Lacoste, stylish clothes for adventuresome boys.
Although he was a French tennis-playing legend, it was in the domain of high-end ready-to-wear that René Lacoste got his biggest break. Renowned for the elegance of its collections for men, the label Lacoste has also brought out very successful lines of clothing for boys.
From tennis courts to sewing machines.
A champion in the making, René Lacoste won his first tennis tournament when he was just 17 years old. Gifted with a rigourous and dynamic game, he quickly found his way onto the podiums, achieving a string of wins. Following a bet, where the stake was a crocodile skin suitcase, the sports press nicknamed him "the alligator". René Lacoste then asked a friend of his to design an emblem based on the reptile, which he wore very proudly on his tennis player's blazer. He retired from professional tennis in 1929, after one final match at Roland-Garros, and partnered up with André Gillier, an artisanal bonnet maker, shortly afterwards to found the label Lacoste in Troyes in 1933.
The first shirt put on sale by the partners, a short-sleeve design inspired by the clothes worn by British polo players, was considered revolutionary. Both practical and aesthetically appealing, the L.12.12 in cotton is a perfect illustration of the fashion house's philosophy. A design that would subsequently come out in an infinite number of versions, each one more graphic and colourful than the last, over successive collections which have now become legendary. It was only natural for a comprehensive range of Lacoste clothes for boys to follow the changing seasons starting in 1958, meaning everyone could enjoy the legendary sporty-yet-chic look, even the youngest members of society.
From the locker room to catwalk triumph.
The French brand has never been short of know-how. But its exploits are also due to the style of its lines, which have always been attentive to the latest trends in fashion. Just like all the most talented sports stars, Lacoste was forever honing his game and reworking ad infinitum the piqué material that had made his name for him. Lacoste boys' polo shirts are available in short-sleeve and long-sleeve versions. There are striped and two-tone styles, others still embellished with a standard-bearer motif or a revisited crocodile. As for the bottom half of the body, there is a choice of jeans or jogpants, or (Bermuda) shorts. Cardigans, V-neck sweaters, blousons and overcoats are the perfect finishing touch to a gorgeous winter outfit for boys.
Whereas figures like Henri Leconte, Fabrice Santoro, Sébastien Grosjean and Arnaud Clément have flown the flag for Lacoste collections, it was a very young Serbian champion called Novak Djokovic who became the brand's muse in 2017. One thing is for sure: the label with a crocodile logo will continue to command adoration and inspire many generations to come. Among the iconic items in Lacoste's wardrobe for boys, we will certainly remember: