 Christophe Lemaire © DR
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Season after season, Christophe Lemaire designs wardrobes of practical, elegant staples for Lacoste. A self-proclaimed heir to the "pop" years, he puts all his creative energy into the brand.
To mark Lacoste's 75th anniversary this summer, he's dreamt up a retro collection. "This collection is a tribute to the brand's origins," he explains. "I was inspired by the chic, sporty elegance of the Lacoste lifestyle".
The catwalk show, which took place in New York, had a distinct Basque Country feel (Lacoste loved the Basque region of Southern France and made it his home. He died there in 1996). The extravaganza opened with a tribute to René Lacoste, featuring the iconic crocodile in a large, off-white version, inspired by the original drawing.
In the men's collection: white linen blazers and matching trousers, emphasized with a spicy red basque belt, not forgetting espadrilles tied at the calf. In the women's collection: dresses with cut-away necks and black or red piping, worn with wedge heel espadrilles.
The show ended with an ode to colour, a reference to the evolution of the Lacoste label since the very first white polo.