There are certain pieces in a man’s wardrobe that earn their place because they refuse to belong to just one category. Too substantial to be called a shirt, too relaxed to be considered a conventional jacket and far more interesting than the average mid-layer, the Wax London Whiting has become one of those rare menswear pieces that can genuinely be worn almost anywhere. The Whiting is one of Wax London’s signature designs, and this heavier knitted wool-blend version feels particularly suited to the cooler months. Created in a textured check mixing ecru and grey yarns, it has enough depth to stand on its own while remaining understated enough to work with an existing wardrobe.
Living in Tuscany has given me a very different appreciation for winter dressing. Tourists often associate Tuscany with hot summer afternoons, vineyards and linen shirts. But anyone who actually spends winter here knows another side of the region entirely. Tuscan winters can be cold. Very cold. Old stone houses retain the chill, mornings can begin close to freezing, fog settles across the valleys and the temperature drops dramatically once the sun disappears behind the hills. This is where layering becomes less of a fashion decision and more of an everyday necessity. And this is exactly where a piece such as the Wax London Whiting earns its keep.
The Wax signature piece, the Whiting, is designed to sit effortlessly between shirt, mid-layer and jacket. This iteration is a heavier, textured knitted wool blend check pattern blending ecru and grey yarns for subtle depth and character.
The Overshirt Has Become A Modern Menswear Essential
Menswear has gradually moved away from rigid definitions. Men no longer necessarily want separate wardrobes for work, weekends, travelling and evenings out. Instead, they increasingly look for adaptable clothing that can be styled differently depending on the situation. The overshirt fits perfectly into this new way of dressing. Wax London describes the Whiting as sitting effortlessly between a shirt, mid-layer and jacket. That description is accurate because its versatility really comes from not committing too strongly to any one of those categories.
Wear it buttoned and it feels almost like a structured shirt. Leave it open over knitwear and it becomes outerwear. Layer it beneath a coat and it functions as insulation. That makes it particularly useful during transitional weather, although in Tuscany I would happily continue wearing it throughout winter as part of a layered outfit.
Ecru And Grey: An Easy Italian Colour Combination
The combination of ecru and grey is particularly clever. Italian menswear has always understood the power of muted colours. You do not always need bold prints or dramatic branding to create an interesting outfit. Texture, proportion and tonal variation can achieve far more. Ecru immediately softens an outfit compared with stark white. Grey provides contrast without becoming severe. Together they work beautifully with the colours already associated with an Italian winter wardrobe: tobacco brown, camel, chocolate, navy, charcoal and olive. This is where I would introduce an Italian influence when styling the Wax London Whiting.
The piece itself has a distinctly British character. There is something slightly rugged about the check and heavier wool texture. But combine that with soft Italian tailoring, suede footwear and relaxed trousers and suddenly it feels very Tuscan. That contrast is what makes menswear interesting.
Style One: The Tuscan Countryside Look
For a relaxed winter morning in Tuscany, I would begin with heavyweight cream or off-white trousers. Avoid anything too skinny. Italian style works particularly well when trousers have enough structure to fall naturally over the shoe. Underneath the Whiting, wear a fine merino roll neck in either charcoal or dark chocolate brown.
Then add brown suede Chelsea boots or a pair of traditional leather lace-up boots. This combination works because the colours remain connected to the landscape. Stone, earth, olive trees, old timber and faded plaster all influence the palette. The Whiting becomes the hero piece without looking as though you have deliberately dressed around it. Finish with a large wool scarf if temperatures drop. Italian style is rarely about appearing overly coordinated. The aim is to look as though these pieces naturally belong together.
Style Two: Wax London Meets Italian Tailoring
An overshirt does not always need to be casual. One of the best ways to modernise tailoring is to mix structured and relaxed pieces. Try wearing the Whiting with charcoal tailored wool trousers, a simple white or cream T-shirt and dark brown loafers or polished derby shoes. Keep the Whiting open. The result sits somewhere between traditional tailoring and contemporary weekend dressing. You could also wear a long camel overcoat on top.
