I'm having sb, peak lapel suit made, and tailor suggested no lapel button hole

[ChazzR]

Is it standard to forgo the lapel button hole on a single-breasted, peak lapel suit jacket? He suprised me when he said it was. Thanks for the input, as usual.

 

[RJman]

No. Who is your tailor?

 

[ChazzR]

Mr. Ned. It was the son who said it to me. And I wasn't sure. I'm assuming it could still be added, is that right?

 

[Manton]

Originally Posted by ChazzR

I'm assuming it could still be added, is that right?
Yes, very simple. The only possible complication -- and it is a small one -- is that somehow they have ran out of the thread in which the other buttonholes were sewn, and you can't find the same stuff or something close enough anywhere. This is not likely.

 

[GBR]

Absolutely not - tell him to put one in forthwith and cease talking nonsense.

If he continues to refuse reject the suit.

 

[pejsek]

I agree. A lapel without a real buttonhole always looks unfinished. The buttonhole is one of the great stylistic details on a jacket (signifying, possibly, just about everything) and, at the very least, the absence of one makes me wonder about the tailor's eye (if not skill or work ethic).
Of course, there are other options. I quite like this sb peak-label jacket with a simple hole for a pin (the site shows some nice sterling silver butterflies and flowers):

http://www.sinner.jp/sample/bespoke-...9/img/01_l.jpg

 

[Film Noir Buff]

There is a viewpoint that a buttoniere spoils the fluidity of a jacket's peak lapels. My own tailor feels this way and I have had DOW/Scholtean style discussions with him over the inclusion of a buttoniere. I agree that it looks unfinished to me, but that doesnt necessarily mean it isnt an elegant look. All part of the Italian drive towards minimalism.

He did manage to talk me into not putting the buttonholes into two DJs with a flat satin facing to see if I liked it with the caveat that he could insert the buttoniere later. I still would prefer the buttoniere but it's not worth it to have the lapel re-cut. Theres always a danger something will go wrong.

One thing. I like the buttoniere because that's the way I am. There is the danger that multiplied 1000 times you get people mired in what's "traditional" over what looks great. I didnt like these flat buttons my tailor used on my sports jackets, but he sneaked a set onto one and everyone loves those buttons including some incredibly hidebound types. I was wrong because they werent the buttons I was used to, not because they were or werent intrinsically handsome. Be careful about letting rules trump positive or beautiful improvements.

 

[Luc-Emmanuel]

Originally Posted by pejsek

http://www.sinner.jp/sample/bespoke-...9/img/01_l.jpg
ugh!

As far as boutonnière goes, it's a matter of personal choice. Just make sure you don't get an ugly keyhole sewn one.

!luc

 

[pkincy]

In accessible closets I have 7 peak lapel SCs or Suits. All have a buttonhole. 5 are DB and 2 are SB. One purchased last month.

I also recall giving my Dad 2 single button peak lapel Canali's I bought in the mid 90's and recall both had buttonholes.

However, it does peak my interest to own one without. As often as I wear a bouttonier it seems interesting to think of a coat with clean lapels.

Perry

 

[kitonbrioni]

Just tell the tailor to put the buttonhole on the lapel. What an odd sense of cosumer service is being presented.

 

[NoVaguy]

i can see the points for and against the presence of the buttonhole. what about a single breast peak label, with lapel button-holes on both lapels (as in the double breasted)?

 

[Tomasso]

Originally Posted by NoVaguy

what about a single breast peak label

Oxxford does their SB PL with just one buttonhole.

 

[DGP]

What does the suit look like? Is it very modern or very trad otherwise?

 

[ChazzR]

It's a bit lighter than the typical dark blue suit, with pin-stripes, fairly suppressed waist, double vents, not too much shoulder padding, flat front trousers, and slightly narrower-than-standard trouser bottoms. When he told me that no button hole was more typical, I was surprised but agreed to it. I think I will ask him to put one on though. I appreciate all the feedback thus far, the forum is always a tremendous help to me.

 

[DGP]

Originally Posted by ChazzR

It's a bit lighter than the typical dark blue suit, with pin-stripes, fairly suppressed waist, double vents, not too much shoulder padding, flat front trousers, and slightly narrower-than-standard trouser bottoms. When he told me that no button hole was more typical, I was surprised but agreed to it. I think I will ask him to put one on though. I appreciate all the feedback thus far, the forum is always a tremendous help to me.


Yeah, on a blue pinstripe, that's probably the way to go. I've seen some more "fashion" suits in SB, with a peak, sometimes in more shiny fabrics, and I think those might look good w/o the button hole, but with a more traditional fabric, even with a modern cut, I couldn't imagine no hole.