[bigCat]

Lacoste was Asian sourced in much of the 80s, too. I know this because I wore "Lacoste" all through junior high and high school, and there is no way my family could have afforded the original French firm's wares. I distinctly remember labels from '84 and '85 that read made in INSERT ASIAN COUNTRY HERE. The French bought back in in the 90s, I think.

What you are referring to is a licensing deal with Izod (for US market only, I believe). The shirts were not made by Lacoste (and no quality standards were imposed), only the rights to use the logo was given to Izod. There was no "sale/repurchase" of the company.

 

[egadfly]

A couple of random thoughts:

(1) Cooley has it exactly right about the old pink Lacostes: they were the perfect shade, sadly now extinct. Most of the colors I see offered these days don't appeal to me, particularly the "heathered" shades. Still, I've always tended to stick with white and navy anyway.

(2) Unlike many here, it seems, I'm comfortable with a slightly baggy fit to my polos. I do not wish to show off my pecs (pace, FrankDC), such as they are, nor do I like feeling a tight grip around my biceps. Long tails are similarly a requirement.

(3) I'm somewhat curious about these -- anyone tried 'em? At twice the price of their regular polo, they must be decent. What makes a golf shirt different from a normal polo?

(4) I typically buy a couple of new polos each year. These get worn to dinner or other casual occasions, while the previous years' models get pushed down the ladder, first to errand shirts, then to fishing/car washing/gardening shirts. Three years is about the maximum lifespan. I see polos as the trad's version of the ubiquitous t-shirt. For that reason, I have a hard time spending much on them (though I might make an exception for those Grass Court premium piques, if they're really like the Lacostes of old).

EGF

 

[Badrabbit]

With RL, I like the way the body/midsection fits on the regular fit, but I hate the long(er) sleeves. However, the Custom Fit has the sleeves I like but a somewhat blousy midsection, seemingly cut for a bigger guy (sorry to anyone offended by this broad generalization).

TT

Are you sure you are talking about the Custom Fit? The custom is smaller aroung the waist than the usual fit. It is made for trim guys not bigger ones. Are you possibly talking about the Golf Fit?

 

[tripreed]

(3) I'm somewhat curious about these -- anyone tried 'em? At twice the price of their regular polo, they must be decent. What makes a golf shirt different from a normal polo?

I'm not sure if I'm in the market for something that touts itself as being "lustrous." What I'm really looking for is the oxford cloth of polo shirts; a material that is thicker and somewhat stiff, that might eventually wash into something nice and soft, but only after scores (hundreds?) of washes.

 

[egadfly]

I'm not sure if I'm in the market for something that touts itself as being "lustrous." What I'm really looking for is the oxford cloth of polo shirts; a material that is thicker and somewhat stiff, that might eventually wash into something nice and soft, but only after scores (hundreds?) of washes.

David Mercer, call your office ...

 

[GMC]

Stand corrected.

What you are referring to is a licensing deal with Izod (for US market only, I believe). The shirts were not made by Lacoste (and no quality standards were imposed), only the rights to use the logo was given to Izod. There was no "sale/repurchase" of the company.

You are right. However, I seem to recall Lacoste was dormant for much of the licensing period. Certainly what was widely available in the States was not the read deal.

 

[TradTeacher]

Are you sure you are talking about the Custom Fit? The custom is smaller aroung the waist than the usual fit. It is made for trim guys not bigger ones. Are you possibly talking about the Golf Fit?

Positive. I own about 5 of the Custom Fits but, for some reason, they start out slim and stretch out during the day. As previously stated, I'm tall (6'1") and slim (172 lbs.) but they just aren't working out as well as I'd like.

I can't wear that Golf Fit stuff. It's sized too big for me. Even a small in that model swallows me whole...

TT

 

[bigCat]

You are right. However, I seem to recall Lacoste was dormant for much of the licensing period. Certainly what was widely available in the States was not the read deal.