This immediately elevates the entire outfit. A camel coat with a grey-and-ecru check underneath creates an understated tonal combination that feels particularly strong in Italy, where layering is often based on complementary shades rather than sharp contrast. This is also an excellent travel outfit. Remove the overcoat indoors and you still look properly dressed.
Style Three: Denim Without Looking Too Casual
Of course, the Whiting also works brilliantly with denim. But choose the denim carefully. Instead of distressed jeans, I would wear dark indigo straight-leg denim or a slightly faded vintage wash. Add a heavyweight white T-shirt and brown leather boots. Roll the sleeves slightly if you are indoors. This gives the Whiting a more rugged character while keeping the outfit refined enough for lunch, shopping or an afternoon in town. For something particularly Italian, swap conventional jeans for ivory denim. Italian men have never been afraid of wearing pale trousers during winter. The outdated idea that cream and white should disappear after summer deserves to stay in the past. Winter whites combined with textured wool can look incredibly luxurious.
Texture Is The Real Luxury
One of the details that makes this particular Whiting interesting is the bespoke knitted check. Texture has become increasingly important in menswear because it allows a relatively simple outfit to feel considered. From a distance the shirt jacket appears neutral. Move closer and you begin to notice the variations within the yarn and the depth created by the ecru-and-grey pattern. That is good menswear. The best clothes often reveal themselves slowly.
The corozo nut buttons continue that approach. Rather than using something overly shiny or obviously decorative, Wax London has chosen a natural material that complements the tactile feel of the garment. These details matter because they are what separate a carefully designed overshirt from something purely functional.
How Should The Whiting Fit?
Wax London describes the Whiting as having a regular fit, which is exactly how a garment like this should be cut. An overshirt needs space. You want enough room underneath for a T-shirt, shirt or fine knit, but not so much fabric that the garment becomes boxy. The shoulders should sit naturally and the body should allow movement. I would resist the temptation to size down aggressively. Menswear is moving towards slightly more relaxed proportions, and this style benefits from that additional ease. Italian dressing may be famous for tailoring, but good Italian tailoring is rarely restrictive. Comfort and movement are part of the elegance.
From London To Tuscany
What I like most about Wax London is that the brand’s clothing feels unmistakably British without becoming trapped by British heritage. The Whiting can easily be worn in London with denim and trainers. But take the same piece to Tuscany and surround it with Italian fabrics, suede shoes and earthy colours and it develops an entirely different personality. That is the sign of good design. Clothes should allow the wearer to reinterpret them.
Here in Tuscany, I would wear the Whiting on cold mornings heading into Arezzo, layered underneath a coat during winter markets, or open over knitwear while sitting beside a fireplace in one of those centuries-old Tuscan houses where the stone walls somehow remain colder than the air outside. The environment changes the way you dress. And Tuscany teaches you very quickly that winter style must combine warmth with practicality. Fortunately, those requirements do not mean sacrificing elegance.
The Modern Winter Wardrobe
A modern wardrobe does not need dozens of jackets. It needs intelligent layers. That is where the Wax London Whiting makes sense. The wool-blend construction provides substance, the ecru-and-grey check makes it easy to coordinate, the regular silhouette allows layering and the understated design means you can wear it repeatedly without it becoming visually tiring. Pair it with denim one day and tailoring the next. Wear it beneath an overcoat in January and as your outer layer during a mild autumn afternoon. Add British boots, Italian loafers or minimalist trainers. There are very few wrong answers. For me, the strongest styling direction is undoubtedly mixing that London character with Italian winter dressing. Because the best menswear today is no longer about dressing according to one country or one tradition. It is about taking the strongest ideas from each. British texture. Italian elegance. And enough warmth to survive a winter in Tuscany.
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