Meaning & use
notched lapels
Last updated
Meaning
nounplural
The folded front flaps of a jacket or coat where the lower edge of the collar meets the lapel at a small, angled step.
Grammar: Used in the plural for a pair: notched lapels. The singular is a notched lapel.
Patterns
- a jacket with notched lapels
- notched lapels on something
Most business suits have notched lapels because they look neat and traditional.
The tailor kept the notched lapels narrow to give the blazer a slimmer look.
He chose a jacket with notched lapels rather than peak lapels for his interview.
Common combinations
- suit with notched lapels
- She wore a grey suit with notched lapels.
- wide notched lapels
- The 1970s jacket had wide notched lapels.
- narrow notched lapels
- Narrow notched lapels suit a slim-fit blazer.
- notched lapels versus peak lapels
- Notched lapels versus peak lapels is the first choice many buyers face.
Synonyms and how they differ
- step collar
- Step collar is a less common name for the same cut and is mostly heard among tailors.
- peak lapels
- Peak lapels are not a synonym but the contrasting style, with points that angle upward and look more formal.
- shawl lapels
- Shawl lapels are a smooth, rounded style without any notch, usually seen on dinner jackets.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: notched lapels or label?
notched lapels vs label
A label is a tag or sticker; a lapel is part of a jacket. They look similar but are unrelated.
Practice
Which jacket style is most typical for an everyday business suit?
Choose one answer.
Notched lapels are the standard, everyday cut for business suits. Peak lapels are more formal and shawl lapels are mainly for dinner jackets.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “notched lapels”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.