Vintage Lacoste
The Original Tennis Polo Since 1933 · Founded 1933 · Paris, France
René Lacoste invented the modern polo shirt — the L.12.12 — in 1933 and put his 'crocodile' nickname on the chest. In the US, Izod Lacoste (pre-1993) made the croc a prep icon; in Europe, Chemise Lacoste stayed Made in France. Both eras are now hunted vintage.
How to Spot Authentic Vintage Lacoste
Reproductions and mislabeled pieces are common. These are the markers that separate genuine vintage Lacoste from fakes and modern items:
- 'Chemise Lacoste' and 'Made in France' tags on European production
- 'Izod Lacoste' marks the US-licensed prep era (pre-1993)
- Croc patch should be stitched cleanly with correct proportions
- Mother-of-pearl buttons on older L.12.12 polos
Vintage Lacoste Sizing
Vintage Lacoste uses French numeric sizing (3/4/5/6) — a 5 is roughly a Medium-Large, but 70s-80s polos run trim and shorter than modern fits. Piqué cotton often shrank in past washes, so compare pit-to-pit against a polo you own.
What to Search For
The most sought-after vintage Lacoste. Each search runs across every marketplace at once:
Shop Live Lacoste Listings
Browse what's on the market right now, by category — live listings pulled from eBay, Grailed, and Poshmark:
Search Every Marketplace for Vintage Lacoste
Antigo searches eBay, Grailed, Poshmark, Depop, Vestiaire, Mercari, and The RealReal at once — so you can compare every vintage Lacoste listing in a single search, ranked by relevance and price.