A reader asked this a few weeks ago now, and I thought I’d illustrate my answer by showing the widths that five tailors have cut for my body and proportions.
As you can see from the images below, some lapels are wider than others, but they are all within a range. No one is as skinny as most ready-to-wear suits out there today, and no one is 1980s super-wide.
Tailors usually stick within moderate limits because they know that a lapel looks more classic, subtle and harmonious when it is proportionate to the rest of the suit – it is balanced somewhere around halfway across the width of the chest.
The width of tailors’ lapels has changed markedly over the decades. It’s probably the key indicator of period when it comes to suits, closely followed by trouser width. But they always tend to move less than ready-made fashions.
Of course, there are much broader bespoke lapels than those shown here. I haven’t used my Chittleborough & Morgan jacket, for instance, which has 11.5cm lapels. And other tailors like Sciamat are also deliberately wider.
But there’s the rub – the lapels are deliberately wide as a point of fashion, or design. There are precious few things you can do with the line of a classic suit to make it stand out from the crowd, but changing the lapel width is definitely one of them.
So when you’re deciding how wide you want your lapels to be on a bespoke suit, bear this in mind. If you want it to be more unusual (and potentially be less versatile, and riskier in terms of going out of style) then go slimmer or wider, but if you want a classic, stay within the boundaries of what’s on display here (bearing in mind that this is for a 39-inch chest – bigger sizes would have bigger lapels).
Within the range of these tailors, I probably prefer a slightly wider lapel today – around 10cm. It has a little more drama than 9cm and is further away from the horrific skinny lapels on the high street. The Huntsman is too narrow at 8.5cm.
However, because they are all within a fairly conservative range, there are none that I just wouldn’t wear any more. It doesn’t bother me that much that the Huntsman is narrower (it bothers me that this is what they consider a casual jacket, but that’s another story). And I never notice that the Anderson & Sheppard is a touch narrower than the Europeans.
Thanks Simon, on a slightly different tack. I notice that the roping at the sleeve head on the Cifonelli jacket has all but disappeared leaving a very natural looking shoulder. This is something I prefer but am interested to know if the photograph is showing it incorrectly or the sleeve head just relaxes over time.
The reason I ask this is my (first) bespoke savile row odd jacket has a more pronounced roping than I would have liked and really hope it will relax over time.
It shouldn’t change over time, no.
The Cifonelli jacket doesn’t have any roping – in fact, it is set under the shoulder like a ‘spalla camicia’. I requested this change as I wanted the the jacket to be more casual, and Lorenzo is one of the few people that I’ve seen do both well.
Think you were meant to add the width of the C&M suit one? Currently says Xcm
Going back to your previous post on body shapes -v- cut, do you think that width of lapels should be a consideration for those carry an extra few pounds around the middle?
Good question. Yes, I think if they want to minimise that impression then they should tend towards the slightly slimmer – say 9cm
Excuse my perhaps basic question, Simon, but where exactly are those two measurements taken? You had some ‘technical scribbling’ leading into the house style post that helped locate the finer details. Thank you
No problem Oskar. The lapel width is from the point of the lapel, horizontally across to the inside edge of the lapel. The lapel height is from that same point of the lapel vertically up to the shoulder seam above it (it is therefore a little effected by the slope of the shoulder seam as well)
I hope someone shows this to Jeremy Corbyn.
I’m afraid I don’t understand the logic of how the width of a lapel would not be proportionate to the chest width. It’s all a matter of balance–broader chest/broader lapels and vice versa. The problem with very broad/very skinny is that the lapels don’t look right on anyone.
As commented elsewhere here, you’re right yes. It’s more a question of proportions – but given the chest you have here (around 39 inch) these are the widths to play with
Simon…don’t we need to consider how wide the person’s shoulders are…for example if someone is smaller built than you with narrower shoulders, I would imagine you should use more like 8cm lapels…as long as you have another 8-9cm from the lapel edge to the shoulder. I guess the main thing is the roughly “halfway” rule to keep in mind.
Absolutely, good point. It’s more about the proportions – what percentage of the width across the chest should you go? 50%? 60%? Perhaps the distances are better expressed in those terms
Dear Simon,
Again an interesting take on an important detail. For me fashion is not the guide, but rather the lapels should in proportion to the width of the chest, the broader the chest the wider the lapels and vice versa. I know it is not very fashion but it ensures a harmonious look that lasts.
