Updated at: 1512 PST, Sunday, September 12, 2010
 NEW YORK: Christophe Lemaire bows out of Lacoste with minimalist approach and modern tennis whites for spring/summer 2011.
"Bauhaus, minimalism, the Villa Noailles designed by Robert Mallet-Stevens, a little 80s Marie Claire," said Christophe Lemaire, as he outlined his final collection for the French heritage brand, Lacoste.
Lemaire opened with a strong set in black and white and then moved into 'tennis whites', referencing the French tennis champion René Lacoste, who founded the label in 1929.
But there was clean, modernity in the mix of mesh and cotton anoraks, long, loose coats, cuffed track-pants, and a see-through poncho worn over a white; 'tennis bikini'.
Towelling scarves, tucked into the neck of men's shirts and blazers, and towelling 'sweat bands' around the ankles, for the girls, were quirky, sportif touches.
There was a hint of safari style in tan and khaki mesh and cotton separates and a reprise of the poncho-bikini combo. Pink and orange striped knits injected the sizzle factor, before a white and cream finale, accessorised with Panama hats.
Lemaire has been creative director of Lacoste for 10 years, spearheading a fashion revival over the last seven years of catwalk shows at New York Fashion Week . He leaves to take up a new post as creative director at Hermès, replacing Jean Paul Gaultier, and will show his first collection there for the autumn/winter 2011/12 season next March.
"I wanted to really express the essence of Lacoste," he said before taking his final bow. But curiously, for all the reinterpretation of the Lacoste DNA, there appeared to be a slight nod to Hermes, particularly in the use of a strong orange, both in the collection and in the carpet which surrounded the catwalk. |
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