I would choose the gator over the pony any day if they fit decent. My Lacoste polos always are too long in the sleeves and too short for my liking. If I size up theyre too wide. I have one from about 5 years ago and it fits nicely, but Ive bought one in the past year and it's unwearable. I do think theyre better quality than Polo.

 

I like the quality but I wouldn't classify it as inherently preppy due to the fact that 99% of people wearing them are not preppy at all and it takes away from the brand image for me. Even RL is starting to fall in the ranks as more and more people start wearing them with torn up cargo shorts and Abercrombie jeans. The preppiest polo in my opinion is BB by far as non-preps and people who don't dress well have usually never even heard of it, or at the least don't own anything from them.

 

TinTin had some interesting things to say about them.

Does anyone know of any companies that still make "Made in France" polo shirts?

 

I agree with Young Trad. The Lacoste polos seem to be too short in length for my liking. I have a Lacoste store close to me and have mentioned this to the sales people. They said they have received this comment from many customers. They suggested a pre-washed version of the Lacoste polo that has a white logo, rather than green. This version is supposed to be cut a little longer, but is also higher in price by about $10. I would like to add more Lacoste polos to my wardrobe, because I like their classic style, but I'll stick to RL's and BB's until they change the cut of their garments.

 

Whatever Lacoste may have produced in its storied history, it's become a Euro-trash brand on par with Hugo Boss. The polos are ill-fitting and made from sub-standard material and the collars are floppy and flaccid.

Cheap: J.Crew
Expensive: Ralph Lauren

Thems the rules.

 

Like Top Siders, Lacostes were widely adopted in the early 80s by all kinds of people - and they got way overdone. Younger people, now, may view them as undiscovered or new. I avoid them as carrying too much baggage, haunted by the 80s as I am…...they just seem cliched to me. The clique that wore such stuff pre OPH, basically dropped it as it became more mainstream. There was a period in the 80s when Izod (which had the Lacoste licensing rights in the US during the 70s and 80s) sold the polo shirts without the crocodile as an option because of their saturation in the marketplace.

Further, as a rule, I don't wear logos so regardless of their quality, or lack thereof, I would not wear them.

 

I would choose the gator over the pony any day if they fit decent. My Lacoste polos always are too long in the sleeves and too short for my liking. If I size up theyre too wide. I have one from about 5 years ago and it fits nicely, but Ive bought one in the past year and it's unwearable. I do think theyre better quality than Polo.

I agree that Lacoste is better quality than Ralph Lauren. Lacoste fabric is very nice and elegant. Ralph Lauren is a polo of good quality. Lacoste is superb. It is the attention to little details that makes a product go from good to great, and this is how I feel about Lacoste.

One suggestion to find a good fit for the tall man is to try the Lacoste Red! polo. It is a slim version. Perhaps you can go one size larger to get longer legnth without too much added width?

 

Like Top Siders, Lacostes were widely adopted in the early 80s by all kinds of people - and they got way overdone. Younger people, now, may view them as undiscovered or new.

I don't see many people wearing Lacoste. I would guess for every 1 person who wears Lacoste, there are at least 20 who wear Ralph Lauren. People remember the little alligator from the 1980's and associate it with wealth, people of influence, country clubs, and the upper class. Maybe in the 1980's there were too many people wearing Lacoste, but today I do not see Lacoste except in a few upscale places. I wonder if people are embarrassed to show wealth? I was just thinking I do not see many people wearing Gucci bit loafers. This was another popular brand in the 1980's. I love elegance.

 

J. Crew polos are everything I need. They are slim (in the tailored fit), are two-button, have a tennis tail, and most importantly have no logo. Once the twelve or so I have now wear out, I'm hoping to be done with polos altogether.

 

I love the little alligator.

I wore them in high school and college tennis tournaments in the 70's. My favorite shirts with the extra long tails. That's when Izod/LaCoste were together. When Izod left, the LaCoste shirts went down hill..

FYI... It's a crocodile...

Nice shirts back then.

 

I don't see many people wearing Lacoste. I would guess for every 1 person who wears Lacoste, there are at least 20 who wear Ralph Lauren. People remember the little alligator from the 1980's and associate it with wealth, people of influence, country clubs, and the upper class. Maybe in the 1980's there were too many people wearing Lacoste, but today I do not see Lacoste except in a few upscale places. I wonder if people are embarrassed to show wealth? I was just thinking I do not see many people wearing Gucci bit loafers. This was another popular brand in the 1980's. I love elegance.