I would be very interested to get your views on lapels for double breasted jackets, which I find far more tricky as there are so many more variations, the gorge, the angle of the peak, the width of the peaked part compared to the rest of the lapel, the height of the peaks.
Good point on DBs, I can do a second post about them later. A lot going on there, as you say
Slightly off topic but what are your thoughts on the alignment of checks and windowpanes on sports jackets?
They should align in obvious places, like across the chest and sleeves, and around the bottom of the pockets. But I’m not that fussed if they don’t match along jettings, for example, which A&S generally do
I really like the width of the lapels on the Huntsman jacket. They have a little belly, which gives them a slightly wider impression.
Agreed. Apart from the slightly ‘busy’ pattern of the cloth, the lapels and overall proportions are the most pleasing to the eye of all five. I can see Simon’s point about it being strange for a casual jacket, but, again, I think that is down to the pattern of the cloth: in a nice grey or oatmeal Donegal it would be wonderful.
I actually meant it’s entirely the construction, rather than the pattern or colour. Tailors like Huntsman offer a structured, square-shouldered, long jacket with a tall collar and tell customers it’s for the weekend. It only works with formal trousers and with a shirt and tie. How many people wear that at the weekend?
Such a contrast to the Neapolitans
This is a very interesting point Simon. As a former customer of Huntsman I have had similar thoughts, the jacket doesn’t really work with Chinos or Jeans or even Cords unless of course you have them bespoke cut in a formal style. It looks wrong as the jacket is long, lean and has padding to give it an armour like look. IMO any regular trouser, by which I mean sitting lower than the natural waist on a belt, doesn’t look right with a one button jacket as the skirt peels away to reveal a huge expanse between the trouser top and the jacket button. Therefore you have to get a high waisted trouser cut too with the jacket. The thing is that the Huntsman cut is the closest jacket style I think to something from a former era such as tails or riding coat. Therefore it was created to be worn with formal trouser. That ‘equestrian’ style jacket is now out of sync with any type of other modern trouser and it shows when you try to wear the two. I’ve worn a Huntsman sports jacket with chinos but the trouser then stands out and looks tatty as they lack the shape to fit in with such a structured garment, so I’ve taken to only wearing flannels even when going to a casual party, coffee shop etc and you look frankly a little overdressed in some places.
I don’t know what a Huntsman can do about it though? Its not like they can say “we have a casual cut jacket as well” which could be more similar to a middle of the road WE jacket such as Pooles for instance. I guess the customer has to shop at another tailor for casual wear or just buy a casual jacket off the rack from the Italian places or similar. The moral is if you go Huntsman you have to go the full Huntsman.
ps if roubi is reading this and wants to use that slogan I am happy to negotiate a reasonable license fee for its use. R
Anderson&Sheppard’s haberdashery has a model of RTW high rise trousers that goes fairly well with my structured sports jacket. True, any bespoke jacket from SR will need a pair of bespoke trousers too, even their sports jackets. C&M has a narrower model of trousers for that purpose (still high rise, but lower, jodhpur pockets, no pleats). I wear that combination with a roll neck or polo shirt in the weekends for a walk to the museum, a coffee with friends,… Yes, it’s still a little dressed up, but the roll neck/polo shirt dresses it down a lot. Of course I wouldn’t go to a rock concert or beach that way, but then I wouldn’t wear bespoke on those occasions anyway. After all, casual can mean a lot of things too.
It’s less about the trousers and more about the collar and length for me. You need a shirt and tie most of the time – or a roll neck as you say
‘A little dressed up’ is pretty much where I see most readers of this blog as being. Isn’t that why we are here; because we prefer that to the not-dressed-up-at-all look favoured by most of our fellow citizens. I’ve realised – and, to be fair, I am 56 – that one can either dress solely for comfort like most, but then, frankly, you might as well wear pyjamas all the time or dress for yourself. The best version of yourself.
Ditching jeans, sneakers, chinos and all the rest of the casual/dress down wardrobe has been a revelation and a blissfull one. As my dandy grandfather used to say: “It takes just as much effort to dress well as to dress badly.”
