Had Ben Stiller’s production company chosen to prioritize pushing to market a follow-up to the 2004 gym hit Dodgeball over the upcoming Zoolander 2, Lacoste’s sporty, 70’s lineup for fall would have taken the stress out of the costume department’s decision making process.
Designer Oliveira Baptista delivered the perfect backhanded compliment to the U.S. preppy industry through his latest offering, which served as a walking advertisement of the brand’s status as the leading pioneer in merging sport and fashion.
Models walked the runway in the label’s signature country club chic with the phrase “René did it first!” splattered on art deco-inspired t-shirts and sweats, which paid homage to Lacoste’s founding father’s efforts to cater for life beyond the tennis court (namely, cocktail happy hour at the adjacent country club).
René Lacoste, nicknamed “the Crocodile” by fans because of his tenacity on the tennis court, was responsible for producing the revolutionary sportswear movement favored by the upper-class golfer with a penchant for a Friday afternoon jaunt on the high seas.
While the label’s infamous crocodile logo was largely absent in its latest offering, the show played out with a series of looks suited to a spot of winter tennis, featuring 70’s-inspired matching sweats, flirty pleated skirts and cozy trench coats with open-slit sleeves.
Clean lines and asymmetrical cuts were the name of the game for fall/winter 2015, with a narrative that played out like a celebration of the brand’s heritage with a double shot of urban edge thrown in for good measure.
Deconstructed coats worn as capes and edgy men’s sports blazers were just as at home against retro tracksuits teamed with tennis terrycloth headbands and flirty pleated minis, equally suited to cater for your next courtside stint at Wimbledon and cruising the goods at Old Spitalfields Market next season.
A key look for men was a heavyweight black trench, worn over a checkered-flag pattern hooded top, complete with matching bowler bag and beanie, sure to walk straight off the runway and onto the preppie businessman boarding a first-class flight en route to a cheeky fall vacation at his estate in Martha’s Vineyard to avoid an awkward interaction with his ex-wife at the weekend’s charity sundowner in Maine.
For women, Baptista beat America’s at its sporting game in three straight sets with a series of collared dresses that featured differing plays on silhouettes and structures. Taking the look from the courts at Belmont Hill to the season’s hottest philanthropic soiree were a series of figure-hugging sleeveless dresses in grey, black and white, with not a pastel-pink popped collar in sight.
Representing the designer’s attempt to reimagine the brand’s sporty codes with a contemporary, urban edge was a women’s René-logo powder blue track suit worn under an oversized fluffy camel coat, sure to be a favorite among the fashion blogging street style set come September. While catering for the perfect paparazzi shot when said blogger meets her ‘It’ male model bestie for cocktails after the evening’s final runway show was a look that saw a vibrant purple zipped hoodie track suit set worn under the same coat (because ‘his and hers’ is so last season).
Graphic prints on sweaters, dresses and shirts continued the tennis theme, with many looks having a unisex appeal – perfect for stealing your beau’s oversized wardrobe post match as the chill sets in come fall.
Lacoste’s infamous crocodile logo made a brief appearance on a zipped, color blocked lightweight hoodie in powder blue and navy, paired with matching pants, white shoes and navy beanie – a look which will allow the Connecticut hedge fund manager moonlighting as an aspiring DJ for a seamless costume change from the courts at the latest charity tennis tournament to behind the decks at the hipster after party.
While Robin Thicke and Pharrell’s ‘Blurred Lines’ resulted in the pair losing a high-profile legal hot mess, there’s no chance that Baptista’s clean, crisp offering for the iconic brand will force him to deal with a bad line call come fall.