I see Lacoste everywhere and it's almost exclusively worn by people who are not cool but want to look like they are.

 

Tried out a bunch of polos last summer, here're the conclusions I came to:

Lacoste polos don't fit well, the fabric's too thin, and they're too expensive. Wasted too much money on these.

RL polos are the best on the market. Just a great shirt. There's a reason they're so popular. They fit great. On sale they can't be beat. The pony is a negative though.

The J. Crew ones are alright. I thought I would like them a lot more than I did. I bought 3 in medium. They have tennis tails but it's like an extra inch, not a real tennis tail. The sleeves are too short for my liking. I realize some like short polo sleeves though. I found the shirts too small but I guess this could be solved by sizing up.

Brooks Brothers is just a notch below RL. This is hard to explain but I'd almost rather have the pony than the sheep logo. The pony is so widespread, wearing it doesn't say much about you. Wearing something with a Brooks Brothers logo sends a message I don't know I'd like to send. Don't get me wrong, I love Brooks Brothers, it's just. . . Don't know if that makes any sense.

Cabela's, Bean, Lands End, etc. are the way to go. Less expensive and no nonsense sizing (as in they're not too short, not too tight). They're sized properly: full cut. No logo.

In summary, Bean or LE for your beaters, no logos. RL is the best quality though.

 

Interestingly enough I'm currently selling a gently used Lacoste polo in the sales forum...check it out.

I wear RL Polo and BB. Of the two I like the materials in the BB better than polo but I like the way the collar and placket wear on the Polo better. The BB placket is flimsy so the collar ends up spreading way out. The placket needs a sturdier inner lining.

IMHO Lacoste are definitely too short for my personal taste and too expensive for a polo shirt.

 

I've had so many RL polos not last more than a year or two that I'm never buying another one. Also, you can literally get one that is cut normal, then get an identical one off the same rack that is cut as if a triangle would be wearing it. I don't really care about logo; no logo or logo is fine with me. JCrew polo sleeves are far too short and the length is shorter than I would like.

Brooks Brothers polos are about as close to perfect as a polo can get without spending a zillion dollars, i think. Normal cut, better materials, hold up better in the wash.

 

Simply put:

Today's Lacoste sucks and everyone knows it.

 

I tried a few polos a couple of years ago, and so far have ended up with Lacoste.

1) Lands' End: I tried their tailored fit, size medium (which is what I normally wear and I think was their smallest size in that line at that point). Heavy fabric and very, very boxy. I washed and dried them thoroughly to get them to shrink. On me, they were somewhat trim, although not fitted. They also ended up much too short.

2) J. Crew: The ones in my local store looked like they were falling apart (a lot of loose threads). Fit wasn't bad; I suspect I'd like their tailored fit more. I ended up not buying any, although given the good reviews on here I might check them out again. I initially checked them out because of their lack of a logo.

3) Ralph Lauren: Seemed decent. I think I might like them if fitted slightly more, but after the Lands' End issue was afraid to buy them with the intention of shrinking. I might give them a go at some point, although to be honest, I'm not as much a fan of the logo (if I must wear a shirt with one).

4) Lacoste: They actually fit me quite well (still need to try the Red line, though). I like the fabric and colors (as some have mentioned, the fabric is thin, but these are for summer). And for some reason, I even like the crocodile. I suspect it might be partially due to childhood memories of my father wearing a couple of Lacostes in the '80s. I wear my polos untucked, so I don't care about the lack of a tennis tail.

 

Sutherland, I respectfully disagree with your opinion. I think that there is no better polo than Lacoste. I understand that some people think it is expensive and others prefer a tail. I do not understand the purpse of a tail. When a tail is tucked in, there is too much to tuck in the backside. When a tail is untucked, it looks bad in my opinion because it is too long. The price may be high, but quality often costs more.

 

Whatever Lacoste may have produced in its storied history, it's become a Euro-trash brand on par with Hugo Boss. The polos are ill-fitting and made from sub-standard material and the collars are floppy and flaccid.

Cheap: J.Crew
Expensive: Ralph Lauren

Thems the rules.

Wow. Just...wow. Takes some guts to say what is thought in private, but good on you for calling it out like that.

