Lacoste

NEW YORK, February 4, 2006
By Laird Borrelli
The invitation was a (blank) cassette tape, De La Soul's 3 Feet High and Rising was the show's featured track, and the models emerged from a giant lit-up boom box. For Lacoste's fall runway presentation, creative director Christophe Lemaire was intent on showing a more "urban, street" side to the iconic preppy label. At times, his take on the hip-hop theme was too literal—the retro-looking zip-up tracksuits and styling touches emulated the trendsetters in Jamel Shabazz's book Back in the Days without adding anything fresh—but Lemaire also offered his share of covetable separates.

There were multiple variations of the miniskirt for women, or most likely girls, some with rip-trim hems, others in corduroy. That might not make for fashion news, but the jackets did, especially those in white shearling. Sporty hooded numbers—some with a swing cut, others with a drawstring at the waist—came across as fresh takes on classics. The famous polos, some striped, others in unexpected colors, were highlighted in the second section of the show, where they were styled in fashionable layers. Padded moon boots—which resembled puffer-topped Wellies—looked like a must-have accessory for fall, and the patent sneakers for men will take guys effortlessly from street to club.

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