Lacoste: a buying guide to the polo and the knitwear
Lacoste was founded in 1933 by the tennis player René Lacoste, and its first product was the polo shirt. The history of the crocodile, what to check on pre-owned Lacoste knitwear and polo shirts, how the sizes work and how to care for them.
In this guide
Lacoste is the French brand that René Lacoste founded in 1933, and its first product was the tennis shirt that later became known as the polo shirt. On pre-owned Lacoste knitwear and polo shirts, the shoulders, the ribbing, the collar and the crocodile show how an item has been worn.
A short history of Lacoste
René Lacoste was a French tennis player who was given the nickname The Crocodile. According to Lacoste, the name goes back to a bet in the 1920s over a suitcase made of crocodile leather. A crocodile was drawn for him and embroidered on his blazers, and it became the logo of the company.
In 1933 René Lacoste founded the company with André Gillier, who ran a large French knitwear business. The first product was a short-sleeved tennis shirt in petit piqué, a fine textured cotton knit, produced as the L.12.12. That background in knitting explains why Lacoste has made jumpers and cardigans alongside its polo shirts from the start.
Lacoste knitwear: what to check
- The shoulders. Wool can stretch at the shoulder with wear, and a jumper stored on a hanger can become wider there.
- The elbows and underarms. A knit thins at the elbows and underarms first. Holding it up to the light shows it.
- The ribbing at the hem and cuffs. The ribbing should spring back. Ribbing that has gone slack does not recover.
- The crocodile. The embroidery should be dense and tightly stitched, with clean edges and no loose threads.
- Pilling. Light pilling is normal on wool and only cosmetic. Matted knit at the sides and underarms shows heavier wear.
Each item is inspected, authenticated, cleaned and measured before it is added to the store. Each step is described in How leverene works.
Lacoste polo shirts: what to check
A polo shirt is worn against the skin and washed often, and its collar usually gives way before anything else.
- The collar. It should stand rather than curl at the points. A collapsed collar does not come back.
- The piqué. The knit should still have body. Held up to the light, it should not let much light through.
- The placket and buttons. The buttons should match and sit firmly, and the placket should lie flat.
Polo shirts are collected under polo and rugby shirts. Collar, piqué and cut are explained in the polo shirt guide.
Lacoste sizing
Lacoste has long used its own numbered sizes on many items, alongside or instead of letter sizes, and the cut differs between product lines and years. The size on the label is therefore only a starting point, and knitwear can also stretch with wear and storage.
The reliable method is to compare the measurements of the item with a garment that already fits. Every item is measured at four points: chest, length, shoulders and sleeve. With raglan sleeves there is no shoulder seam, so there are three measurements instead of four. Items shown on a model state the model's height and usual size instead of the four measurements. The method is explained in the guide to measuring clothing.
Caring for Lacoste knitwear
The care label inside the item has the final say. Wool knitwear is best washed cold on a wool programme or by hand, dried flat and stored folded rather than on a hanger, so the shoulders keep their shape. Cotton piqué is washed cool and hung by the shoulders to dry. More detail by material is in the guide to washing and caring for clothing. Washing wool without shrinking it is explained in how to wash and care for wool knitwear.
Where to start
A V-neck or crewneck jumper in a plain colour is a practical first Lacoste item. The full range is under Lacoste, with Lacoste jumpers and separate pages for men and women. A neighbouring brand in the same classic style is covered in the Ralph Lauren guide. Because every item is pre-owned, most items are available only once.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the Lacoste logo a crocodile?
René Lacoste was nicknamed The Crocodile after a bet over a crocodile leather suitcase. The crocodile was embroidered on his blazers and became the logo of the company he founded in 1933.
How can genuine Lacoste be recognised?
The crocodile is densely embroidered with clean edges, and the knit, the buttons and the labels are finished to the same standard. Every item at leverene is authenticated through LegitApp before it is added to the store.
Does Lacoste knitwear shrink?
Wool can shrink and felt in a warm wash or a tumble dryer. Washing cold and drying flat keeps a jumper close to its measurements.
What does L.12.12 mean?
L.12.12 is the name of the original Lacoste polo shirt in petit piqué. The code is usually explained as L for Lacoste, 1 for the petit piqué, 2 for the short sleeves and 12 for the number of the prototype that was chosen.
