TennisIDENTITY

John Isner signs le croc.

Lacoste has entered a four year partnership with John Isner both on and off the tennis court. He joins fellow big-serving American Andy Roddick in wearing the French brand.

The Crocodile insignia symbolizes Lacoste founder Rene Lacoste's tenacity on court, something Isner and Nicolas Mahut absolutely showed in their record breaking 11 hour, 5 min match back Wimbledon 2010. Mahut fittingly, is also sponsored by Lacoste. 

Isner, who looks best in looser fitting styles should look good in Lacoste. Preppy for sure, but good.

 

 

Truckin' on. Andy Roddick at Bloomie's Lacoste Shop. Win a signed trucker hat.

Andy Roddick stepped off court to hit the NYC Bloomingdale's Lacoste shop Wednesday to promote his Andy Roddick line of apparel. Decked in red as bright as his tennis shoes (tis the season after all), Roddick signed away and chatted with fans. Gentleman that he is, he didn't wear his trucker hat inside, BUT...

Score!!! I got one for you. One luckyTennisIDENTITY reader/tweeter gets a swank new Lacoste trucker hat signed by Andy at the Bloomies event. Leave a comment below this post or RT on Twitter to enter.**

**Rules: Enter to win one NEW (with tags) white Lacoste Trucker cap signed by Andy Roddick by leaving a note for AR below or retweeting this post on Twitter with @TennisIdentity included. Last entry will be accepted December 17, 2011 at midnight EST. One entry per email/twitter address. Winner will be chosen by random draw on December 18, 2011 and posted after the winner has responded. Winner will have 48 hours to respond before another winner is drawn. If you use Twitter to enter you must follow @TennisIdentity in order to be eligible. Email addresses will ONLY be used to contact you if selected. Good luck!

Samantha Stosur wears sporty fresh Lacoste at US Open

I like this look, sleek and powerful. I am a fan, of the new dress, Stosur and her ever-present eyewear. 

PIctured here at the US Open, Stosur wears the new Sleeveless Stretch Pique Striped Dress in Eclipse Blue by Lacoste, $135. White and ultraviolet purple color blocking is added in discreet doses and in ways that don't add the illusion of weight to a body.

See ya drawstring dress. This one is a BIG improvement.

Extras. The jersey tennis panty is $40 in white. The visor does not appear to be available in the US and there is a cute fleece zip that goes with it.

Based on a sample I checked out the dress fabric is a performance poly blend (sewn in label says it is). Lacoste's site says it's mostly cotton* (but it doesn't feel like it). I like a made-for-action fabric better anyway.

That eyewear! Sam is wearing Oakley Enduring frames ($180 to start) with Positive Red Iridium lenses (available to public via custom order or by buying the accessory lenses). The lenses adjust to varied light conditions automatically. Sam's lenses are also polarized to cut glare by 99%.

Find this hot ticket shift at Lacoste, Tennis-Warehouse and other tennis retailers worldwide. Find the eyewear or a dealer at Oakley 

*9/13 Post update: Lacoste has confirmed that the fabrication of the dress is indeed 93% polyester/7%elastane.

 

 

Round-Up: Headbands for tennis

There are two kinds of headbands for tennis, those designed to keep sweat out of your eyes and those that keep hair out of your face.

First, the sweat managers:

Nike's swoosh bandanas are 100% cotton (stays wet while sweating), $12. If you've got the face and hair, these look darn good (case in point on left). adidas, K-Swiss and Fila, also make a tie variety (all are poly blend).

Right, by adidas, are the more traditional cotton terry variety, 75% cotton with stretch, $5.99 for two. Let's just say it's a very functional style. I see a lot of these on men. Fila, Nike, K-Swiss and Lacoste also make them.

bondiband makes a thin sweat wicking headband in multiple colors and fun/motivational prints, $8.00. All are meant to be worn across the forehead or at the hairline (as pictured here). They are attractive and very quick-drying (so you are never wearing a soaking band). Look for the one with crossed tennis racquets in the sport section. They carry quite a few men's styles as well. 

Second, the hair managers:

Women who wear these do not feel comfortable with a headband across their forehead. Problem is, comfortable, functional, hair-taming bands are hard to find because most slip unless sitting at the hairline or forehead. Many wear hard u shaped plastic bands.

What you need to look for are headbands with strips of silicone gripper tape on the side against your hair. Yoga manufacturers like Lululemon sell these. Their Slipless Headband, $12, is pictured here. I've also seen silicone lined bands at Athleta. I am not finding them yet in branded tennis apparel.

