Michael Jordan, Billie Jean King & Princess Diana Inspired Lacoste’s Collection
Jean René Lacoste did fashion collaborations before they were cool. In 1933, the French tennis player partnered with a knitwear company to make shirts to wear on the court. Nicknamed “the Crocodile,” the sports star embroidered the reptile on the tee for personalization. Proving to be ultra-popular, the brand expanded from there and has been the go-to clothier for prepsters around the world. Recognizing that “René did it first,” the brand’s current designer, Felipe Oliveira Baptista, created a collection based on athletic close of yore. Fall/Winter 2015 includes jumpsuits just like those worn on the slopes; dress, pants, jackets, and skirts made to look like warm-ups; and tennis whites a la Billie Jean King and English aristocrats. Lacoste took athleisure to another level by making actual clothes suitable and acceptable in a different setting.
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Princess Diana hitting the slopes in 1982; Lacoste red jumpsuit, 2015
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Magic Johnson warming up in 1996; Lacoste's sweatsuit dress on the runway, 2015
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Lacoste models kept warm with fur coats over sweatsuits just like Jo Namath in 1973.
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Lacoste took inspiration from Bille Jean King's tennis whites.
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Who wore it better? Michael Jordan preparing for a Chicago Bulls game in 1995 or the Lacoste model?
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Boris Becker and John McEnroe vs. chic Lacoste model