It's correct that they were dormant in US (part of the licensing deal). Overseas, they were selling the "real deal" shirts. I still have some of those.

 

[About Town]

David Crystal/ Izod

In the late sixties and seventies a lot of Lacoste stuff was made
for Izod by a company called David Crystal that had one of their manufacturing and later distribution centers in Reading, PA.

In the seventies many people called the shirts alligator or simply Izod shirts.
The Lacoste crocodile connection was lost in translation

The old US or French Shirts had the tennis tails so you they didn't
pull out when you were playing. I grew up near the factory/distribution
center and wore many an Izod Lacoste alligator shirt from shocking pink to
kelly green to wide striped multis with to whites, cream and pale yellows.

Golf knit shirts in my experience, usually do not have banded sleeves and
can be a bit fuller cut.

 

[GMC]

It's interesting to me that so many favor snug fit

It's interesting: Many of us favor full -- even baggy -- button-downs, but a number here also like their polos snug. Interesting dichotomy.

Me? I can't stand a polo that fits tight. I definitely want to be able to tuck the shirt in if I want (many of the "trim" fit polos are also shorter and don't stay tucked in), and I can't stand having the shirt snug to the body. It's not so much about comfort as appearance: In a tight polo I feel like I should be in a downtown nightclub discoing and smoking meth. Which I do not do.

 

[bigCat]

It's interesting: Many of us favor full -- even baggy -- button-downs, but a number here also like their polos snug. Interesting dichotomy.

A related question for those who prefer tight polo fit -

Do you ever have your polo shirts tailored? For example if you found quality shirt in a nice color (on sale) that is just too baggy?

 

[wnh]

While I think the buy-em-cheap mentality is a good one, I'd caution against thinking that any cheap polo will do for certain circumstances. I bought a couple of Wal-Mart (Faded Glory brand, I think) polos last summer that have collars that look as though they'd be better off under a leisure suit. Be ye warned.

 

[TradTeacher]

A related question for those who prefer tight polo fit -

Do you ever have your polo shirts tailored? For example if you found quality shirt in a nice color (on sale) that is just too baggy?

If it was too baggy, I wouldn't buy it--sale or not. I also wouldn't have a polo shirt tailored. It's a casual shirt and should remain so. I'd just wait until I found one I was satisfied with, which is pretty much what I'm doing now...

TT

 

[Danny]

Danny,

How does the fit on the bean polo compare with the others? Like most others here I've tired several of them but have yet to find something that I really like. RL usually fits the bill for me but I find they really work well after they've been washed once or twice. I think I'm just picky though when it comes down to it. .

You're right I should qualify my statement. For whatever reason Bean stuff fits 'me' well. I suppose my body is close to their design model. Almost everything I buy from them fits me perfectly right off the bat. Any shirt in size medium works for me. I agree, the baggy, droopy polo look is bad. A medium size Bean polo has the shoulder seam right at my shoulder and the sleeves come about 2/3rd's down to my elbow. It's a nice middle of the road fit for me.

You know, I wouldn't be surprised if ALL the polos are made by the same company in Peru. Sort of like they say all mattresses are made in the same factory regardless of brand.

Danny

 

[gtguyzach]

Positive. I own about 5 of the Custom Fits but, for some reason, they start out slim and stretch out during the day. As previously stated, I'm tall (6'1") and slim (172 lbs.) but they just aren't working out as well as I'd like.

TT

Interesting notes on the custom fit. I've only got one custom fit RL and I don't wear it too often (its bright orange) and I haven't noticed the "stretching" problem but like I said, it doesn't get real regular wear. I have noticed this effect on the one j crew shirt I've got. I picked it on eBay so its a used shirt, but fits me slim in the front and on the sides but the back seems to billow out like there is way too much material. It's a strange phenomenon.