Cheers for the tips! The trousers are expensive for RTW at A&S haberdashery though. you could get a pair of MTM trousers made up for the same sort of money by several good WE Tailors.
On CM narrow trouser, is that a house bespoke style of trouser for their sports coats I assume and not a RTW trouser they produce?
True, A&S rtw trousers are not cheap. But after I had tried them on, I had no doubts. They really have given their different trouser styles some thoughts, e.g. coin pockets etc. True, other tailors or mtm may be cheaper. I used Graham Browne, but then every pair (out of 6!) turned out to be different. C&M only makes bespoke. It’s the other extreme. They really put a lot of handwork in their trousers. Most of the SR houses use a tailor Chris in Soho for the sewing and finishing of their trousers, but C&M control that part of the process much more themselves and also chose more expensive solutions, e.g. the shaping of each trouser leg, more hand sewing etc. As a result their trousers are more expensive. Yes, they suggest the narrower, sporty trousers for weekends. In the interview with Michael Browne elsewhere on this site he describes the style, if I remember right.
Thanks. It’s not quite true to say a lot of ST houses use that tailor. Poole, Huntsman and A&S have their own in-house makers
Sorry for that. Thank you for correcting 🙂
Thanks for this. Would the 9 – 10cm range change at all for guys on the smaller end of the spectrum (34/36 size chest)? Also how does lapel width play into gorge and height of the lapel itself?
It depends – do you want to be broader (so a slightly broader lapel) or taller (a slightly slimmer) one? In each case I wouldn’t push much beyond that range though
Hi Simon,
Indeed, this post is about a huge important area worth considering for PS readers. Since it touchs on the V shape, as Drake once put it.
As you’ve already mentioned in previous replies one’s body shape is to be factored in when deciding what to do exactly when it comes to said area.
Personally, I witness an undergoing pervasive trend towards wide lapels i. high end tailoring,. But to be honest, I really do not think it properly fits everyone. Anyway, I don’t feel at ease at all with this choice.
Personally, I rather prefer the dimensions as displayed here: https://www.drakes.com/jackets/single-breasted-indigo-twill-wool-and-cotton-jacket
Feeling good with what one wears is absolutely important.This is why the value of bespoke is unquestionable.
Now, deciding the look of this area seems – to me – to have far reaching consequences perhaps worth exploring in another post as to the choice of the number of buttons in a SB jacket, wearing a crewneck, rollneck or cardigan, for instance, since each item differently affects the look of the V shape.
John
Great post, Simon, once again!
I loved seeing all these different jackets from structured to unstructed on the forms to compare them all to one another.
Quick question: do you find yourself wearing more jackets then suits these days or do you equally wear both?
Thanks,
B.
Slightly more jackets, but it’s fairly even
Hi Simon,
Wonderful article, as usual. I was curious where the Calvo-de-Mora donegal jacket fits in? http://www.permanentstyle.com/2015/02/calvo-de-mora-donegal-jacket.html
The lapels look to be a tad wider than 9-10cm or closer to 60% across, but it still looks proportional. I’ve often wondered about that jacket after seeing it, do you get much wear out of it?
I do yes, though I have quite a lot of grey jackets. They are 10cm too..
That lapel roll on the liverano though
I do favour a good lapel.
One of the many things I despise about those ‘Pee Wee Herman’ suits is the complete absence of a decent man size adornment .How ridiculous Craig looks as Bond in those ill fitting Thome Brown influenced things.
Bring back Jason King I say – now there’s a man who knew a thing or two about lapels!
I’m surprised that this great review of lapels leaves out the master of the outre – Chittelborough & Morgan ?
They are mentioned David… read my point about lapels as design rather than standard proportion
Yes but no photo of these magnificent beasts!
Simon,what about double breasted lapels size?
For exemple which is the size of an Anderson & Sheppard double breasted,compared with Henry Poole,Liverano,Caliendo and Cifonelli?
I can do a separate post on that
Fantastic!
The double breasted lapels size is a very interesting matter.
