LACOSTE SPRING 2012 Footwear/Apparel/Accessories

words/images Judith Ecochard

Media Preview

Sporty chic= game winning aces-----

New Lacoste creative director Felipe Oliveira Baptista managed to fashionably take the iconic Lacoste croc/polo preppy mindset- -and make it fun, colorful and fresh....

This outing for Spring 2012 nixed the competition with design elements from a rugby scrummage-for gals though -with a francophile variation on the classic bold stripes...

...also, gloriously we thought, hit par with the satchels and footwear-with design elements derived from the golf bag of Catherine Lacoste (yup-daughter of René Lacoste-the tennis player who launched this lifestyle brand)----

Ms. Lacoste won the US WOMEN'S OPEN Golf Tournament as a 22 year old amateur. So sticking with a winner-the piping details and short version of the golf bag's shape---translates into any language to mean FABULOUS.

At the media preview it was editorially helpful having the clothes and shoes grouped in editorially appropriate sets.

two sets of eyelets in a leather sneaker

We began with the men's footwear...that included lots of variations on the sneakers-pumped up kicks with two sets of eyelets, without laces and some with leather---in canvas and leather...

Also well done-the boat style shoes-in mixed textures with a rubber toe cap/outsoles-there is a lot of handsome upscale details here.

Suede classic penny loafer/ drivers with rubber soles are comfy and grippy!

More 'formal'-these lace-ups take the sneaker into the office-we liked the eyelet details back stitch detail..

Men wanting a bit more color on their feet- will love these...as comfy as flip-flops but with more style -in solids and nautical worthy prints remind us of the Breton sailor's shirt.

Nice stitch details-heel stripes-nautical touch

Slip-ons that are classics-wit elongated lasts/pointier toes make them more contemporary looking.

now classic Heldon sneakers

1927-in homage to Lacoste's first year -the croc's first appearance too-on apparel

Multi-tone sneakers-in leather with nice mix-up of geometric shapes in leather with bold stitching details.

wear up as a high top...or roll down

NEW to us-the Lacoste Live collection-with its own apparel/footwear-we figured aimed at a slightly younger demographic than the Lacoste 'regular' line

For Spring 2012-there's a lot of collegiate references----

And the footwear was more basic-less details-with cute tennies...

adorable-cape style

old fashion way to view a collection

rainbow of colors

Jackets-a drawstring white tennis dress (above), and cute tees to throw on with jeans---Lacoste Live is priced less than the main collection too.

canvas gym bags

We liked the Lacoste Live lace-up/sneaker hybrid-with the laces on a slant. No not for sport but for those with a sporty attitude!

These pants are great-roll up the cuffs show some stripe!

Lightweight jacket-playful pattern

Back in the main collection-we saw more footwear-but this time for the women...

Rainbow colors of t

Lacoste high top

sneakers go well with this viscose mix polo dress with dart details

Color blocked dress---

Lovely curved instep, aerated leather-striped inner lining makes these flats special

sweet leather lace bows

Ballet flats are still popular---and very travel friendly. We know of plenty of women who should carry these in their bags-so as to switch out of those skyscraper heels they can barely walk in.