Peaked or notched lapels?

Notched! Peaked always looks pretentious, IMHO.

 

Notched! Though the continuous lapel is also nice...

 

That's called a shawl collar. Notice that it's paired with a tuxedo. That's the way a tuxedo should look. They should not have either peaked or notched collars. And almost any other jacket will look wrong with a shawl collar.

Anything in my wardrobe that isn't a dinner jacket has notched lapels.

Also, the angle and depth of the notches can vary.

Matt

 

Is it just a terminolgy thing, because I would call notched, single breasted,and peaked, double breasted.

And Peaked (or what I thought was called double breasted) always looked like a 30s gangster movie costume to me.

 

I wear suits 2-3 days a week. For a single breasted business suit, notched is the way to go. For a double-breasted suit or a tuxedo, I would go peaked.

I really like double-breasted suits, but for business I think they stick out just a little too much. For an evening out, it's my preference.

 

No, Dave. You're confusing the two.

You can have a single breasted jacket with peaked lapels. And you can have a double breasted jacked with notched lapels.

Double breasted jackets do often have peaked lapels. But the two are not the same. It isn't a "terminology thing."

Matt

 

Again, shawl collars really are the traditionally correct lapel for any dinner jacket.

Matt

 

Thanks for the clarification. So what makes a suit jacket double breasted? Is it the way it buttons?

 

Shawl collars are certainly the way to go on a white dinner jacket. On a black tuxedo, you can go shawl, peaked, or even (god forbid) notched. Shawl is nice, though, no doubt about it.

 

A single breasted jacket is one where the two sides just meet at the buttons (I'm sure there are technical terms I should be using), and there are just 2 or 3 buttons, arranged vertically.

On a double breasted jacket, the fabric of one side of the jacket actually wraps over the other side, and is buttoned twice, once inside the jacket (invisible from the outside) and a second time on the outside. There are two vertical rows of buttons, usually 2 or 3 vertically. If there are two buttons, that is known as a "4x2" and if there are six, that is a "6x3".

Google "double breasted suit" and look at the images, and you'll see what I'm talking about.

Also, go over to Ask Andy About Clothes, and look at a few threads.

 

Thanks, I'm with it now.

 

All my fine suits custom made by Napoli Tailors have notched lapels which would be the ideal type for business suits and also very flattering on most body types than the peaked lapel.

 

Single breast two button - Notched lapel

Single breast 3 button - either - Peaked if you are THIN

Double Breast Peaked Lapel especially if you are short or heavy ( accentuates shoulder line.)

Shawl collar for a "smoking Jacket" " tux"... BUT dinner jackets should alway be Peaked Lapels and all Tail coats should be Peaked Lapels.

Mourning coats can be either = most tall folks should wear notched and shorter stout guys peaked.

Alan Flusser Dressing the man is the bible for Mens wear ( classic styles )

I mostly wear notched suits... but all my tuxes are peaked.

 

Peak lapels - the notch is too traditional!

 

Have you thought of shawl DB?

 

I wear suits every business day. Notched lapels for a single-breasted business suit. Period.

Feel free to wear peaked lapels for evening wear.

 

I prefer notched lapels too for my suits.