Viva La Crocodile: The History of The Lacoste Polo Shirt

The history of the Lacoste Polo shirt goes back to when the legendary tennis player René Lacoste wanted something a little more practical to wear.

Youth culture has always had strong links to certain styles whether it is the way we dress, cut our hair or the specific music we listen to. Every decade has seen its own subculture emerge, from the Teddy Boys of the 50s, to the mods and rockers of the 60s to the punks of the 1970s. It is however 80s sportswear that has stood the test of time, becoming the iconic casual wardrobe staples of today. Brands such as adidas, Fila, Sergio Tacchini and Ellesse all made waves during the casual explosion of the late 1970s & early 1980s. One iconic French sportswear brand missing from that list is Lacoste, a legendary label that not only revolutionised functional tennis-wear but would become the "go to" sportswear brand from the Banlieue's of Paris to the muddy banks of Bermondsey. We take a look at the history of the Lacoste polo shirt from humble beginnings on the tennis court to a timeless "Casual" silhouette.

 Above: As worn by the original Casuals. The Lacoste Polo Shirt is quite simply a timeless casual style.

The history of the Lacoste Polo shirt starts with René Lacoste. The crocodile logo brand was named after the legendary tennis player René Lacoste, who was as elegant off the court, as much as he was a warrior on it. Lacoste soon joined an elite class of sporting individuals who earned a reputable nickname. Legend has it that Lacoste was nicknamed ‘The Crocodile’ by journalist George Carens after he heard about a bet Lacoste made with Alan Murh surrounding a crocodile leather briefcase. At the time, Lacoste had also adopted the polo shirt to play in, as it allowed him increased movement & function on the court improving his performances. Little did he know that these tiny details would soon "snap" together to create one of the biggest fashion brands of the 1980s.  

Above: Un crocodil, an original Lacoste advert from the late 1970s highlighting their tennis collection.

Such was the allure of the French sportswear brand the streets of the UK became filled with stolen merchandise brought back from football away days in Europe as fans followed their clubs across the continent in search of the latest casual sportswear trends. During this golden age of wedge haircuts & Borg Elite's, Lacoste became very elitist & it wasn’t uncommon to find young Casuals stitching fake crocodiles onto their own shirts so they could stay one step ahead of rival firms. Sporting a new Lacoste Polo Shirt was like the clothing equivalent of owning the latest pair of adidas Trimm Trabs or GV Special's. Lacoste was also joined by other tennis brands such as Sergio Tachinni, Ellesse and Fila, which only stoked the mysticism of continental labels even more. You had to have that crocodile on your chest, regardless if it was moody, robbed or actually bought from a physical sportswear store.

Above: The French cult classic 'La Haine' from 1995 showcased Parisian street style & featured the Lacoste polo shirt.

Film has also played its part in reviving classic 80s sportswear brands such as Lacoste, for example in the film ‘Cass’ from 2008 which took an in depth look at the life of Cass Pennant and his rise to dominance in the notorious ICF. In the scene where Cass is handed his prison uniform he responds with, “Got any Lacoste?” a nod to how popular the brand was in the early casual era.

The French cult classic 'La Haine' takes you head first into the troubled inner-city Banlieues of Paris in the mid 90s, perfectly portraying Parisian street culture and the sportswear brands associated with it such as Sergio Tacchini track tops, Carhartt beanies & Lacoste polo shirts. 

Above: Paul Nichols in Nick Love's 'Goodbye Charlie Bright' from 2001 wearing a classic Lacoste polo shirt.

Also 'Goodbye Charlie Bright' from 2001 explored Nick Love's continued love affair with continental sportswear showcasing the various colourways of the timeless silhouette in literally every scene. Featuring a young Danny Dyer & Roland Manookian the film, not only lit the fuse for further films like The Business & The Football Factory, it explored the concrete jungles of South London in the early noughties with a backdrop of classic Garage tunes, "muggy Millwall shirts" & the street-level appeal of the green crocodile.

It is no stretch to say that Lacoste is a brand of timeless style. It is one of the most iconic original sportswear brands and even today in a world of ever changing trends you can still find a polo shirt in every colourway you can think of. The memories of walking into a Lacoste store in an airport somewhere in Costa Blanca and getting blown away by the sheer volume of colourways will always stay with you forever. Viva La Crocodile & the legendary Lacoste Polo Shirt.