To echo the others: Yep, too short, too wide. Bought one modern to try, and gave it away after TRYING to like it. I love, love, love 80's Lacoste. The ubiquitous nature of the croc shirts was what made me love it as a kid - that and having half my wardrobe made up of the little fellas.

I don't view it as a "high class brand" - to me, it's all nostalgia, but since that's what I'm in for, I love the old school. I had a business meeting when the only two NOS Izod Lacostes in Medium sold on eBay, and I've not forgiven myself since.

I feverishly hunt for great condition/NOS Izod/Lacoste shirts. What I make do with now is PRL polos (I am shaped like a triangle, so it helps ), but am transitioning into Land's End. If they get more preppy colors, I'll make them my main supplier. A size Small works well for me, the pima is amazing. But I have yet to try the mesh - kelley green is in my shopping basket at the moment.

I also have good luck with Roundtree & Yorke polos in small as well - only carried at Dillards. Look for the gold label. They invariably go on clearance, so just keep an eye out.

 

Wearing something with a Brooks Brothers logo sends a message I don't know I'd like to send.

What message do you think it sends?

 

Sutherland, I respectfully disagree with your opinion. I think that there is no better polo than Lacoste. I understand that some people think it is expensive and others prefer a tail. I do not understand the purpse of a tail. When a tail is tucked in, there is too much to tuck in the backside. When a tail is untucked, it looks bad in my opinion because it is too long. The price may be high, but quality often costs more.

They are over-priced, have an impressive proclivity to shrinkage despite careful treatment, they are not regarded as quality goods in the country of their conception, and they are no longer manufactured there, either.

So far you've said some things about the tail and a price. We have a conclusion, an assumption, and are missing any sort of evidence.

O, is it so? I must
Once in a year recount what thou hast been,
Which thou forget'st. This damn'd shirt Lacoste,
With shrinkage manifold and durability terrible
To enter thine wardrobe, from Peru,
Thou know'st, was banish'd: for one thing it did
Trads would not buy such shirts, is not this true?

I prithee,
cast light on this quality unseen, explain
how doth these shirts, in your eyes reclaim
Lost value and worth, to us, enemies again,
Alas, only an abhorrent wound
to our wallet remains.

 

+1 for Roundtree & Yorke. I was in a Dillards at just the right time and bought several that are entering their third season in good condition. The very best match for my body is the RL Classic Fit. I'll try the BB slim fit when the sale begins on the 16th. The issue to to find polos without too much extra material in the waist that will still accommodate athletic shoulders and arms. My one try with Lacoste was a failure. I think they are better for slimmer men.

 

Not to say this too often, but man you can beat those R&Y Gold Labels to death and they keep looking fresh.

And am I the only one who hopes he can speak to the Chinese pirates who make the Lacoste fakes all over eBay and convince them to at least copy some of the old 80's models and fits? I'd be willing to pay for SOMEONE to make me a Lacoste shirt like I remember!

Ah well. I have a plan, we'll see if it works. I can always crawl back to Land's End, where they perpetually have something on order for me it seems.

 

No one got that this poster is trolling? Or is it just being ignored in favor of polo shirt discussion? If so, I'd like to throw in that my Ralph Laurens constantly break down (holes), and my BB constantly shrink. I'm sticking to OCBDs

 

I don't mind Lacoste, though the newer polos are too wide. I don't mind the length, or lack thereof. I wear my pants at the waist and don't tuck in polo shirts. I look like a big enough nerd without having to tuck in my polo shirts to enhance that effect. My current rotation is mostly BB polo shirts, mostly just the navy blue and whites, though I do have an older American-made royal blue BB polo that is terrific. I find that some of the American-made BB polos are too wide, just like the Lacoste shirts. The current polos are better in terms of width. I think the tail looks fine untucked, as long as the shirt isn't too long.

Regarding the BB logo, most people don't even know what it is. I can't imagine what baggage people think it has. The Lacoste logo is definitely more identifiable, but it doesn't bother me to wear that either.

 

I own about a dozen RL polo shirts - Always buy Custom Fit and I think they're excellent - Note I only buy the shirts which have the Mercerized finish. This I believe makes them more durable?

The Lacoste polo's I've owned I've not enjoyed, Sleeves too Long (On short sleeved shirts) Fit too big and placket too floppy, also the buttons have had a tendency to come off.