Brands love to overcomplicate menswear, but pay attention to how men actually dress and you’ll notice something. Most wardrobes are built around familiar shapes: chore jackets, overshirts, soft tailoring, knit polos, fatigue trousers. What people really want isn't necessarily something new and weird all the time. Often it's simply about refining the pieces that already work, and Wax London understands that better than most.
For SS26, Wax London leans into this idea with a collection titled The Outside is On. The premise is simple: clothes for stepping out, not dressing up. And in typical Wax fashion, it’s less about spectacle and more about fabric.
Founded in 2015, Wax London has carved out a niche by obsessing over cloth. The brand sources textured weaves, unusual yarns and characterful patterns from mills that care about process. That focus shows this season. Bouclé knits, open crochet, pointelle polos and embroidered jersey give even the simplest silhouettes some depth.
Colour, as always, plays a key role. There are flashes of orange, cobalt and rust, balanced against the earthy neutrals that have become a Wax signature. The effect feels optimistic without tipping into novelty.
Wax London SS26 key pieces
The Robin suede jacket is a good example of the brand’s approach. It takes the humble chore coat – a piece of French workwear that has been endlessly recycled – and renders it in soft suede. Familiar shape, upgraded material. The same goes for the Vigo double-breasted blazer and pleat-front Aubyn trousers. They read as tailoring, but in linen, seersucker and cotton-Tencel blends, they’re designed to move between pub garden and summer wedding without fuss.
Elsewhere, the Whiting overshirt returns in new colours, the Strand jacket introduces a more utilitarian note, and short-sleeve shirts such as the Didcot and Curzon experiment with appliqué and drape. Even the Milton tee gets embroidered detailing, a small reminder that basics don’t have to be boring.
In a market crowded with trend-chasing, Wax continues to focus on texture, proportion and wearability. It’s not revolutionary. It’s evolutionary. And that’s usually what lasts.
Next up: How to wear an overshirt.
