How To Identify A Fake Lacoste Polo Shirt in 2024

Updated APril 7th, 2024

There are a lot of fake Lacoste items for sale on the internet, so how do you ensure you are not buying a counterfeit Lacoste polo shirt? Your best method to ensure that you are really buying an original Lacoste polo shirt is to buy it from the Lacoste Store. However, if you are buying a  Lacoste polo shirt from someone else, you should look for a few obvious signs of fake merchandise. Here’s some quick methods to detect whether the Lacoste shirt you are about to buy is real or counterfeit:

1) Check the logo – Most fakes have cheaply made crocodile logos with badly defined body parts. The crocodile should be a deep, dark green with obvious individual teeth and claws. The top jaw is smaller than bottom and is angled slightly upwards. The tail will be rounded and be pointing in the same direction as the jaw rather than at the crocodile. The logo should be on a white background, and stitched on from inside the shirt. You should see no stitches on the front of the shirt.Lacoste Patch Comparison 

You should also see neat stitching inside the shirt outlining the crocodile. Messy stitching inside is a clear sign of a fake. On the original Lacoste polo shirts, the logo is held on with 1,400 stitches.

Unfortunately, Lacoste has been confusing the issue recently by using multiple versions of the logo in different materials, so if your item’s logo doesn’t look like the classic cloth one pictured above, you should check it against some of the newer versions shown on my Lacoste Crocodile Logo page. While the colors differ, the quality of the logo and its stitching are still good indicators.

2) Check the sizing – Lacoste uses numbers for sizing, not small, medium and large

Genuine Lacoste Label

3) Check the Logo Alignment –  The Lacoste Logo lines up with the second button of their polo shirts. It never lines up with the bottom of the placket.

Men's Pink Polo Shirt

4) Check the Fabric – Most fakes are made with much thinner cloth than genuine Lacoste shirts. If you put your hand inside the shirt, and you can see it through the cloth, then it’s almost certainly a fake. You can also check the weave to see if it matches Lacoste’s exclusive “petit pique” pattern

Petite Pique

5) Check the Buttons – Real Lacoste buttons are usually mother-of-pearl. The shape is flat and slightly saddle-like in the middle. There are 2 holes for needles (on the upper and lower parts). There is usually no writing on the button. A genuine button will have a clearly defined rim around it.

Lacoste Button

6) Check for Elevations – Men’s T-shirts have small side elevations.

7) Check the Label – On a new Lacoste shirt with an ironed on label, the Lacoste label  will look like the example shown below. Most fake Lacoste makers don’t do a thorough job on the label. In particular, the lettering and logo are usually have blurred edges.

8) Check the Tag – An authentic Lacoste shirt will come with tags like the ones below. Again, this an area in which most forgers don’t put in a lot of effort. If your item doesn’t come with tags like the ones below, then it’s not authentic.

Other Resources

If you are interested in authenticating a Lacoste bag, check out my article on detecting fake Lacoste bags. I’ve also written a detailed article on detecting counterfeit Lacoste items if these instructions are not good enough.

How To Detect A Fake Women’s Lacoste Bag in 2024

Updated March 15, 2024

There are a lot of fake Lacoste bags out there, so before you buy, here’s a simple step-by-step process for detecting whether the women’s Lacoste tote bag or purse you are buying is a genuine Lacoste or a cheap fake. For other tips on avoiding fake Lacoste products, see my page on detecting counterfeit Lacoste. For information on reporting fake Lacoste items, go to Lacoste’s brand protection page.

It’s important not to be fooled by superficial packaging features. Packaging is cheap, so the makers of fake Lacoste bags go to a lot of trouble to replicate Lacoste packaging while skimping on the more expensive manufacturing processes. For example, here’s a picture of a “replica” Lacoste bag currently for sale on the internet:

fake Lacoste tote bag

That packing and the labels look pretty authentic, don’t they? Therefore, you need to focus on other elements.

Where Did You Buy The Bag?

Start with where you are buying the bag. If you bought the bag from a street seller or from eBay, you can be almost certain that it’s a fake. Lacoste bags are only sold at Lacoste’s own stores or at certified retailers. You can determine if a store is an approved seller by checking it out on Lacoste’s website.

Street Vendor Bags

Is The Quality Of The Construction And Materials High?

Lacoste bags can be made of canvas, PVC or leather, but they all share one thing in common: their construction and materials are of high quality. A common fault of fake bags is inferior stitching. Genuine Lacoste bags have small, even, solid stitching. Uneven stitching or loose threads is an indication of a counterfeit bag. A good place to check the stitching is inside the bag, since the manufacturers of fakes often skimp on the non-visible stitching. If you see uneven stitching around the inside of the bag, or bunching of the lining around the rim, you can be pretty sure you have a counterfeit bag.

Genuine Lacoste bags will also have quality zippers, fastenings, and handle attachments that are neatly and securely sewn in. An example from a genuine Lacoste bag is shown below

Lacoste Bag Zipper

The zipper of a Genuine Lacoste bag will run right up to the edge of the bag opening. The zips of most replicas will stop short of the opening. The loop handle on a Lacoste tote bag is made with a garter material under the leather. This makes the strap less stiff and easy to bend. Most replicas will omit the garter center, so their handles are much stiffer and harder to bend.

Is The Lacoste Logo Correct?

All Lacoste bags have a genuine Lacoste logo that is either printed on the bag (canvas) or attached (leather and PVC). Genuine Lacoste logos are of high quality, with defined lines. Fakes also tend to have shapes that are not correct. An example of a genuine traditional logo on a leather bag is shown below

traditional Lacoste logo

Lacoste bags can also have monochrome logos. An example of a monochrome logo on a canvas bag is shown below

Gold Lacoste logo

Sometimes, as shown below, the monochrome logo matches the bag’s material.

