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<\/a>Some of Our Common Lapel Styles<\/p><\/div>\n
Lapels on a suit coat are supremely non-functional.\u00a0 One could, indeed, do without them entirely without changing the function of the suit in any way.<\/p>\n
But fashion begins to grow rich and strange at the very moment that function stops.\u00a0 Indeed one might best think of a lapel as a type of \u201cfetish.\u201d\u00a0 Its only purpose is to symbolize, to mean.<\/p>\n
More than any other element of a suit jacket, the lapel is expressive.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Narrow Lapels<\/p><\/div>\n
Narrow lapels express youth and agility.\u00a0 Wide lapels express confidence and authority.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Wide 3-Button Lapels<\/p><\/div>\n
The first decision when thinking about lapel style in a single-breasted jacket is to choose between a two and a three button style (or, less commonly, between a one, four, or five button style).\u00a0 This is the strongest determinant of lapel length as it effects the \u201cbreak point,\u201d the point where the suit front folds over to become a lapel.<\/p>\n
Some customers believe that the number of buttons on a jacket should be at least partially determined by one\u2019s body type.<\/p>\n
Using only two buttons will make the break point for the suit lower, creating a more horizontal effect.\u00a0 With three buttons, the lapels are shorter:\u00a0 they \u201ctop off\u201d the suit<\/p>\n
<\/a>An Unstructured Style with 4 Buttons and Wide Notch Lapels<\/p><\/div>\n
But tying this to body type often makes for confusion.\u00a0 Should the tall skinny customer want a suit that is more vertical (accentuating his height) or more horizontal (balancing out his height)?\u00a0 What about a portly customer?\u00a0 Will a two button suit make him seem shorter and wider?<\/p>\n