Suit Lapel Styles for Every Occasion— When and How to Wear Each

When you wear a suit, the lapel is often the first thing to draw attention. It’s the folded flap of fabric extending from the collar along the front edge of the suit, framing your chest. The lapel can influence a suit’s formality and versatility, therefore also changing the way it’s worn. Your lapel style speaks volumes about your personality and clothing choice.

So, choosing the right suit lapel is important if you’re trying to perfect the look, be it formal or not. The three most common lapel styles— the notch, peak and shawl lapel, each offers a unique depth to a suit. Here’s how to make any attire stand out with these suit lapel styles and when to wear them for the maximum effect.

1. The Notch Lapel

The most commonly worn notch lapel is called so because of the small notch-like cut in the fabric. The cut is made at a 75-90 degree angle to accentuate the collar. Its clean, minimalistic look is great for casual and formal occasions alike. Be it a party or a business meeting, you can flaunt the notch lapel anywhere that may allow wearing a suit. They’re quite easy to pair with a blazer or accessories like a watch, tie or a lapel pin for the sophisticated feel. Notch lapels go well with about any body type, but are especially for good men with shorter, less athletic builds. It’s the easy, versatile, everyday classic for formal, semi-formal and even casual clothing styles.

2. The Peak Lapel

Peak lapels are more formal and bold, with lapel edges pointing towards the shoulders like small ‘peaks’ for a more dramatic look. The expressive, powerful-looking feature of the peak lapel makes the shoulders appear broader and the torso more elongated, especially in finely crafted tailored garments. More commonly found in tailored luxury suits or double-breasted jackets, peak lapels are best for high-end formal events like weddings, after-work parties, and similar occasions. You can use lapel pins or collar accessories in some cases to complete the outfit. Peak lapels usually look better on men with taller builds and narrower shoulders, as the structured lines of tailored garments help enhance proportions. It draws attention to the spread of the collar, asserting confidence and authority, which is why suits with peak lapels are more preferred in formal situations.

3. The Shawl Lapel

Shawl lapels got their inspiration from robes, cardigans and shawl collars, featuring a smooth and continuous curved edge. There are no folds, notches, peaks or cuts in such lapel style. They are bold and elegant, suitable for formal events but not exactly meant for business or casual wear. Shawl lapels are the signature style for the tuxedo or dinner jackets, and primarily worn to black-tie events, galas, weddings, anniversary parties, etc. Accessories aren’t a must when wearing a suit with shawl lapels, since the lapel itself acts as a focal point. It’s advised to go simple to let the collar and lapel highlight the details. Shawl lapels seem better on men with slim builds and defined shoulder blades, as it enhances the sleek design. Custom tailored velvet suits with shawl lapels are a really popular choice in places like Phuket.

Picking the Right Suit Lapel for The Moment

To find the perfect suit lapel style, one needs to take their body type and the formality of the occasion into consideration for when best to wear them. You can then go over the finer details, like the stitches, buttons, width of the lapel, and choose accessories to match.

The suit lapel doesn’t just elevate your outfit, but the expression of personality too. Need a glamorous party suit with shawl lapels, or a simple business suit with notched ones? At Cashmere Suit Tailor get your own custom tailored suits with lapel styles that truly look good on you.