The Polos of Lacoste and Fred Perry

by Rodrigo Lavalle

Lacoste and Fred Perry, the two oldest and most well-known polo shirt brands, have had distinct differences since their founding.

As this article from Les Echos describes well, their creators (the French René Lacoste and the English Fred Perry) came from not only different social backgrounds but also had diverse personalities and attitudes.

The classic Lacoste polo is associated with a certain bourgeois and affluent lifestyle. Tennis, boating, garden parties... It's the weekend uniform of the 'good-natured man' or, in Brazil, of the 'mauricinho' (with Lacoste's baby pink being the ultimate symbol of this). With its rainbow of colors offered, the brand has always sought to convey a sense of well-being and joy in life.

The Fred Perry polo has always been favored by the working class and English football fans. Starting in the 1950s, it began to be adopted by urban subcultures like the mods and later the skinheads. Initially only available in white, the brand introduced other colors at the request of the era's passionate consumers. Yet these colors were always subdued; brighter shades were limited to details on the sleeves and collars, which remain one of the brand's trademarks to this day.

Even with the recent repositioning of both brands to distance themselves from a 'moldy' past and reach a new generation of young consumers, the difference remains: Lacoste, with its L!VE line, bets on a cheerful, colorful, and healthy youth that enjoys nightlife without excess. In contrast, Fred Perry associates with and launches small collections with artists known for their unrestrained bohemian lifestyles like the late Amy Winehouse and with 'intellectual' avant-garde designers like Belgian Raf Simons and Japanese Rei Kawakubo of Commes de Garçons.

Regardless of the style of each brand and each of us, a polo shirt is always an essential item in a man's wardrobe. Whether paired with jeans or tailored shorts, it elevates our appearance compared to those wearing a t-shirt.

Lacoste L!VE: 29 rue Vieille du Temple, 75004

Fred Perry (collaborations and special collections): 70 rue Vieille du Temple, 75003

Fred Perry (traditional collection): 26, rue des Rosiers, 75004

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