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Brian Sacawa is the Founder of He Spoke Style and one of the original men’s style influencers.
MoreA guide to the uber-formal shawl lapel
With a shawl lapel, we’re right back to simple, self-explanatory menswear terms. A shawl lapel is exactly that – a shawl. That is, the lapel has no notch, no peak, but is a continuous strip of fabric running from lapel to collar to lapel, and only tapering off when it finally hits the button closure.
Generally, a shawl lapel is seen as one of the most formal lapel styles for a jacket. This is largely due to the fact that it’s used almost exclusively for tuxedo and formal dinner jackets. In these cases, the collar is usually a satin or grosgrain material in slight contrast to the jacket fabric. The lapel is usually black, but not always, as Brian wears here.
Likewise, a shawl lapel jacket will usually have all the other attributes of a formal tuxedo jacket. For example, a single button closure and an often-ventless tail.
That said, to throw a wrench in a seemingly simple style, it’s become far less unusual these days to see a designer employ a ‘high/low’ motif by using a shawl collar on a decidedly casual such as a linen blazer or soft-shouldered cashmere sport coat.
| BRIAN WEARS | Kingsman jacket, Ermengildo Zegna shirt, Dolce & Gabbana pants, Barney’s bow tie, Del Toro slippers | PHOTOGRAPHY | by Rob McIver Photo
Regardless, a shawl lapel is obviously not nearly as versatile as a notch lapel, or even a peak lapel. And as shameful as it is to be underdressed, it can be just as big of a faux pas to show up to a ‘sharp-casual’ dinner date in a tuxedo, which will only leave your date feeling quite uncomfortable.
Likewise, a shawl lapel is not appropriate on a business suit. In fact, it’s safe to say that it’s not for the day-to-day in general, and is better suited to special occasions.
Of course, in today’s quickly evolving world of men’s fashion, these rules are often put in flux. Heck, I personally have worn a shawl collar tuxedo jacket with a t-shirt and jeans, but it took the right occasion and the right crowd to pull it off.
In a world with so many choices, it’s become harder and harder to definitively say which are correct. But the trick to successful styling is to approach each with deliberation and purpose!
Thanks, as always, for reading.
Stylishly Yours,
Adam Lehman
He Spoke Style
Brian Sacawa
Brian Sacawa is the Founder of He Spoke Style and one of the original men’s style influencers. Since 2013, his goal has remained the same: to provide men the advice and inspiration they need to dress well, develop their personal style, and gain more confidence. Brian’s interest and passion for men’s style and luxury watches has led to his writing for The Robb Report, The Rake, and Sotheby’s and he has been quoted on menswear in publications such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Today.com, Brides Magazine, and the Huffington Post. He lives in the woods north of Baltimore with his wife, Robin, kitties Nick and Nora, and German Shepherd/Collie mix Charlie.
