Pelagia Kolotouros, Lacoste‘s Creative director since 2023, presented the Fall/Winter 2025 collection at Roland-Garros, channeling the brand’s storied heritage into a forward-looking vision. This season, Lacoste bridges its tennis roots with urban sophistication, honoring founder René Lacoste’s journey from athlete to style icon.
The show transformed the Philippe-Chatrier court into a clay-colored salon where history meets innovation. Models carried handbags shaped like pleated tennis skirts, some in bold cast metal, others with intricate tennis netting or crocodile-embossed details. Kolotouros reworked archival motifs – think mohair fringes reminiscent of 1920s cable knits and embroidered patches inspired by René’s Davis Cup medals – into modern silhouettes. A slate of khaki trenches, elongated polo dresses and double-breasted caban jackets nodded to both athletic practicality and refined tailoring.
Technical fabrics underscored functionality: reflective performance fabrics, waterproof wool trousers and lightweight down blazers fused sportswear grit with polished finishes. Dark green chenille sweater dresses and fuchsia accented knits introduced a subtle eveningwear sensibility, proving Lacoste’s versatility beyond the court. Kolotouros emphasized color as a narrative tool, pairing vibrant athletic hues with muted tones to reflect the brand’s evolution.
Backstage, the designer quoted a vintage photograph of René Lacoste dining in a tuxedo among the Parisian elite. This duality – raw athleticism meets cosmopolitan flair – defined the collection. Voluminous puffers and wide-legged trousers balanced lightness with structure, while lace-trimmed skirts under croc-stitched knits whispered of Jazz Age decadence.
Lacoste Fall/Winter 2025 doesn’t abandon its sportswear DNA, it elevates it, proving that tennis whites can coexist with tailored wool and technical satin. Kolotouros’ approach is deliberate, creating pieces that can transition from day to night without losing their essence. The result is a wardrobe that feels both nostalgic and unmistakably contemporary, cementing Lacoste’s place as a leader in fashion-forward sportswear.
©Photo: Lacoste