Text, Vivian G. Kelly
Images, Dan Lecca, courtesy of Mercedes Benz
LACOSTE - THE BRAND
The Lacoste brand has come a long way in the past few two years it’s been showing at the Bryant Park Tents. For the past several season, this brand has demonstrated that it has a whole lot more going for it than just some cute pique polo shirts. Part of the reason it has succeeded is that it has a history. Having a history is often a vital component in a successful branding mix. This applies to any brand, whether it’s cars [Mercedes – yes, Lexus – no] or Ready to Wear.
THE FALL 2008 COLLECTION RUNWAY SHOW
The melee at the 9:00am Saturday morning check in was proof positive that this nearly 100-year-old brand has succeeded in revitalizing itself. The Gator Polo is #1, and has surpassed the Ralph Lauren polo horseman.
For Fall, Creative Director, Christophe Lemaire invited us to take a trip to the stylish ski slopes of Megeve, a quaint ski village the fabled “bright young things” or “Jeunesse Doree” of the 1930’s embraced once they’d tired of St. Moritz.
We’re all for Lacoste’s Euro-style of presenting. Like Giorgio Armani, Mr. Lemaire sent out a bevy of male and female models to get things started. This group looked as if they were on their way to après ski drinks in a cozy chalet-bar in Megeve.
THE COLOR PALETTE: the colors of the Jamaican flag – black, gold, red, and green.
STRIPES also figure prominently, for men and women and looked especially good in those extra long mufflers shown with nearly everything. The silver and white cable sweaters looked great paired with short flippy skirts. As at many other shows, chartreuse popped up as an accent color.
THE MEN: there were vertical stripe sweaters with a striped tie, which matched HER short polo dress to perfection proving that a couple dressed in Lacoste always looks well turned out. The blood red blazer is a great day to evening option for the guy on the go.
THE WOMEN: We liked the shorts styled with thick leg warmers and tights worn with a lace and hook high heel boot, a winner, judging by the nods of approval in our section. You could image a young woman going to work in one of these suits by day and by night, getting on the plane with her friends and jetting over to the Alps.
BEST: The 3 pastel patchwork knit dresses shown with coordinating earmuffs and gloves. Those who don’t do super short could wear these adorable little sweater/dresses over skinny jeans, and voila!
THE AFTER PARTY
The stage set, a deep pile white shag rug - looked very après ski and seventies. The rug and the sexy-Euro disco track reminded us of discos in Cannes. It also gave us a taste of what was to come at the after party held at the Bowery Hotel on East 3rd Street,that evening. Sitting at our little café table, we felt a little bit like Bright Young Things ourselves. The super-vigilant wait staff plied us with Henriot Champagne and delectable hors d’oeuvres from the moment we sat down. Best though, was the music– seventies and eighties tracks [some early Bobbi Brown] by Busy P & DJ Stretch Armstrong.
www.lacoste.com