Wax London has been making the case for fabric-first camp-collar shirts since before they were everywhere. The Curzon, in navy grid appliqué, is the version that makes that case most quietly.
The Verdict
At $195, this is a well-constructed short-sleeve shirt with enough visual interest to stand out without announcing itself. It's not for everyone, but if you're already buying in this category, it belongs in the conversation.
The Make
The fabric is a cotton-viscose blend with a textured grid weave, and the blend earns its keep: the viscose gives the cotton enough drape to prevent the stiff, boxy collapse that plagues cheaper camp-collar options at this weight. The tonal appliqué seashell motifs running down the placket are the signature detail here. Tonal is the operative word. From across a table they read as texture; up close, they're a considered decorative choice. The kind of thing someone notices on the second look rather than the first.
Construction is handled in India, which for Wax London is the standard and not a shortcut. The brand has invested in its production relationships rather than chasing the cheapest option, and the result is consistent. The camp collar sits flat without pinning, which is a small thing that many shirts in this category still get wrong.
The Fit
The Curzon is cut slightly shorter through the body than a traditional resort shirt, which is the right call. It tucks cleanly if you want it to, sits above the hip when you don't, and doesn't add visual mass through the midsection. Sizing runs true across the XS-XXL range. Regular cut, so if you run narrow through the shoulders you may find it generous; if you're broader, it sits without pulling.
The Context
This is Wax London's lane: shirts that sit at the junction of British restraint and something loosely Mediterranean, made with more intention than the Percival or ONIA equivalents at similar prices. At $195, it's priced above fast-casual but well below the $300-plus territory where Heritage Research and Bode operate. If the appliqué detail isn't your thing, the Didcot and Whiting are cleaner options in the same range. If it is your thing, this is one of the better executions of decorative placket work at this price.
The Personal Note
I haven't owned this one, so I'll be direct about the limits of that. The make quality score of 9/10 reflects how consistently Wax London's construction holds up across the range, and the fabric detail here is specific enough that I'd trust it. The versatility score of 7/10 is honest: this wears well with linen trousers or dark denim, but the appliqué means it's doing the talking, so the rest of the outfit needs to stay quiet. Travel-friendly at 8/10, which tracks for a cotton-viscose blend that packs without becoming a wrinkled mess. I'd try it before committing to the print direction, but the bones are right.
