Lacoste Spring 2012: Sportiness Without Any Actual Sports

Chances are when you think of Lacoste, you think of a pique polo in pale pink adorned with a cute little crocodile. The brand, while never forsaking its roots, is looking to elevate itself off the tennis court and golf course and into your daily wardrobe, with very intriguing results this season. This is Felipe Oliveira Baptista’s first collection for the brand–you’ll recall that former Lacoste creative director Christophe Lemaire decamped for Hermes last year. While Lemaire invigorated the brand a lot, Baptista seems to be out to really turn it on its head.

The polo and rugby collars were there, but rendered in silk and cut into tiny cropped tops and slouchy cool dresses, respectively. Throw in a few sexy cutouts and a hint of side boob, and you have an outfit that would never, ever be allowed at Wimbledon.

The looks were comfortable, yet absolutely chic and stylish. The show notes pretty much say it all: “When style was about stealing a men’s jacket from your lover’s suitcase to show up, scandalously simple, for drinks by the pool of a Mallet Stevens villa.” We’re not sure who Mallet Stevens is, but doesn’t it sound delightfully French?

While my tastes run to more urban looks, I liked and would wear many of these looks. The easy, colorful geometric printed dresses were standouts. The majority of Lacoste’s sales has traditionally been its menswear–the brand is now giving the girls something to try on while her guy is getting golf shirts.

**All images: Imaxtree

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