Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: Inspecting the crocodile logo
• Method 2 of 3: Inspecting the buttons
• Method 3 of 3: Inspecting the shirt label
• Tips

Lacoste polo shirts are popular and expensive, so they are often faked. Someone might try to sell you a fake at full price, but a real shirt can be distinguished from a fake by its appearance. A meticulously embroidered crocodile logo is featured on the left chest of a genuine Lacoste polo shirt. Also, the shirt can be identified by two vertically sewn buttons, high-quality stitching and detailed information on the label.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Inspecting the crocodile logo

1. 1 Pay attention to the detailing of the logo, its claws and teeth. The official logo is a dark green crocodile with pronounced teeth and claws. Its upper jaw is smaller than the lower one and faces upward. The crocodile's tail is rounded and does not look at the crocodile, but in the same direction as the jaw. The shape of the eye should be more slit rather than rounded.
   • If the crocodile looks cartoonish and not detailed enough, then it is a fake.
   • The only exception is the Lacoste Vintage polo. The crocodile logo will be embroidered with high quality, but in the color of the shirt.
2. 2 Make sure the logo is placed on a white background. The logo is a patch that is lightly hemmed at the back. You will not see seams on the front side. Look for seams along the border of the patch, for loose threads, or needle marks. All this indicates that the polo is a fake.
   • On some lines, such as Vintage, the crocodile can be printed directly onto the shirt.
3. 3 Make sure the logo is under the second button. The crocodile should be sewn in the center of the left side of the shirt, between the bottom line on the collar and the second button. On low-quality fakes, the crocodile is usually placed flush with the bottom line. This stitch may appear curved.
   • Some branded models also place the crocodile on the same level with the bottom line, so this discrepancy is not indicative.
4. 4 Turn the shirt inside out to reveal the subtle outline of the patch. The crocodile's body contour should be barely visible.The inside should not show any colors, threads or obvious seams. If the stitching looks untidy, then the shirt is fake.

Method 2 of 3: Inspecting the buttons

1. 1 Examine the two vertically sewn buttons. One button will be at the top of the collar, the other will be a few centimeters below. Each button should have two holes sewn from top to bottom, not side to side. The buttons should not appear skewed. The thread should hold them tightly in place.
2. 2 See if the buttons look the same. All mother-of-pearl buttons are unique. From a distance, you can see how they shimmer in different colors. Upon closer inspection, it is easy to notice that each button has its own pattern. In addition, a slight marble effect may be visible on the reverse side. Plastic buttons are produced in large quantities and look exactly the same.
3. 3 Feel the buttons to make sure they are pearlescent. Genuine Lacoste polos use mother-of-pearl buttons instead of plastic buttons. Plastic buttons are much softer and warmer and have hard edges. They also lack the recess in the center like the real Lacoste buttons.
   • If you're still unsure, try tapping or biting your teeth with buttons. Mother-of-pearl buttons are harder and denser than plastic buttons.
4. 4 Avoid buttons that have "Lacoste" (update: some 2017 Lacoste shirt models may have buttons with this mark). Real Lacoste polo shirts will not be marked on the buttons. Buttoned letters are a sure sign that they are plastic and fake.

Method 3 of 3: Inspecting the shirt label

1. 1 Make sure the shirt is the size shown. The Lacoste polo sketches were made in France and are measured in numbers. There should be a red number above the crocodile on the label, for example "4". If the polo size is specified as "small", "medium" or "large", then it is a fake.
2. 2 Examine the crocodile image on the label. It should be olive green. It will have pronounced claws, teeth, a red mouth, and white scales on its back. The crocodile's outline should look smooth and not wrinkled. On a real crocodile, there should also be no extra lines that violate the color.
   • Quality fakes are very similar, but only at first glance. They are not that elaborate. The crocodile may look a little flattened. White eyes and scales can be rough and too close together.
3. 3 Find the second label indicating the origin of the shirt. If the polo has a second label, you will find it under the first one. The first line should read "Designed In France". These words should not be covered by the first label. The second line should read “Made In” and the name of the country, such as El Salvador or Peru. Lacoste polos made in France are quite rare.
   • Not all polos have a second label. Many polos now have one wide logo label, so use other methods to differentiate them.
4. 4 Check the washing instruction label inside the shirt. The label is at the bottom, on the inside of the shirt. On it you will see the inscription "100% cotton" printed in seven languages. On the back of the label there are washing instructions with the word “Devanlay” which is the name of the company. None of the letters on the label should be hidden by the fabric.
   • Counterfeit shirts may have washing instructions on the front of the label. The labels themselves can be roughly sewn with threads, droop or cover the text.
   • The label may be over the small triangular slits on the sides of the shirt. Make sure these cuts are small enough so there is no thread hanging from them.

Tips

• Be careful when purchasing. Authentic Lacoste polos can cost from 3,000 to 5,000 rubles. If the deal seems too good to be true, chances are they are trying to trick you.
• Fake polos tend to be far worse sewn, with loose threads, frayed cuffs and seams that come apart after a few washes. It is worth noting that a genuine shirt may also have minor damage, and some fakes are of good quality.
• Some authorized resellers sell kits or clothing that has been damaged.These items are genuine but generally discounted.
• When in doubt, go online and compare your shirt to what is offered in official Lacoste stores.