Also worth mentioning the notch and it’s size and placement. The A & S seems higher set and the Liverano more pronounced (Cifonelli the least notch). One would have to see them worn to gauge best fit – do you have a favourite Simon? Is it only my imagination or is the pattern stripe of the lhs sleeve of the Huntsman set slightly lower (top stripe seems 1cm lower than the rhs – it may be that the pattern is more rotated on the sleeve?)…also was it part of the design that the stripes don’t fully match on lower and upper lapels (not criticising but checks and stripes always belie construction)?
The distance I mention from the shoulder seam is the height of the notch, but yes lots gone into the size and angle of the notch as well. My favourite is probably Liverano or Cifonelli
Simon, can’t resist asking about the Cifonelli Harris Tweed jacket. I find the pocket detail very intriguing, designed, I would imagine, for cold days and keeping the hands warm. What is it like in the wearing…also love the hank, could you give some detail please? Separately the Liverano jacket is a fantastic colour – I’d like you know what colours you wear it with. Thank you.
Hey
I wrote about the Cifonelli jacket a few years ago. More detail here:
http://www.permanentstyle.com/2011/03/final-tweed-jacket-from-cifonelli.html
And I’ve written about wearing the Liverano jacket here:
http://www.permanentstyle.com/2015/11/the-10-most-rakish-men.html
Always worth searching around the site
Thanks for the links Simon – the Liverano article answers my question. I did in fact have a look at the Cifonelli article before asking – I was just really wondering about the experience of wearing along with using the different form of pockets. Thanks again.
Ah ok. I’ll do a piece on that at a later stage then
Hello,
My husband has a recurrent problem with his suits which he makes and orders from China. The measurements he takes seem to be correct and accurate but the sleeves of his suits always come out wrong. They are not too tight or too baggy; they simply do not hang well on him showing quite a lot of strain lines at the front.
Are there any parameters that could be checked during taking measurements or any existing patterns/correlations (between somebody’s measurements or suit’s parts like armholes, shoulders width, chest size, arms size, sleeve itself) that shall be taken into account or checked well before the suit is made in order to avoid this problem? Does the posture or shoulder’s type matter?
Thank you very very much for your answer/ precious advice/suggestions in advance!
I would really like to understand better the nature of this issue.
Regards,
Matylda
I’m afraid it’s very hard to say without seeing the problem – and even then it’s a lot better in person. It may be to do with the pitch of the sleeve, but that’s a hard to thing to measure and report to the maker
Simon,
Must lapel width be specified when doing the original order with the tailor, or can it be adjusted at the basted fitting?
Thanks,
S
It can be adjusted
Hi Simon,
Excellent article! I was wondering if the lapel width measurements you are referring to are measured along the diagonal seam between the collar and the lapel? Or, is it rather taken in a straight line perpendicular to the lapel end?
The latter
Excuse another basic question but where and from which points exactly are you measuring the chest width for the proportional lapel to be half way across? Thank you.
A horizontal line running through the point of the lapel. Halfway from where the chest meets the sleeve, to where the lapel ends
Simon, what are the differences between straight and bellied lapels? Which do you prefer, and why?
A lapel with belly curves outwards as it runs upwards from the button to the shoulder.
I tend to prefer belly as it suggests greater bulk in the chest, but it depends what effect you want – if you are already big, a straight lapel might reduce the impression of that. The width of the lapel has a similar effect
Is it possible to say one is more traditional or old-fashioned than the other, or more Italianate? And how do you feel about lapels that seem to curve outward, like I’ve seen on some Eidos jackets?
No, not really.
Convex lapels have the same dynamics at work, but it is easier to get away with a broad lapel, if you like that, without any belly
Thanks for the clarification. I was somehow under the impression that bellied lapels were more Savile Row (Huntsman et al.)
Perhaps slightly, historically and on average. But the difference is small, and many vary a lot in the belly on their DBs – as you can see if you compare my Poole to Anderson & Sheppard for instance
Are lapel widths something you can adjust during suit fittings, or do you have to decide on them from the onset?
You can certainly change them at the first (basted) fitting, but from them onwards they are likely to be set.
I would make the observeration that the Huntsman jacket has allowed the check to dictate the shape and proportions of the lapel and whichever way you look at a jacket in this cloth it is an absolutely superb piece of work.
Hi Simon, I was at WW. Chan and they recommended 10cm lapels (I am relatively small statured but have a relatively large head so perhaps its done for proportion purposes).
