Fred Perry vs Lacoste Polo Shirts Which Should You Buy?
Two polo shirts, two tennis champions, one decision. Fred Perry and Lacoste both built their names on a cotton piqué polo with a logo on the chest, so anyone shopping for one almost always ends up weighing the two against each other. This guide compares the heritage, the fabric, the fit and the sizing, from an official UK stockist of both.
The short answer
Fred Perry for heritage and a sharper collar, Lacoste for lightness and the preppy classic. Choose Fred Perry if you want British subculture heritage, the signature twin-tipped collar and a slimmer, true-to-size fit. Choose Lacoste if you prefer a lighter, more breathable petit piqué and the classic preppy crocodile, and it is true to size too.
The brands
British mod against French tennis. Fred Perry was founded in 1952 by Fred Perry, the British tennis player who was the first man to win all four Grand Slam singles titles, and the laurel-wreath logo borrowed from the original Wimbledon emblem became a badge of British youth culture worn through the mod, skinhead, Two-Tone and Britpop eras, with the M12 Twin Tipped polo and its contrast tipping on the collar and cuffs among the most recognisable polos ever made. Lacoste goes back further, to 1933, when French tennis champion René Lacoste — nicknamed “le Crocodile” for his tenacity on court — launched the L.12.12, widely credited as the first branded polo shirt and one of the earliest examples of a visible logo on clothing, so where Fred Perry reads as British heritage and subculture, Lacoste reads as French sporting elegance and preppy style. Shop Fred Perry · Shop Lacoste
At a glance
The two polos side by side. Founding, icon, signature detail, fabric and fit, in the order most people compare them.
| Fred Perry | Lacoste | |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1952, England | 1933, France |
| Founder | Fred Perry, triple Wimbledon champion | René Lacoste, “the Crocodile” |
| Icon polo | The M12 Twin Tipped | The L.12.12 |
| Logo | Laurel wreath | Crocodile |
| Signature detail | Twin-tipped collar & cuffs | Ribbed collar, clean placket |
| Fabric | Heavier cotton piqué | Finer, lighter petit piqué |
| Fit | Slim–regular, true to size | True to size (Slim Fit sits closer) |
| Sizing | Lettered XS–XXXL | Numeric 2–9 (and lettered) |
| Best for | Heritage & a sharper collar look | Lightweight breathability & preppy classic |
The fabric
Heavy piqué against petit piqué. Both polos are cotton piqué, but they feel different on: Fred Perry uses a heavier, more structured piqué that holds its shape and gives the collar a crisp, stand-up quality, which is part of why the twin-tipped collar looks so sharp, while Lacoste’s signature petit piqué is a finer, lighter knit that breathes well and drapes softly, which is why it is so often the pick for warm weather. Neither is better than the other — it comes down to whether you want structure or lightness.
The fit
Both are true to size. Fred Perry polos are generally true to size with a slim-to-regular modern cut, so take your usual size, and Lacoste’s Classic Fit — the L.12.12 — is true to size too, with a little room through the body, so size down only if you want it sharper, or choose the Lacoste Slim Fit instead. One quirk to know is that Lacoste traditionally uses numeric sizing (2–9) rather than letters, so a size 4 is a medium and a size 5 a large; check the conversion before you buy. Fred Perry sizing guide · Lacoste sizing guide
Price
The icon polos sit in the same bracket. The Fred Perry Twin Tipped and the Lacoste L.12.12 typically retail around £75–£95 in the UK, so price rarely decides it. At Spiral Seven we are an official stockist of both, with new-season ranges plus regular sale lines and free next-day UK delivery on orders over £70, which makes it easy to compare the two side by side at fair prices.
Which to buy
Buy Fred Perry for heritage, Lacoste for lightness. Buy Fred Perry if you want British heritage, the contrast twin-tipped collar, a structured piqué and a slimmer, true-to-size fit. Buy Lacoste if you want a lighter, breathable petit piqué, the classic crocodile and a true-to-size Classic Fit, or the Slim Fit for something closer to the body.
Common questions
Is Fred Perry or Lacoste better quality?
Does Lacoste run big or small?
Do Fred Perry polos run true to size?
What is the difference between the M12 and the L.12.12?
Which is more formal, Fred Perry or Lacoste?
Still unsure
Most men end up owning both. Fred Perry gets worn for the sharper, dressed-up look and Lacoste for easy warm-weather wear, and because Spiral Seven is an official UK stockist of both you can compare the two ranges side by side before you commit to either.
Updated 23 September 2026 · Spiral Seven is an official UK stockist of Fred Perry and Lacoste