Find adidas, Nike, Fila, K-Swiss and Lacoste headbands at Tennis-Warehouse and tennis retailers worldwide.

 

Dominika Cibulkova had a great Monday.

Mondays usually get a bad rap. This week's was for great for the WTA's Dominika Cibulkova. Her game was all heat against world number 1 Caroline Wozniacki. Big day for the Slovakian.

Cibulkova wore a one-piece cotton blend Lacoste tennis dress that has been around a while this year. Almost like a long t-shirt with drawstring waist. Comfy and pretty on a trim body.

This dress is available online in France (not on the US site).

Cibulkova's racquet is the Dunlop Biomimetic 600 Lite. You can find it at Tennis-Warehouse and tennis-retailers selling Dunlop worldwide.

Loved her strawberries themed racquet bag too -- last year's but still really fun on the hallowed grass. 

Alas, today was a different story...same dress but I prefer to dwell on Monday's result. Congrats to Sharapova however.

 

 

Lacoste serves up an Andy Roddick signature tennis collection.

The croc is biting bigger into tennis with Lacoste's new Andy Roddick collection. The logo is Roddick's sig next to set-to-serve-another-ace-bomb Andy.

The group will be available in Lacoste retail shops internationally beginning July 1, 2011. According to the company, Roddick won't wear any of it until the start of the US Open. 

The colors are a many-complexion-loving night blue with accents of white and eclipse blue.

Pictured are two Andy Roddick 100% performance poly pique knit super dry polos, Both are $88 USD. The first has a traditional button placket, the second, a more modern zip neck. Both have a split tail hem and no those are not cuffs on the first shirt. It's an illusion because of the white stripe atop the sleeves.

The track jacket, is a heavier weight and very handsome run-resistant pique (100% poly) in the darker of the two blues. There are two pairs of tennis shorts as well, $85, white or night blue with small sections of in-color theme color blocking on the sides of each leg.

The special Andy Roddick logo is embroidered on all of the the pieces and on the interior tag right below that crocodile.

No word yet on if this collection will be available online. I'll update when I know.

UPDATE: 8/1 It's in at Tennis-Warehouse! 

 

 

The Gents and Ladies of Lacoste. US Open 2010 Tennis Fashion.

Lacoste players have had a great run at the US Open, excepting a couple. As always much of what you see from the label is not what you can get in the US but pickin's ARE getting better.

Much of Lacoste tennis style has a very classic, kind of preppy fit with a Hamptons country club feel in presentation. I like seeing the line on non-preps like these players in full action. They make it feel like more of an every-person's line.

Stanislas Wawrinka has been wearing this polo, called the "short sleeve super dry color block sport polo with printed stripe details." Dear Lacoste can I suggest the Wawrinka or something simple? The shirt is $88 and is available at Lacoste but in a different color scheme (navy, white and pale yellow) in the US.

Andy Roddick's shirt was the Short Sleeve Printed Check Sport Polo in gibraltar blue. It also comes in black and white, also $88. There are a few nice variations of this shirt including ones with a zip instead of the button placket for a less traditional feel.

On Samantha Stosur and Dominika Cibulkova we saw the Lacoste Sleeveless Contrast Tipped Zip Placket Tennis Dress in white and pansy purple. It's only available in the US in purple, $145. The jersey tennis panties are $40.

For more casual Lacoste I like their weathered looking practice tees (I do have a fondness for the croc). Roddick had one on when I saw him at the City View Racquet Club in NY where his Andy Roddick Foundation was presented with a $15,000 check from his racquet sponsor Babolat.

Find the looks at Lacoste, Tennis-Warehouse for men and women and select tennis retailers worldwide.

Check out this video of Sam's post match shoot!

Andy Roddick and Stanislas Wawrinka Manly Up Mens Lacoste at Roland Garros.

 
It's a good thing that Lacoste continues to ally itself with dynamic athletes like Andy Roddick and Stanislas Wawrinka otherwise you might think the brand was only for the chic fashion folk that frequent their ads.

As usual Roddick and Wawrinka put the brand through its paces. Pictured above at Roland Garros Roddick wears the Men's Spring Striped Tennis Polo, $88 in white with navy. It also comes navy with white, classic fit in 100% performance polyester. Classic fit means loose and a little baggy like Roddick wears it. He still tugs at the shoulders. That's got to be "ritual" at this point. Most shoulders stay put if you wear the right size.

