Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Checking the crocodile patch
• Method 2 of 3: Inspect the nodes
• Method 3 of 3: Study the shirt labels
• Tips

Lacoste polos are popular and expensive, so they are often counterfeit. Someone may try to sell you one at full price, but the shirt's features can help you tell whether it's real or fake. A genuine Lacoste polo has a detailed crocodile logo patch on the left front. It also has two vertically sewn buttons, high quality stitching and specific information mentioned on the labels.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Checking the crocodile patch

1. Look at detailed features such as claws and teeth. The official logo is a deep dark green with visible teeth and claws. The upper jaw is smaller than the lower jaw and angled upwards. The crocodile's tail should be round and pointing in the same direction as the jaw, not towards the crocodile. The eye should also look more like a slit than round.
   • If the crocodile looks like a cartoon and lacks detail, the shirt is definitely fake.
   • The Lacoste Vintage brand is an exception. The crocodile will be of high quality, but the same color as the shirt.
2. Make sure the logo has a white background. The logo is a patch that is slightly sewn on from the back. You cannot see the stitching if you look at it from the front. Look for stitching around the edges of the patch, loose threads or holes in the needle. These are signs that the polo is fake.
   • On a few brands, such as the Vintage brand, the crocodile logo may be printed directly on the shirt.
3. Make sure the logo is below the second knot. The crocodile will be in the center of the left side of the shirt. It should be between the bottom stitching on the collar and the second button. Low-quality counterfeits often line the crocodile with the bottom stitching. That stitching can also look crooked.
   • A few real versions of Lacoste also have the crocodile on the same line as the bottom stitching, so don't rely on this one observation.
4. Turn the shirt inside out to reveal the faint outline of the patch. The outline of the crocodile's body should be almost invisible. There should be no colors, threads or plain stitching. If the finish doesn't look neat, the shirt is fake.

Method 2 of 3: Inspect the nodes

1. Look for two vertically sewn buttons. A button is located at the top of the collar. The other is a bit down on that. Each knot should have two holes with thread through from top to bottom, not side by side. The knots should not look crooked. The wires should appear as if they were left snugly in place.
2. See if the knots look identical. Mother of pearl buttons are all unique. You may see a rainbow shining from a distance. If you look closely, you should see that each knot has its own pattern. They can also have some marbling on the back. Plastic buttons are a mass product and look identical.
3. Feel the knots to make sure they are pearlescent. Real Lacostepolo´s have mother of pearl buttons instead of plastic buttons. Plastic buttons feel softer and warmer but with hard edges. They also don't have the dent in the middle that real Lacoste buttons have.
   • If you're still not sure, try tapping or biting your teeth with the buttons. Mother of pearl buttons should feel harder and more compact than plastic buttons.
4. Avoid buttons printed on Lacoste (update: 2017 Lacoste shirts may now have this print on the buttons depending on style). Buttons on the authentic Lacostepolo have no brand name printed on them. Letters on the buttons is a sure sign that the buttons are plastic and fake.

Method 3 of 3: Study the shirt labels

1. Make sure the shirt size is indicated by numbers. Lacoste polos are designed in France, which is sized by numbers. Above the crocodile you should see a red number such as "4". If the polo uses words like small, medium or large, it is a fake.
2. Look for a detailed crocodile on the label. The crocodile should have an olive green color. Again it should have visible claws, teeth, a red mouth and white scales on its back. Make sure the crocodile's contour is smooth, rather than bumpy. An authentic one also has no rough lines that disturb the coloring.
   • High-quality counterfeits seem right, but study them carefully. They won't be that detailed. The crocodile may look a little squashed. The white eyes and scales usually look rough and too close together.
3. Find a second label that indicates the origin of the shirt. If the polo has a second label, it will be below the first. The first line should read "Designed in France". These words should not be covered by the first label. The second line will read "Made in" with a country behind it, usually El Salvador or Peru. Lacostepolo made in France are rare.
   • Not all polos have this second label. Many polos today have a broad label with the logo, so use different methods to identify them.
4. Check the washing instructions label inside the shirt. The label is located at the bottom on the inside of the shirt. When you find it, you will first see "100% cotton" printed in seven languages. On the back you see the washing instructions with the word Devanlay, the company name. There should be no dust over the letters on the label.
   • Counterfeit shirts may have washing instructions on the front of the label. The labels can also be roughly sewn with threads hanging loose or covering letters.
   • The label can be above small triangular cuts on the sides of the shirt. Make sure these cuts are small and have no loose threads.

Tips

• Always be on the lookout for a bargain. Authentic Lacostepolo’s cost around € 60 in the Netherlands. If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is.
• Fake polos are usually associated with poor quality, such as loose threads, frayed cuffs, or stitching that comes off after a few washes. However, an authentic shirt can also show signs of damage, while some can be high quality counterfeits.
• Some legal resellers will sell packages or clothes that have been damaged. These products are still authentic, although they are usually sold at a discount.
• When in doubt, go online and compare your shirt with one from the Lacoste store.