Lacoste SS09
Vacations and travel are the source of much inspiration. So why don’t employers dispense with offices and give us all plane tickets and a hotel room as an office eh? Clearly onto a good thing, Lacoste’s Spring Summer 09 designer Christophe Lemaire has turned to his childhood summer vacations for ideas.
While the rest of us had PD, Chris takes his cue from “The South of France or Italy on the Mediterranean coast with pine trees swaying in the cool breezes, crickets chirping and effortlessly chic couples lounging lazily by pools planted in groves of olive trees.” The brand’s Club line, signed with its silver crocodile logo, uses sepia tones, shades of browns, dusty pinks, off whites in cotton chiffon and linen as its canvas and include sophisticated beach wear for day and smart casual options, including a ladies summer suit in piqué, braided leather belts and leather espadrilles for the men, and Greek-goddess inspired sandals and high heel t-bar slip-ons for women.
“The Sunset Group,” Lemaire continues “is even sexier and more sensual with colours the shades of sorbet”. For women, Lemaire plays with the ‘all-in-one’ look: first with a t-shirt and short shorts combination in jersey, then tank-top overalls and finally a swimsuit-inspired piece with hoodie sculpted from terry towel cloth. For men, light summer sweaters are dip-dyed for a gradation effect, while polos earn their summer stripes.
Saving the best for last is the new segment from Lacoste. “Think the Mods meet Mary Quant with a dash of street golf in Chelsea thrown in for good measure” Lemaire instructs us. The result is slim-fit cuts, the classic polo with a smaller collar, a narrower placket with two buttons, and an extended tail, and for the guys, a new twist on the monkey jacket and heavy piqué jacket. Meanwhile girls get graphic mini dresses and blousons in checked nylon that fold up into grab-and-go bag. Sweet indeed.
Accost Lacoste at Lacoste boutiques at Starhill Gallery, KLIA, 1 Utama New Wing, The Gardens, Sunway Pyramid and KLCC.