The shorts are the Men's Spring Diamante 7", $85. They also come in white and black. I've heard talk of the white being see through but if you wear white compression shorts underneath it shouldn't be an issue.

Wawrinka's Roland Garros shirt, part of the theme LACOSTE team Summer 2010, is available only in select Lacoste stores.

Available at Lacoste and Tennis-Warehouse.

Lacoste Signs 13 New Tennis Players to Wear the Brand Plus the Scoop on Andy's Latest Threads

Watch for a big infusion of Lacoste this year and maybe a little more variety. The company recently announced that thirteen new players are joining the team. ATP players new to the brand include: Dudi Sela (ISR), Julien Benneteau (FRA), Thierry Ascione (FRA), Gaston Gaugio (ARG), Federico del Bonis (ARG), Jesse Huta Galung (NL), Milos Raonic (CAN), David Souto (VEN) and Julien Obry (FRA). New WTA players include: Aleksandra Woziak (CAN), Vera Dusevina (RUS), Yaroslava Shedova (KAZ) and Mallory Cecil (USA). These players will join Andy Roddick (USA), Stanislas Wawrinka (SWI), Sam Stosur (AUS) and Dominika Cibulkova (SLO), who already wear the brand on and off court when "working." I've also seen Vania King (USA) and Gisela Dulko (ARG) wearing the croc.

Andy Roddick's kit at the Australian included this Lacoste Short Sleeve Super Dry Stripe Sleeve Polo, $88.00. He wore the eclipse blue version of the tennis shirt nights. That one is my fav of the two. His shorts are the Lacoste Diamante Drawstring, $85. These are the same style shorts he's been wearing for a year. The shirts they change up although he tugs at the shoulders of every single one.

Roddick's shoes are the Babolat Propulse 2 Titanium , $109 in black and gold. I love the women's version myself. Low to the ground, secure fit and super comfortable.

Find Andy's Lacoste style at Lacoste and now at Tennis-Warehouse's new Lacoste department! His shoes and racquet (the Babolat Pure Drive Roddick GT Plus) are available at Tennis-Warehouse.  Congratulations to the newly sponsored players. Looking forward to seeing you on the courts! Bring on the color.

Four Decades, Four Crocs. Lacoste Creates Special Polo for Fabrice Santoro.

If you didn't watch the early rounds of the Australian Open you missed it; the crocodile brand created a special polo shirt for their longtime ambassador Fabrice Santoro.

Santoro lost in first round match play to Marin Cilic. The final score was a respectable 7-5, 7-5, 6-3, not at all bad for a guy who's on tour at age 37. 

Santoro is a legend of sorts in that he has now entered 70 Grand Slam tournaments and is the only player to have played the Grand Slams during four different decades.

For this occasion Lacoste created a special zip-front polo shirt sporting the colors of the French flag on four crocodiles, one for each decade.

"We are proud to have built a long lasting relationship with [Santoro]...for 29 years..." said Christophe Chenut, CEO of Lacoste SA. Alas the shirt is not available to us admirers of Santoro. I like it a lot though. 

Santoro's website.

Little Pink Dresses, (Not) For You and Me But...New Spring Summer Lacoste for Tennis.

This little pink dress has popped up all over the courts in Melbourne.  I've spotted it on Vania King (pictured above), Gisela Dulko and Samantha Stosur. Anyone I'm missing? It looks gorgeous against the blue courts and on the talented beauties wearing it; part of the grand pink and blue scheme Lacoste has going on down under. Only problem is...you can't buy it...sob...in that color.

The dress is the "Sleeveles Sport Tipped Pleated Tennis Dress," offered in Lacoste's Spring Summer 2010 Collection.  It IS available in a more traditional white with blue accents AND eclipse blue with white, $145 USD. I really WANT the pink but I'll settle for eclipse. It's a better color on everyone universally anyway.

This dress is super short (32" shoulder to hem), with a fitted body and drop waist that turns into flat pleats. Shorties and a fit form are a must.  It's made of performance polyamide/elastine to help keep you dry as you work your game.

Vania King plays with the Babolat AeroProDrive. 

Find the look at Lacoste.

Andy Roddick Commits to Wearing LACOSTE until 2013.

Rumors of Andy Roddick's plans to leave the croc have proven untrue. It was announced today that he has renewed his partnership with LACOSTE until 2013.

