What Is a Lapel? Meaning, Types & Lapel Pin Placement Guide

A lapel is the folded section of fabric on the front of a jacket or coat, located below the collar and extending toward the chest. Lapels are commonly found on suits, blazers, tuxedos, dinner jackets, and tailored coats.

The three main types are notch lapels, peak lapels, and shawl lapels. Their shape affects the overall appearance of a jacket and also provides the traditional location for accessories such as a boutonniere or lapel pin.

What Is a Lapel?

A jacket lapel begins below the collar and folds outward along the front opening of the garment.

The point where the collar and lapel meet is called the gorge. The height and angle of the gorge, together with the width and shape of the lapel, help define the jacket's overall style.

Lapels are part of both the construction and visual balance of a tailored jacket. They connect the collar to the front of the garment and help shape the appearance of the upper body.

• Location: The folded front section below the jacket collar
• Connection: Meets the collar at a point called the gorge
• Style function: Influences the proportion and appearance of the jacket
• Accessory function: Provides the traditional position for a boutonniere or lapel pin

Where Is the Lapel on a Jacket?

Look at the front of a suit jacket or blazer. Start at the collar near the neck and follow the folded fabric downward toward the chest. The folded section on each side of the jacket opening is the lapel.

Many jackets have a small buttonhole on the left lapel. It was traditionally used to hold a boutonniere and remains a useful reference point for positioning a lapel pin.

What Are the Three Main Types of Lapels?

The three main lapel styles are notch, peak, and shawl. The easiest way to tell them apart is to look at the point where the lapel meets the collar.

Notch Lapel

A notch lapel has a visible V-shaped opening where the collar meets the lapel. It is widely used on business suits, blazers, sports jackets, and other everyday tailored garments.

Its relatively straightforward shape makes it easy to identify and suitable for a wide range of jacket styles.

Peak Lapel

A peak lapel points upward and outward toward the shoulders. The pointed edges create a stronger, more structured line across the upper chest.

Peak lapels are commonly associated with double-breasted suits and formal tailoring. They can also appear on tuxedos and statement jackets.

Shawl Lapel

A shawl lapel forms one continuous, rounded curve from the collar down the front of the jacket. It does not have the notch of a notch lapel or the pointed edges of a peak lapel.

Shawl lapels are commonly used on tuxedos, dinner jackets, and other eveningwear.

Lapel vs Collar: What Is the Difference?

The lapel and collar are connected, but they are not the same part of the jacket.

The collar surrounds the back and sides of the neck. The lapels fold across the front of the chest. The two meet at the gorge.

Why Do Lapels Matter?

The shape and width of a lapel affect the proportions of a jacket. Different widths and shapes can change how the jacket frames the chest, shoulders, and neckline.

Lapels also provide a natural location for small accessories such as boutonnieres, flower pins, enamel pins, logo badges, and commemorative lapel pins.

This makes lapel pins useful for businesses, clubs, organizations, events, weddings, awards, uniforms, and branded merchandise.

Where Should a Lapel Pin Be Worn?

A lapel pin is traditionally worn on the left lapel of a jacket, usually close to or through the lapel buttonhole.

If the jacket does not have a visible buttonhole, the pin can be positioned in approximately the same area: above the breast pocket and below the shoulder line.

How High Should a Lapel Pin Sit?

A lapel pin generally sits around the upper-middle area of the lapel, close to the natural buttonhole position.

The exact height depends on the lapel width, jacket style, and size of the pin.

For larger custom pins, leaving enough fabric around the design can help prevent the pin from looking crowded or pulling too heavily on the outer edge of the lapel.

Can You Wear a Lapel Pin Without a Buttonhole?

Yes. A lapel buttonhole is a traditional placement reference, but it is not required. A standard pin post and clutch can be attached directly through the lapel fabric.

If avoiding a puncture is important, a magnetic backing may be considered for compatible designs. Backing choice also depends on the pin's size, weight, and intended use.

Can You Wear a Lapel Pin Without a Suit?

Yes. Despite the name, lapel pins are not limited to formal suits.

Pins can also be worn on:

• Blazers
• Coats
• Uniforms
• Denim jackets
• Hats
• Bags
• Other garments and accessories

Lapel Pin vs Enamel Pin: What's the Difference?

The terms lapel pin and enamel pin often overlap, but they describe different aspects of a pin.

A lapel pin generally describes how or where the pin is worn. An enamel pin refers to a common manufacturing style using colored enamel and metal.

This means an enamel pin can be used as a lapel pin, hat pin, backpack pin, uniform badge, collectible, or promotional product.

What Size Should a Lapel Pin Be?

There is no single correct lapel pin size. The appropriate size depends on the artwork, lapel width, amount of detail, and intended use.

For traditional suit wear, a smaller design can create a more subtle appearance. For logos, clubs, events, merchandise, or detailed artwork, a larger size may provide more room for text, colors, and design elements.

The artwork should be reviewed at its actual production size before manufacturing, especially when it contains small lettering, narrow lines, or detailed graphics.

For a deeper comparison, read our Enamel Pin Size Guide .

Which Type of Custom Lapel Pin Should You Choose?

If you are creating custom lapel pins for a business, organization, club, event, or merchandise collection, the manufacturing process should be selected according to the artwork and desired appearance.

There is no single manufacturing process that is right for every lapel pin. The artwork, final size, quantity, budget, and intended use should be reviewed together.

For a deeper comparison, read our Hard Enamel vs Soft Enamel Pins Guide .

You can also explore our Custom Hard Enamel Pins and Custom Soft Enamel Pins .

Which Metal Finish Works for a Lapel Pin?

The plating creates the visible metal around the enamel colors and can significantly change the overall appearance of a lapel pin.

Available styles can include:

• Gold plating
• Silver plating
• Black nickel
• Rose gold
• Antique finishes
• Other project-specific metal finishes

The plating should work with the artwork and intended presentation rather than being selected independently from the design.

Which Backing Should a Lapel Pin Use?

The backing determines how the pin attaches to the garment. The appropriate option depends on the pin's size, weight, and how it will be worn.

Can You Turn a Logo Into a Custom Lapel Pin?

Yes. Logos, text, club emblems, illustrations, mascots, event graphics, and sketches can be adapted into custom lapel pin artwork.

However, a digital logo may need small production adjustments if it contains very thin lines, tiny lettering, complex gradients, or details that become difficult to reproduce at the intended pin size.

You do not need to redesign the logo yourself before requesting a quote. Sending the original artwork first allows the design to be reviewed for the intended manufacturing process.

What Should You Send for a Custom Lapel Pin Quote?

For a more useful production review, send as much of the following information as possible:

• Logo, artwork, sketch, or design concept
• Approximate pin size
• Quantity
• Hard enamel, soft enamel, or other process preference, if known
• Preferred plating, if known
• Backing requirement
• Packaging requirement
• Delivery country
• Required delivery date

If you only have the artwork and approximate quantity, send those first. You do not need to choose every manufacturing specification before requesting a review.

Final Recommendation

A lapel is the folded section on the front of a jacket below the collar, and the three main styles are notch, peak, and shawl lapels.

When wearing a lapel pin, the traditional position is on the left lapel near the buttonhole. The exact placement can vary slightly depending on the jacket and the size of the pin.

If you are creating a custom lapel pin, choose the size, enamel process, plating, and backing according to the actual artwork and intended use rather than relying on one specification for every project.