Front Darts

Front darts on a suit jacket or sportcoat are the sort of thing you may have seen 10,000 times without noticing. But once you have, you’ll never miss them again.

Like pockets, cuffs, and buttons, darts are another visual surface detail on a suit jacket or sportcoat. Unlike those other details, their true purpose lies under the surface.

What Are Front Darts On A Suit Jacket?
Front darts are folds that are sewn into the fabric of a garment in order to give it shape. In the context of a suit jacket or a sportcoat, this helps the garment achieve a closer fit to the wearer’s body. Front darts are visible on each side of the jacket as a thin line, typically running from just below the breast to the beginning of the pocket.

What Do Front Darts Do?
They help suit jackets and sportcoats to appear more three-dimensional and better fit the wearer. But that doesn’t mean that darted jackets will always fit “slim” or “skinny.” Darted jackets are tailored to ft a wide range of body types and sizes.

Do All Suit Jackets and Sportcoats Have Darts?
Some suit jackets and sport coats are made without darts, but are a rarer sight these days. These jackets are known as “sack jackets” because of their looser, less-defined fit.