Fashion
Lacoste's Lenglen Bag Will Help You Ace Your Tenniscore Style Game
Named after an iconic tennis star, the Lenglen endears with its charming design and versatility.
by Em Enriquez
Published on Apr 22, 2025
Lacoste was quite literally born on the tennis court. Founded in Paris by Rene Lacoste and Andre Gillier, the fashion label has become synonymous with the sport, not only with its apparel, but also with its philosophy. Rene himself, after all, was a prolific tennis player during his time.
In 2024, Pelagia Kolotouros took the reins of the brand, staging her debut as creative director at Paris Fashion Week. With her at the helm, Lacoste seemingly reintroduced itself with its Fall/Winter 2024 collection. Referential and classic, yet fresh and 100% original, Pelagia's work caught the eyes of today's most discerning dressers. A scene-stealer from the pact? A leather carrier fashioned after a pleated tennis skirt called the Lenglen.
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Meet the Lenglen.
With its kitschy design that appealed to both tennis professionals and enthusiasts alike, the Lenglen proved to be one of Pelegia's greatest hits thus far. A year after it first appeared on shelves, the piece remains to be a covet-worthy addition to anyone's designer bag rotation.
Ahead, we discuss what went into the Lenglen's unique DNA, and why it's a top contender to be your next big purchase.
The History of the Lacote Lenglen
Pelagia had a tall order when she assumed the position of creative director in 2024. She was to usher in a new era of Lacoste after a career-defining four-year tenure by Louise Trotter (who is now heading to Bottega Veneta, FYI). Pelagia approached the ordeal head-on, aiming to breathe new air into the historic fashion house.
Aside from designing the pieces, the collection had to be presented at a venue intrinsically linked to Lacoste's identity and style. The Roland-Garros centre court in Paris, France, where Rene Lacoste himself competed once, proved to be an ideal setting for such a significant showcase.
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The Lacoste F/W 2024 show was held at the Roland-Garros center court.
In a circular route, models sauntered in ensembles that referenced and reimagined the best of what Lacoste had to offer. Knit jumpers in oversized proportions and chunky technical sneakers found their footing with tailored trench coats and dresses. The symbolic crocodile—which, in case you didn't know, was a nickname of Rene's—was heavily featured through embroidery and embossment of varying sizes.
Of course, the tennis skirt was one of the unmistakeable stars of the show. In all of its pleated glory, the skirt was present in multiple forms. Perhaps one iteration that viewers didn't expect was to see it clutched in one's fingers as a bag.
The Lenglen debuted during the Lacoste F/W 2024 show
The Lenglen officially entered the sartorial chat. Muses either held it as a boxy clutch, offsetting bodycon frocks or structured blazers, or gripped it with their fingers as the panels enamored in motion. Spotted in hues of black, white, green, and red, the piece became instant eye candy. Who would've thought to turn a tennis skirt into a bag, right? Well, thank goodness Pelagia and leather goods designer Sylvie Bisselbach did.
"The pleats were meticulously studied in our Paris workshop to offer flexibility, strength and elegance at the same time. Each fold follows a precise geometry, designed to ensure that they don't move," Sylvie explains of the piece's manufacturing. "This technique enables the bag to retain its shape while remaining light and functional"
The Lenglen gets its name from a tennis star of the 20th century. Suzzane Lenglen was a French prodigy of the sport, who is heavily regarded as the first-ever woman to wear a pleated skirt on the court. This was considered to be a scandalous move at the time, particularly for ladies like her.
The Lenglen serves as a memento of Suzanne's unsinkable spirit, both as an athlete and as a woman. Lacoste writes that she "embodied the liberation of women in sport." Her legacy lives on, as do the pleats present in several of Lacoste's designs season after season.
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PHOTO: Instagram/tennisplaza / French tennis star of the 20th century Suzanne Lenglen.
The Making of a Lacoste Lenglen
The first few versions of the Lenglen were meticulously crafted with pleated sheepskin leather on the exterior and premium nylon in the interior. At the corner of the facade is the brand's reptilian-shaped sigil.
Since its debut last 2024, different fabrications have been incorporated into the piece's design, ranging from perforated leather to metallic finishes. All Lenglens are made and patented in Lacoste's home address of Troyes, France.
PHOTOS: Lacoste / The birth and reimagination of the Lenglen by creative director Pelagia Kolotouros
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The Lenglen is closed with a silver zipper. Inside the tote is a singular pocket labelled with the brand's signature tag. An easy way to authenticate a Lenglen is to look for the "Chemise Lacoste" and "Luxe" embroidery on the tag.
The most common version of the Lenglen measures 48 centimeters in length and 25 centimeters in height. A smaller iteration that comes with a shoulder-length strap measures 33.5 centimeters in length and 16.5 centimeters in height.
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PHOTO: Lacoste.
How Much the Lacoste Lenglen Costs
Many fashionistas often rave about Lacoste's relatively affordable price-points, considering the label's long-standing history of luxury. True enough, the Lenglen won't break the bank as much as other hot items in the bag market would.
In the Philippines, the standard-sized Lenglen goes for P12,950, and is available in four shades. One can choose from a black Noir, a white Cristalline, a nudish Viennois, or a red Iberis.
Lenglen Shoulder Bag, P12,950, LACOSTE, lacoste.com
The same goes for the smaller-sized version, which conveniently can be worn as a crossbody. These petite Lenglens fetch for a bit less than their larger counterparts at P11,950.
Small Lenglen Leather Hobo Bag, P11,950, LACOSTE, lacoste.com
How Style Stars Wear the Lacoste Lenglen
Pia Wurtzbach-Jauncey
A crop of Filipina style stars were present at Lacoste's Spring/Summer 2025 show, Pelagia's second with the house. Among them, as expected, was fashion week recurring character Pia Wurtzbach-Jauncey. To the show, she donned a three-piece chartreuse ensemble that she punctuated with a monochromatic Lenglen.
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PHOTOS: Instagram/piajauncey
Michelle Dee
Skipping the pants, Michelle Dee was present with her tighty whities and her sleekest pair of shades. Offsetting the all-white moment was a green Lenglen, reminiscient of Lacoste's crocodilian roots.
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PHOTOS: Instagram/michelledee
Sarah Lahbati
True to her effortless style, Sarah Lahbati opted for an easy-breezy mesh frock. Her Lenglen of choice was total eye candy with its liberally painted facade.
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PHOTOS: Instagram/sarahlahbati
Catriona Gray
Feeling very demure and very cutesy, Catriona Gray was in full tenniscore mode in a baby blue set. For a little egde, she went for a metallic Lenglen, which she personalized with a couple of trinkets.
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PHOTO: Instagram/catriona_gray.
Sofia Andres
Sofia Andres also enlisted a Lenglen to tie together her preppy OOTD, accenting her navy blue 'fit with a matcha-hued tote in her arm.
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PHOTO: Instagram/iamsofiaandres.
Bela Padilla
Bela Padilla chose a sunny Lenglen to impart some color to her beige coords. She leaned into the athleisure energy with tube socks and and chunky kicks.
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PHOTO: Instagram/bela.
The Lacoste Lenglen is available for purchase on Lacoste's official website.
Click here to view Lacoste stores located across the Philippines.
Em Enriquez is queer and probably daydreaming somewhere. They're an editorial assistant at Preview who can't live without pop music and lemon-tinted sunnies.