The part of a coat or jacket that folds back on the chest, typically forming a continuation of the collar.
From French 'lapelle', a diminutive of 'lappe' meaning 'flap' or 'fold'. The word entered English in the 18th century as men's fashion became more elaborate and formal wear developed distinct design elements.
The width of lapels has been a fashion battlefield for centuries - wide lapels suggest confidence and drama while narrow ones imply restraint and precision. During the 1970s, lapels reached almost comically wide proportions, while the 1980s saw them narrow to pencil-thin lines, proving that lapels are basically the mood rings of menswear.
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