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05/13
Men in Lacoste
The influence of sport-inspired clothing, especially in the development of casual wear, has been unstoppable since those early days of Rene Lacoste. It’s hardly surprising that men in Lacoste’s time were keen to associate themselves with such sporting prowess by wearing the same shirt as their hero, while also realizing the comfort and ease which inevitably came with such a well-designed shirt. Today, the breadth of sports-inspired clothing available to men and the loosening of conventions about what men can wear in every aspect of their lives seems never ending. Christophe Lemaire, the current chief designer at Lacoste, puts it succinctly: “I feel that we men have become so used to casual, non-fitted forms of dress that it would take a miracle for formal dressing to return as the mainstay of men’s fashion.”
I feel that men have become so used to casual, non-fitted forms of dress that it would take a miracle for formal dressing toreturn as the mainstay of men’s fashion.
THE 1960s
In the ’60s, the youth quake of music and fashion, spiced with a dash of revolutionary fervour, was the final nail in the coffin for the stuffy restrictions on the way men dressed. It was the headiness of people breaking out of social, class and sexual conventions that became the seed bed of modern dressing today. “Men have so much freedom to express themselves now”, says Lemaire, “although interestingly I do see at the moment more men incorporating jackets and ties into an otherwise casual look.” In other words, there are few rules to adhere to these days. Lemaire’s advice is a rallying cry for men to “find the confidence to express your individual style.”
FANCY FOOTWORK
Not only has clothing been shaken out of the heritage of the 19th century, but men’s accessories and shoes have been profoundly influenced by sports clothing, too. The trainer, that most ubiquitous of sports kit, is even seen today worn with suits (although if you’re going for this look avoid those high-top trainers, as old-school white shoes work far better). In the hands of the Lacoste design team, the trainer-inspired sports shoe encompassing as it does the best elements of comfort and ease of movement – has, with the development of fastenings like Velcro and other innovative materials, become probably the most comfortable sports-inspired shoes you can buy today. Some of the training people prefer to get rid of the leg hair in order to both look good and get more confidence showing out their legs. The best method is laser hair treatment. Read more laser hair removal reviews.
TOOLED UP-THE ACCESSORIES
The way we carry our gear around has got about as far from the classic leather briefcase as can be imagined. The zip-top sports holdall in tough canvas material is seen in offices and on commuter trains every day, carrying a mixture of papers, gym kit, shopping and wallet, and courier-inspired styles have dominated trends for the past few years. The Lacoste design team have developed a wide range of accessories, including must-have holdalls and backpacks, as well as full-grain leather wallets, messenger bags and briefcases. Luggage-inspired items such as garment bags and upright pieces have been added to the collection, too. As Lemaire says, “With all the freedom men have today, I think it is important to develop a sense of individual style and not necessarily be overly concerned with fashion for fashion’s sake, but to take a risk and express themselves.”