Red Lacoste Logo

For other examples of legitimate Lacoste logos, see my page on the Lacoste Crocodile Logo.

Some bags have embossed logos. In general, a genuine embossed Lacoste log will be distinct, but shallowly embossed. See below for an example:

Genuine Lacoste embossed logo

Replica embossed logos tend to be deeper, as you can see below:

Fake embossed Lacoste logo

Check The Tag

An authentic Lacoste bag will come with a tag listing details about the bag including the materials, model and size.

Does The Bag Reflect Lacoste’s Design Sensibility?

If you browse through the Lacoste website, you will soon become familiar with Lacoste’s design sensibility. Lacoste tote bags are all narrower at the bottom than the top, and have large U shaped straps. The logo on the bags is usually at the top and centered. The leather bags don’t come in outrageous colors, and the purses also have very traditional designs. After you have looked at a few examples, you will have a good idea of whether Laooste would have designed the bag you are looking at buying. Here’s an example of a Genuine Lacoste bag:

Genuine Lacoste Tote Bag

I hope these tips are helpful, and that they will prevent you spending your hard-earned dollars on phony merchandise. Remember, the counterfeiters work hard to fool you, so don’t be taken in by superficial packaging touches, such as the ones shown on the fake bag pictured below:

Replica Lacoste Tote Bag

General Tips on Identifying Counterfeit Designer Bags

In addition to these specific indicators relevant to Lacoste, here are some more general tips on identifying counterfeit designer bags:

  1. Authenticity Cards or Certificates: Some designer bags come with authenticity cards or certificates, which contain unique codes or holograms to authenticate the bag’s origin​​.
  2. Branding Details: It’s important to check the logos, fonts, and engravings for consistency and accuracy. Misalignments or misspellings can indicate a counterfeit​​.
  3. Hardware Quality: Genuine designer bags use high-quality hardware that should be branded, function smoothly, and be durable. Check for flaking, cracking, or peeling of the hardware​​.
  4. Stitching Quality: The stitching on authentic designer bags should be impeccable, with evenly spaced and aligned stitches. Any discrepancy in stitch count or color can be a red flag​​​​.
  5. Bag Size and Proportions: Verify the bag’s measurements against the official brand specifications to ensure it matches the correct size, shape, and proportions​​.
  6. Interior Layout: The interior of a genuine designer bag should be well-organized and consistent with the brand’s design. Any discrepancies in the interior layout or quality can indicate a fake​​.
  7. Serial Numbers: Designer bags often have unique serial numbers or codes. Research the brand’s serial number format and verify if the number on the bag aligns with the brand’s standards​​​​.
  8. Purchase Source: To avoid buying a fake, it’s recommended to buy directly from authorized retailers or brand boutiques. Be cautious of significantly lower prices and ensure secure payment methods are used​​.
  9. Hardware Consistency: Ensure that the hardware color matches the logo color on the inside of the handbag. For specific brands like Chanel, certain measurements and placements of logos and hardware are standard and can be verified for authenticity​

Other Resources

Get The Lacoste Shirt Novac Djokovic Has Been Wearing At The 2018 US Open

Novac Djokovic has been cruising through the 2018 US Open and he’s been doing it in style wearing a shirt created just for him by Lacoste. Now, though, you too can buy the MEN’S SPORT PRINT TECHNICAL JERSEY POLO – NOVAK DJOKOVIC ON COURT PREMIUM EDITION from Lacoste.The shirt  is an ultra-dry jersey polo featuring raglan sleeves, a ribbed two-button polo collar and a breathable mesh panel on the back. It also has an exclusive Novak Djokovic logo, and (of course) a green crocodile logo on the chest.

2018 US Open Lacoste Shirt

Best of all, it comes in a wild, eye-catching graphic print. Get one before they are retired, and you have to live with the regret.

Lacoste Releases New Carnaby Evo Sneaker

Carnaby EvoLacoste has released a new version of their Carnaby Evo Sneaker. According to Lacoste,

“The Carnaby Evo BL is an iconic on-court style crafted from premium leather, with contrast heel detailing and signature Lacoste design lines. Team with a crisp white shirt and jeans.”

 

It has the following specs:

  • Leather uppers
  • Rubber outsole with tennis-inspired tread
  • Mesh lining
  • Contrast color binding at heel tab
  • 83.5% Leather (Timbo ss) 16.5% Synthetic (PU)

Da Man magazine notes “With a heritage-inspired duotone colour palette and minimalist aesthetic, the Carnaby Evo pieces can lend a touch of sophistication to any outfit, whatever your mood or destination.”

Note: Worried that the Lacoste sneaker you bought is fake? Check out my post on detecting counterfeit Lacoste sneakers.

Lacoste’s Pour Femme Intense Top Women’s Perfume For Fall

Pour Femme Intense PerfurmeAccording to the Daily Mail, Lacoste’s Pour Femme Intense perfume ranks number one on the list of women’s perfumes that will be worn this Fall:

Top of the list for women’s fragrances was Lacoste’s Pour Femme Intense, which costs a purse-friendly £47 RRP and knocked Chanel’s classic Coco Mademoiselle Intense into second place.

Researchers analysed data from Fragrantica, the online ‘encyclopaedia of perfumes’ where more than 524,000 fragrance enthusiasts review the latest scents.

They compiled a list of autumnal scents from a list of 2018’s most popular fragrances and ranked them according to their average rating.

They found that woody notes were the most popular this autumn, with 80 per cent of men’s fragrances and 50 per cent of women’s containing them.

Read more here.