The Lacoste Carnaby Cup Trainer Has All The Hallmarks of a Classic

The Lacoste Carnaby Cup Leather trainer could of easily graced the centre courts of the 1980s amongst the tennis elite with its Continental charm.

If there's one brand that can pull off a classic court trainer it's got to be Lacoste. Even though the footwear side of things might have come a little bit later for the iconic crocodile logo brand, mainly in the 90s & noughties, their heritage to the court runs a lot deeper than your average. It was Lacoste that pioneered the very first tennis polo shirt courtesy of the French tennis player Ren_ Lacoste. In the late 1970s & early 1980s tennis & subculture somehow intertwined as the continental charm of the embroidered crocodile became like a badge of honour for young Casuals looking to "one-up" each other. Ask the original Casuals of the era to name an OG Lacoste trainer and they couldn't, not because they didn't wear them, but simply because the French sportswear brand wasn't really in the footwear game at the time. It's modern day releases like the Lacoste Carnaby Cup trainer that could of quite easily graced the centre courts of the 1980s amongst the tennis elite. Above: The Lacoste Carnaby Cup Leather trainer in white/gum now available from 80s Casual Classics. It was the early noughties where Lacoste really made a name for themselves on the footwear scene. Capturing the whole white trainers with jeans trend of the early to mid noughties, it was brands like Lacoste that became a fan favourite on the terraces. Nick Love's Football Factory captured the era perfectly with Stan Smiths & Club C's in the fights scenes, there's also a lot of crocodiles on feet if you look close enough. What we've always loved about Lacoste trainers is the simplicity. Nothing really beats an all white, tennis inspired silhouette with that classic embroidered crocodile. It's modern day Lacoste silhouettes like the Powercourt & the Carnaby Cup that have all the hallmarks of the classic court styles from the golden era of headbands & tight tennis shorts. Above: The Lacoste Carnaby Cup Leather trainer in white/gum now available from 80s Casual Classics. Giving a nod to the OG court trainers of the 1970s & the 1980s, the Carnaby Cup Leather trainer is a brand new take on the French sportswear brand's Carnaby silhouette. Adding some extra retro vibes courtesy of a rubber gum outsole, the Carnaby Cup trainer could of easily been spotted on centre court back in 1980. Highlights include leather uppers with perforations to the sidewalls & decorative tonal seams. An embroidered crocodile features to the lateral sides in typical Lacoste style with classic crocodile branding also decorating the tongue. A great, slightly smarter, classic court silhouette to add to your trainer rotation for the forthcoming spring/summer months. Shop the very latest Lacoste trainer releases now at 80s Casual Classics via the links.