Disliking narrow lapels

[amplifiedheat]

For pricks like me, this is the best part of the job: being proven right.

 

[Jay]

I match my lapels with the width of my ties, which are about 3 inches.

 

[ChicagoMediaMan]

Just get suits that have lapels that aren't narrow or wide and you will never have a problem.

 

[Infrasonic]

Just have one lapel narrow and one wide, then you'll never be in or out of fashion and all your friends will think you are soooo coooool (man)...

 

[patrickBOOTH]

Most of my suits have pretty narrow lapels, which I used to love. I feel like now that I have "grown up" I don't like them for everyday wear. Depends on the look I am going for. I am currently in the process of replacing most of my suits with bespoke with more traditional lapels. My tailor is making them 3 5/8". I think about a one inch narrower tie width is good for these lapels, anything more is asking for trouble. I never thought that wide ties with narrow lapels looked acceptable.

 

[MBreinin]

I like the narrow lapels when I am in the mood for that look. Would I stock my closet with narrow lapel items? No. But having a few is fine with me for a change. I also like big ass lapels. I believe in a little variety and I just don't see the benefit in closing my mind to one thing entirely.

Mike

 

[musicguy]

Originally Posted by MBreinin

I like the narrow lapels when I am in the mood for that look. Would I stock my closet with narrow lapel items? No. But having a few is fine with me for a change. I also like big ass lapels. I believe in a little variety and I just don't see the benefit in closing my mind to one thing entirely.

Mike

That's a practical attitude!


Anyway, regarding those who are making recommendations that I don't buy suits with narrow lapels, I wasn't asking about what to buy... I'm just interested in if you think narrow lapels are going out of style, etc.

 

[patrickBOOTH]

As far as fashion is concerned I think they are going out a bit. Fashion seems to be heading in the more 70's Tom Ford direction, albeit slowly.

 

[forex]

Originally Posted by patrickBOOTH

Most of my suits have pretty narrow lapels, which I used to love. I feel like now that I have "grown up" I don't like them for everyday wear. Depends on the look I am going for. I am currently in the process of replacing most of my suits with bespoke with more traditional lapels. My tailor is making them 3 5/8". I think about a one inch narrower tie width is good for these lapels, anything more is asking for trouble. I never thought that wide ties with narrow lapels looked acceptable.

Why not go with 4" if you are getting bespoke? I would definitely get 4" if I was using a tailor,I don't like narrow lapels but in RTW,it is hard to find anything more than 3.5"

 

[patrickBOOTH]

Originally Posted by forex

Why not go with 4" if you are getting bespoke? I would definitely get 4" if I was using a tailor,I don't like narrow lapels but in RTW,it is hard to find anything more than 3.5"

Yeah, I thought about it, however I don't like ties that are too fat to balance the lapels so I thought just over 3.5" allowed for a bit more variation in tie widths. Also, I like very soft jackets with some shirring in the shoulders, 4" to my eye would be too strong for the lack of structure in the sillhoutte.

 

[MBreinin]

Originally Posted by musicguy

That's a practical attitude!


Anyway, regarding those who are making recommendations that I don't buy suits with narrow lapels, I wasn't asking about what to buy... I'm just interested in if you think narrow lapels are going out of style, etc.

Honestly? Not until the series conclusion of Mad Men. People love the show, they see that narrow lapeled mid-60s look being featured and they identify with it. You also have Thom Browne, basically making nothing but narrow lapelled items. I don't see him going away, although some have declared his style dead already. A nice lucrative contract with BB, featuring his designs......etc.

TF and RL are trying to usher in a '70s revival with large lapels, and I am down with that as I have plenty o' big lapel items.

But, I don't think skinny lapels are going to be dead in 6 months. I think you have years before they are totally passe' again. Hell, I just bought a BBBF DB, and not only are the lapels skinny, they are notched. Can't wait for the hate that gets in WAYWRN (if the ******* thing ever shows up, that is).

Mike

 

[DocHolliday]

I liked narrow lapels before the recent trend, will like them after.

 

[patrickBOOTH]

Originally Posted by MBreinin

Honestly? Not until the series conclusion of Mad Men. People love the show, they see that narrow lapeled mid-60s look being featured and they identify with it. You also have Thom Browne, basically making nothing but narrow lapelled items. I don't see him going away, although some have declared his style dead already. A nice lucrative contract with BB, featuring his designs......etc.

TF and RL are trying to usher in a '70s revival with large lapels, and I am down with that as I have plenty o' big lapel items.

But, I don't think skinny lapels are going to be dead in 6 months. I think you have years before they are totally passe' again. Hell, I just bought a BBBF DB, and not only are the lapels skinny, they are notched. Can't wait for the hate that gets in WAYWRN (if the ******* thing ever shows up, that is).

Mike

Yeah, owning many narrow lapelled suits after that TV show came out is rather annoying. I'm constantly getting strangers calling me Don Draper or asking me if I came from a Mad Men party. It in itself it is not a terrible thing, but it gets old and people thinking I am copying a television show and one that I don't even watch is frustrating no matter how much you tell yourself that you shouldn't care what people think.

But yeah, Browne, and TV definitely makes sense that it will stay around.

 

[Johnny24]

I think it depends on how narrow we are talking.....under 2.75-3 inches and it can look pretty affected. The ones that kill me are the J.Crew lapel in their narrow jackets, those jackets might as well not even have a lapel, they look like a nehru jacket, wilting from the inside out.

I think Mad Men is partly to blame for the obsession with the fashion crowd and it being taken too far vs. the use of the 2.75 inch lapel by those with "style". Like all tends it will pass eventually and end up the local MW's and K&G; on a timeline, they are hovering around mid 90's now in the more "upscale" locations so I would say, in about 5-10 years, they will be totally passe once they hit those racks.

 

[kirbya]

At what width are lapels classic and not subject to the changing preferences invoked by fashion? I definitely find super-skinny lapels a total fashion trend. They'll be gone as quickly as they arrived. To invest in suits with narrow lapels would then be very short-sighted and only result in wasted money after a few years.

However, I look at some of my older suits, which have lower notch stances, and I definitely find myself preferring higher stances. How much do you think that this is a function of me being influenced by fashion vs. genuine preference that will resist fashion whims?