A vintage Lacoste sweater or cardigan is a true timeless classic, a cornerstone of preppy and streetwear style for decades. Its iconic status means the market is flooded with fakes. So, when you find that perfect vintage knitwear piece, how can you be sure you've found the real deal?
We're breaking down the key details our team checks when sourcing. Here’s our quick guide to legit checking vintage Lacoste knitwear.
The Legit Check: 5 Things to Look For
1. The Crocodile Logo: It's Still All in the Details
The crocodile remains the most important element, even on knitwear.
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Application: The logo should be a separately stitched-on patch, not embroidered directly into the knit. It should have a very subtle white outline from the patch itself.
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Detail: The croc itself should be highly detailed. You should be able to clearly make out its teeth, claws, and a deep green color. Fakes often have flat, cartoonish logos with a blurry look.
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Placement: On a sweater or cardigan, the logo should be placed neatly on the left side of the chest (as you wear it).
2. The Tags: "Made in France" & Material Composition
The tags on vintage knitwear are incredibly revealing.
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Neck Tag: Look for the vintage "Chemise Lacoste" branding. The font should be clean and precise. The holy grail for older pieces is the "Made in France" tag.
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Sizing: Crucially, vintage Lacoste used a numerical sizing system (2, 3, 4, 5, etc.) instead of S, M, L, XL. A vintage-style tag with lettered sizing is a major red flag.
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Composition Tag: Look for the smaller tag inside that details the material. It should list high-quality materials like "Laine" (Wool), "Coton" (Cotton), or sometimes "Acrylique" for certain vintage blends.
3. The Fabric: Feel the Quality of the Knit
You can often feel authenticity.
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Key Feature: Authentic vintage Lacoste knitwear is made from high-quality materials. A wool sweater should feel substantial and soft, not thin or scratchy. A cotton knit should feel structured and well-made. Fakes often use cheap, thin acrylic blends that feel flimsy and pill easily.
4. The Construction Details: Cuffs, Hem, and Buttons
The finishing touches separate the real from the fake.
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Cuffs and Hem: The ribbed cuffs and hem on a sweater should be tight and elastic, not loose or stretched out. The knitting should be consistent and high-quality.
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Buttons (on Cardigans): If it's a cardigan, the buttons should feel solid and be sewn on securely. They won't necessarily be mother-of-pearl like on the polos, but they should not feel like cheap, lightweight plastic.
5. The Overall Stitching & Quality
Finally, a general quality check.
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Key Feature: Like any well-made garment, the stitching on an authentic Lacoste should be impeccable—straight, even, and tight around the collar and seams. There should be no loose threads or sloppy construction, which are common signs of a counterfeit.
While fakes are getting better, they rarely replicate the quality of the knit or the fine details on the crocodile logo. By checking these five key areas, you can authenticate a piece with much more confidence.
Now that you're armed with this knowledge, you can explore our curated selection of 100% authentic vintage Lacoste right here in our Knitwear collection.
What are your go-to tips for spotting a fake Lacoste sweater? Let's share knowledge in the comments below!
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