexpected pairings rather than flashy logos.
Considering their ethical manufacturing, premium materials and intricate construction, I find Wax London pieces worth every penny. In fact when scored at discount, they deliver tremendous value comparable to high end names.
As the brand continues to expand, I only hope they maintain the exacting standards and sustainable values that first won my loyalty as a repeat customer.
So for gentlemen looking to build a versatile, ethically-produced wardrobe that upgrades your basics to conversation pieces, look no further than Wax London‘s collections. Just be sure to reference their size chart before hitting checkout!