"I am proud to represent a brand that has such strong values surrounding family and sports," said Roddick. "After five years I feel a real sense of belonging to the crocodile family. I am happy to continue to be an ambassador of the LACOSTE brand and René Lacoste."

Christophe Chenut, CEO of Lacoste (pictured here with Roddick) said, "We are proud to have a player of this level ...Andy embodies the values of a true champion..."

Looking forward to 2010. Congratulations and good luck Andy.

Find the croc at Lacoste.

Andy Roddick. His U.S. Open Ready Style from Lacoste.

It's a nice one. Andy Roddick's newest look combines the Lacoste Short Sleeve Printed Check Super Dry Polo, $95 in eclipse blue and the like-color Diamante Drawstring Short, $85 ($49.99 online sale). The shirt is all lightweight, all performance fabric, a totally different feel than traditional Lacoste shirts -- touches of kelly green and white add pop. Wonder if Roddick went a size smaller he'd stop tugging at his shoulders but at this point it's probably ritual along with the quick cap adjust.

The Men's Trucker Cap retails for $55  (now $32.99 online). The mesh top is great for keeping the head ventilated -- a much cooler option than a closed weave fabric.

Andy's racquet? The Babolat Pure Drive Roddick, ($189 USD unstrung) and his shoes? The Babolat Propulse 2, $109. ASO ankle braces, ($34.99 each) on both feet. This editor swears by them too.

Find Roddick's look and gear at Lacoste and Tennis-Warehouse. The Lacoste items are also available at the Lacoste shop at the U.S. Open.

Image: Ron Angle

Checking in with Roddick's Lacoste shirt collection.

One of Andy Roddick's newest shirts from Lacoste is the Super Dry Polo with Zipper Closure and Check Sleeve.  Not too creative of a name but a great looking shirt on the guy. 

This one was his choice at Roland Garros. The shirt comes in white with eclipse blue (shown here) and in the reverse, eclipse blue with white. The collar is ribbed, lightweight, 100% polyester, $95 USD.

Roddick's hat is the Men's Trucker Cap -- full mesh back for ventilation. It actually has less of a trucker look these days (a good thing) and it's on sale at the moment, $37.99. (regularly $55)

Available now at Lacoste under Men's tennis.

Andy plays with the new Babolat Pure Drive Roddick that we looked at May 13.

Image: Ron Angle

Andy Roddick's new stick from the 2009 Babolat Pure Drive Range. An upgrade with personal flair.

 

You may have noticed, Andy Roddick has a new racquet. It's the new Babolat Pure Drive Roddick ($189 USD, unstrung), ideal for expert players with full and fast swings looking for solid feel with spin and a balance of power and control. Head size: 100 sq.in.; weight:11.1 oz; flair: Roddick's sig.

The alternate version, currently used by Sybille Bammer, is the Babolat Pure Drive ($185) again for advanced players, same head size but a tad lighter at 10.6 oz.  Both 2009 Pure Drive sticks are enhanced with what the company calls GT technology. It's a hybrid material that combines braided carbon fibers and tungsten filaments in the racquet head. This combo reduces torque at ball impact and creates power with precision. The blue color remains. Looking forward to a test drive!

The Babolat Pure Drive is available now for demo or purchase at Tennis-Warehouse and through dealers listed at Babolat. Extended and junior versions are available.

Complete your ensemble with the matching blue and black Team bag. They've got them for 3, 6, 9 or 12 racquets. The 3 pack is big enough for your average rec player who wants enough room to store a spare stick, balls and whatever other court essentials without carrying another bag.

For the scoop on Roddick's apparel from Lacoste, click here.

Lacoste for Women Who Court the Court.

Finally, some of Lacoste's pro tennis wear available, but only some. Pictured left, Nathalie Dechy wears the slimming Racerback V-neck Tennis Tank Top in bright white seamless stretch jersey, $72 USD. Also available is the Short -Sleeved Stretch Pique Collar Blocked Sport Polo $82 (not shown). We've seen both tops on Alize Cornet and Emilie Loit as well. Love them. A version of the Pique Baseball Cap is actually on sale at the moment, $16.99.

The orange skirt, visor and wrist-bands are not available, sorry. The top on Alize, below, is not available either. No whining, let's just be happy with what they have offered up for now. To our friends in France, keep it coming! We want it all. Buy at LACOSTE.

Images: Gianni Ciaccia

Andy Roddick Breaks Out A Fresh Shirt From Lacoste.

