LAPEL

A lapel is the folded-back part of the front of a jacket, coat or blazer that continues the collar and turns out onto the chest; on notch lapels it forms a characteristic notch where lapel and collar meet, while peak and shawl lapels shape that edge differently. The lapel is one of the chief details that determine the character and style of a jacket. Its shape and width reflect the era and cut: the classic notch lapel, the peak (pointing up, more formal) or the rounded shawl (for tuxedos). A buttonhole for a boutonnière (a flower) is often made on the lapel, and it is on the lapel that badges or brooches are pinned. The width of the lapel changes cyclically with fashion. It is a detail in which tailoring skill is especially noticeable. A lapel is a key construction and style detail of a jacket, in which the folded-back part of the front forms its character, while the shape and width reflect the cut, era and degree of formality, being one of the chief marks of a tailor's skill.