Detail
Types of Lapels
The lapel is the first thing people notice about a jacket, even if they couldn’t tell you why. Here are the three shapes, what each one signals, and where it belongs.
Peak Lapel
Points upward toward the shoulder, giving the strongest, most formal silhouette. Traditionally found on double-breasted jackets and formal eveningwear. Choose this when you want the jacket to carry presence in the room.
Notch Lapel
The collar and lapel meet at a simple V-shaped notch. The most common lapel by far, and the most versatile — right for business suits, blazers, and most single-breasted jackets. When in doubt, this is the safe, correct choice.
Shawl Lapel
One continuous curved line with no notch at all — smooth from collar to chest. Traditionally reserved for tuxedos and the most formal eveningwear, though it has found its way into elevated bandhgalas and Indo-western silhouettes as well.
A simple way to decide
If you’re unsure, Notch will never be wrong — it’s the standard for a reason and works across almost every occasion, from work to weddings. Reach for Peak when the moment calls for a bit more formality and presence, especially in a double-breasted cut. Save Shawl for black-tie evenings or when you want the jacket to feel deliberately smooth and uninterrupted.
The lapel also interacts with your build — broader peak lapels tend to add visual width through the shoulders, while a narrower notch keeps things streamlined. If you’re not sure what suits you, this is exactly the kind of thing worth discussing on a fitting call.
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