 

Andy Roddick hit the Australian Open, down fifteen pounds and wearing LACOSTE's new spring 09 line. Lookin' good. Pictured here is the superdry johnny collar color-blocked polo in eclipse blue and white, $95 USD. The shorts are the diamante drawstring short, $85, and the signature trucker cap, $55.00. The shirt and shorts are 100% Superdry polyester. The cap is 60/40 cotton/poly.

The shirt comes in a reversed white on black version as well (see below).

 

Learn more or buy at LACOSTE. The shirts will be up on the site February 1.

Images: Ron Angle

With LACOSTE's 2009 Tennis Line Imminent, Jérémy Chardy Motivates.

 Jérémy Chardy, currently ranked 73rd worldwide, is one of LACOSTE's brand ambassadors (and a looker to boot). On Saturday, December 13 he joins the teaching teams of the Fête le Mur Association on the tennis courts of France's Pau site to participate in training activities.

Fête le Mur Association is located in the
heart of 25 Sensitive Urban Zones. Yannick Noah is President of the organization. Fête le Mur allows disadvantaged children to practice tennis, improve and for some, find a professional outlet teaching the sport. The association is supported by partners including the René Lacoste Foundation. 

BTW Chardy's shirt, pictured here is the short sleeve super-dry zip chest striped polo. It's on sale at the moment (reg. $95 USD), so if you like it, the price is right. The gator decorated terry head and wrist bands are $9 and $8 respectively. Find at LACOSTE. Stay tuned on what's coming up for 2009. Image copyright: Ron Angle.

Lacoste Performance Footwear And A What's Up (?) On Women's Style.

Add a little gator bite to your tennis wardrobe with these shoes. Lacoste's newest performance footwear styles are great looking, lightweight and super comfortable. The women's colors are unique gotta haves including the bahamas blue (above right) and pale yellow. The men's come in black (above left), navy and white. The Lacoste Repel retails for $135 USD, the higher end of the tennis sneaker price range, but they offer many performance features including memory foam, gel support and moisture wicking lining. Really nice.

Next, sorry but we have a gripe. We've all seen Andy Roddick's Lacoste kit on the market, but the women's styles on Nathalie Dechy, Emilie Loit, Alize Cornet and Dominika Cibulkova are simply not available for purchase ANYWHERE. What is up with that? The only piece available that the WTA ladies are wearing is the skirt we've seen on Dominika (Active Tipped Interlock Tennis Skirt, $125 USD).

With Lacoste becoming the Official Sponsor of the 2009 Australian Open, including being tournament outfitter, hopefully the company will begin to expand its line to allow more female players to get some of the great alligator style we've seen on the courts this year. Come on Lacoste, serve it up! We're waiting.

Buy the new Repel at Tennis-Warehouse or  Lacoste.

Andy Roddick's US Open On-Court Shirt

If you are looking for the shirt Roddick is wearing at the Open, check out this review link On Deck.... It's the same shirt but in navy with white stripes, $95 USD. Order it at Lacoste where you can also find Andy's signature trucker cap for $55.

On Deck, New Shirt and Jacket for Roddick

Here's what you'll see Andy Roddick wearing after he's done with the whites. Left, is the new LACOSTE Tennis track jacket in navy with ribbed collar and cuffs, 100% polyester with tipping, $175 USD. The super dry stripe polo with zip  is made of LACOSTE's super-dry pique and runs $95. The fabric effectively wicks moisture off the body and away so you stay dry and comfortable. Never sticky. This top offers a modern twist on a classic -- both pieces have an oversized croc...not TOO big to be obnoxious however. Very sharp style for the classics loving player. Find them online at Lacoste beginning July 1. If you are looking for the white shirt with blue shoulder piping that Roddick is wearing at Wimbledon, here's the link: Roddick's Wimbledon shirt. It's on sale for $65 USD.

What's next for Roddick?

Last year he wore all black. We thought it looked pretty darn good but it didn't help a win. This year it was a different color and a different ending. Andy Roddick earned his first title of the season by defeating Radek Stepanek in the SAP Open final Sunday. This time he chose classic whites; comfortable, loose and cool.

Pictured here are some of the pieces you will see him in next. The top is the LACOSTE super dry polo with shoulder piping ($95 U.S.D.) -- available April 1; the shorts are LACOSTE diamante drawstring shorts, $85; and the LACOSTE trucker cap of the same name, $55.

Get Andy's look online at shopapparel.lacoste.com.

Image: Ron C. Angle.