Have you tried going down a size in the classic cut PRL shirts? I tried one on the store the other week out of curiosity and it felt rather nice (I tried a small and I typically wear a medium). It'd felt more like a custom fit but with a longer tail. I think I'd be afraid to wash it though and it would almost certainly have to never go in the dryer. I may give it a go but I'm more inclined to try a Bean one or another LE since the price is so much lower.

That said though, as far as the debate about pique versus smooth knit. I like to have a couple smooth knit shirts to wear in nicer situations. To me the smooth takes the polo shirt up one knotch in formality (still a very casual shirt mind you). I don't think I would wear a smooth knit polo with shorts (unless it was an old beat up one). Strangely, I don't mind a little looser fit in these shirts.

The debate continues, I think my next shirts will be Bean and BB.

 

[tripreed]

Interesting notes on the custom fit. I've only got one custom fit RL and I don't wear it too often (its bright orange) and I haven't noticed the "stretching" problem but like I said, it doesn't get real regular wear. I have noticed this effect on the one j crew shirt I've got. I picked it on eBay so its a used shirt, but fits me slim in the front and on the sides but the back seems to billow out like there is way too much material. It's a strange phenomenon.

Have you tried going down a size in the classic cut PRL shirts? I tried one on the store the other week out of curiosity and it felt rather nice (I tried a small and I typically wear a medium). It'd felt more like a custom fit but with a longer tail. I think I'd be afraid to wash it though and it would almost certainly have to never go in the dryer. I may give it a go but I'm more inclined to try a Bean one or another LE since the price is so much lower.

I think this highlights the biggest problem for me with Ralph Lauren polo shirts: the unbelievable inconsistency in fit and quality. This problem is further highlighted when you compare shirts purchased from the outlet to ones purchased from stores like SteinMart (and I assume ones purchased full price, though I've never been dumb enough to do that...). Purchasing them off of Ebay would be a crap shoot for what you're actually going to end up with.

 

[TradTeacher]

Have you tried going down a size in the classic cut PRL shirts? I tried one on the store the other week out of curiosity and it felt rather nice (I tried a small and I typically wear a medium). It'd felt more like a custom fit but with a longer tail. I think I'd be afraid to wash it though and it would almost certainly have to never go in the dryer.

No, but only because a M in the classic cut fits me perfectly. Strangely though, I have to size down to a S in the Lacoste polos because a M is too baggy on me. Yet, in the Custom Fit RL, I wear a L. It's maddening, really...

I may try a Bean polo, but I just worry about those sleeves so much...

TT

 

[arturostevens]

I used to wear the original LaCoste shirts in the mid to late 70's. Then, as you recall, in 1979 ( and I can remember this from USC and the invasion of RL that year) the alligator took a dump and the polo horse became a "must wear", at least among the fashion minded prep and college crowd in Los Angeles. I got a few of them, but ultimately steered toward the polos without a label which led me to back to LL Bean. And that is where the value is with polos. No alligator or horse to contend with.

I must admit I do have a few BB polos and they are fine but the sizing varied a few years ago. I wear a medium and it was not just loose which is fine, but tent like. Now the fit is better. The quality has been good and I am accustomed to that little golden fleece more than the others. And the price point is good.

I would never pay $80 for a LaCoste with the other options out there that cost less and give you as much if not more.

 

[DukeGrad]

Shirts

Gentlemen

I wear the Brooks Brothers polo quite a bit. Lot of washings, and after a few years this bunch I got is still nice.
I also am a fan of J Crew teeshirts, and am thinking of trying their polos as well.
I like the colors they do. Deep greens, browns etc.

Nice day

 

[thomj513]

I used to wear USA made IZODs. Had to look carefully at the label as this was when more of the imports were starting to come into the country. I used to play golf and found some great buys at the local pro shops. Now days I buy most of my polo style shirts from J.C. Penney. Nice selection of colors, the medium size fits my body shape well and the shirts hold up to washing, very little fading, and drying, not much shrinkage. I do own a couple RLs but they're just O.K.