For the Fall/Winter 2025 show, Lacoste rolled out the collection on the court—exactly where the fashion brand was born. For her third collection named “An Invitation”, Pelagia Kolotouros returned to the Philippe Chatrier court at the Roland-Garros stadium, where she made her debut for Lacoste.
The clay court is turned into an intimate lounge graced by front-row audiences like Venus Williams, Adrien Brody, the newly-minted brand global ambassador Taylor Zakhar Perez, along with K-pop star Yujin from IVE, and Chinese actor Wang Yibo. The social whirl scene brings to mind the sophisticated off-court life that René Lacoste (also known as “The Crocodile”) was renowned for back in the thirties, a lifestyle that made up a huge part of the brand heritage.
Walking down the warm burnt orange runway is a range of outerwear, from elevated and refined wool to voluminous puffed coats. Despite Lacoste being a brand that drops the anchor on its age-old heritage, the Fall/Winter 2025 is blended with a refreshing perspective from a futuristic lens. Pieces made with performance materials such as reflective technical nylon take centre stage. Prioritising practicality and comfort, A-line tech trench coats, tracksuits, and boiler suits are crafted in a slouchy silhouette for a laid-back attitude. To top it off, eye-catching touches such as belts in the form of a shoelace, fitted balaclava, and also convertible mitten gloves were added—very streetwear coded.
Precise tailoring—an essential part of the 1930s suits—can be seen on the double-breasted jackets, some of which are elongated to look like a peacoat. Bedecked with encrusted crocodile emblems on the lapels, these blazers are paired with loose-fitting and floor-grazing trousers. Evening-ready numbers such as the tinsel-looking oversized cardigans and lace sheer skirts swinging down the runway are reminiscent of a sparkling flapper dress from the Jazz Age. Adorning these glimmering looks are accessories such as necklaces or scarves, featuring a medallions motif—a tennis racquet, the Davis Cup and the founder’s name—that draws inspiration from the founder’s personal archive.
Now a Lacoste signature, the Lenglen bag has been hailed as one of the most loved bags ever since it first launched. Taking after the shape of a pleated tennis skirt, the bag was named after the legendary tennis champion Suzanne Lenglen—a fashion icon who revolutionised women’s sportswear and also a dear friend of René. The exciting accessories lineup is added with not only Lenglen in various sizes but also a new iteration wrapped in cast metal. New silhouettes such as tennis kit bags, racket bags embossed with glittering Crocodile logos, or clutches festooned with embellished mesh details were also the talk of the crowd after the show.
For a collection that features a comprehensive range of offerings that highlights the contrasting structures of eveningwear and sports, Kolotouros depicted the trajectory of René Lacoste’s life through garments: a Grand Slams winner, a sophisticated social figure, and also a successful businessperson.
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