Wax London has been quietly making the case that a summer jacket doesn't have to cost $600. The Kimpton is the clearest proof yet.
The Verdict
At $235, this is a solid warm-weather jacket for the man who wants structure without weight. The washed linen keeps it relaxed without collapsing into sloppiness, and the brown reads more tobacco than tan, which is to say it earns its keep through summer without looking like resort wear.
The Make
The Kimpton is 100% linen, washed before cutting, which does two things: it softens the hand considerably, and it pre-empts the worst of the shrinkage before the garment ever reaches you. The fabric is lightweight, appropriate for May through September in most climates. Construction is made in Tunisia, which is a reasonable production home for Mediterranean-weight linen — the region has real expertise with the cloth.
The revere collar is a considered choice. It sits closer to a shirt jacket than a traditional sport coat, which is honest about what this garment actually is. The silhouette is relaxed without being oversized; the shoulders don't extend past the natural shoulder, and the body has enough room to layer a light shirt underneath without pulling across the back. Buttonholes appear machine-finished, consistent with the price point. No lining, which is correct for this weight of linen.
The Fit
The Kimpton runs true to size. The relaxed cut means a medium sits comfortably on a range of builds without reading baggy. If you carry your weight in the chest or shoulders, don't size up hoping for more room; the proportions are designed to sit a little easy throughout, and going larger just adds length. Sizes run S through XL, which covers most men adequately if not comprehensively.
The Context
This sits in a specific lane: the summer jacket that doesn't require dry cleaning, doesn't demand a dress shirt underneath, and doesn't announce itself. At $235, the competition includes Corridor's linen sport coats (more structured, more expensive) and the various Oliver Spencer options (better construction, noticeably higher prices). For men who won't wear something this relaxed over tailored trousers, this works well with chinos or heavier linen trousers. The founder scores it a 7 out of 10 for layering and the same for day-to-day range, which sounds about right. The travel score of 3 out of 10 reflects linen's fundamental honesty: it wrinkles, and this one will wrinkle in a suitcase.
The Personal Note
I haven't owned this one. The data is good enough to be useful, but I'd want to see the collar roll in person before calling it a buy. The brown colorway is doing real work here. A lesser shade would read muddy; this one appears to land closer to warm and specific. Worth trying on if you're in London near Soho or Spitalfields, where Wax London has permanent stores and you can handle the cloth yourself.