The trouble is that I have never been a fan of wide ties (I had my wider ties narrowed down to 8cm)…would a 10 cm lapel with a 8 cm tie look disproportionate?
Thanks!
Not necessarily. I’d still err towards more of a balance (and if you haven’t had much bespoke before, also perhaps a more moderate style) but the contrast of a thin tie and wider lapel can also be a nice look. Michael Browne does it well
Simon, I am 6.2″ tall, I have wide shoulders but in general I am very slim. Do you think 10 cm wide lapels (height 10cm from shoulder seam) would work for me? Regards,
Yes, 10cm lapels should be fine. I’m a bit shorter than you and don’t have particularly wide shoulders, and I can wear it.
But a lot of it is style, and personal. Look at the chest of the suit, and just consider that the width across it shouldn’t be dominated by the lapel, nor should it be shrinking in it – it should be balanced.
I like the look of a wider lapel (10cm) thing is that I’m on the shorter side with my modest height of 168cm but with quite broad shoulders. Will this wider lapel look proportionally on me?
It depends on your actual measurements Robin. Try not to focus on the measurement of the lapel, but rather how far across the chest of the jacket it reaches. Keep it in proportion.
And then consider at the fitting whether you like the width. Have it cut at 10cm initially perhaps and see whether you like the overall visual effect or not. It’s one of the big benefits of bespoke – you can change that choice
Simon,
Is the height measured to the inside of the notch or the outside of the widest point?
Outside of the widest point
Hi Simon,
If a jacket lapel has belly, which is undesirable, is it possible to have another maker re-iron them to create a concave/straight shape? I am assuming that it could be done to some extent, but would be restricted in how the lapels are cut, thanks!
No, ironing won’t really make a difference there I’m afraid, Bernie. It can affect the roll position a little, but the belly is just how that edge has been cut.
understood thx!
Hello
I would like to know what the most classic/formal size of a notch lapel is.
I have seen the “Golden 9cm/3.5 inches but also seen that it is difrent from the size of the man.
Im a 108 cm chest.
So what whould be the classic/formal choise for me?
Hi Jensen,
There isn’t really one classic or formal size. Partly for the reason you point out, that it must vary with the size of the man, and partly because fashions change how we look at the width, slowly but surely.
The key really is moderation – what feels like an average, almost an unnoticeable width?
It’s likely to be around halfway between the inside edge of the lapel and the edge of the chest. Have a look at a jacket of yours and see where that lies. Then tweak depending on what looks the most average/normal. For your size I would imagine it would be around 3.5 inches or so, but could be a touch bigger or smaller.
S
Thank you for your answer 🙂
Do you Think 4 inch/10cm whould be good, or do you Think it whould be to Big? 🙂
Answering that question would kind of contradict my advice, Jensen?
Both because as I said, it’s about balance on the jacket rather than an absolute number, and because I think it’s something you need to judge for yourself, bearing the points I made in mind.
I know it’s easier if someone just says yes or no, but I really don’t think it’s helpful in the long run.
Yeah okay sorry 🙂
The problem is i ordered my first made to mesure suit, and i did much research before i came to the store, and knew allmost exactly what i wanted.
I sadly missed of looking into lapels before after it was to late to change.
(Stupid of me, since i see now it is one of the most importen details)
I got a 10cm lapel (with out knowing how wide it was until after) because i tought the standard looked to slim.
So now im a little scared it is gonna be to Big and look out of place/a costume.
But i was Reading over your articel again and i see you are 39 inch chest and most of your lapels are 10cm and they look great!
And im a 42,5 inch Chest, so i hope it Will work for me aswell with 10cm
When you say.
“But if you want a classic, stay within the boundaries of what’s on display here (bearing in mind that this is for a 39-inch chest – bigger sizes would have bigger lapels).”
Are you then talking about all the picturs or Just the 9cm lapel the text is under? 🙂
And i agree with you on it is better in the long run not just to say yes or no.
I aprisiate your help.
(sorry for my bad spelling)
No worries. I’m talking about all jackets, but don’t worry, 10cm is not that big and I’m sure it will look fine on you
Great, thank you really much! 🙂
Have a lovely Day Simon! 🙂