On a sunny Saturday morning with the US Open underway only a few subway stops away, it seemed an appropriate time to see the Lacoste show. This collection is Christophe Lemaire’s last for Lacoste before he decamps the tennis courts for the more luxurious pastures of Hermès.

Despite the debauchery of FNO the night before, the Theatre at Lincoln Center was packed for the 10am show. I heard many conversations taking place in French all around me. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to glean any Gallic gossip, since I chose to study Spanish in high school. There was some chatter about the arrival of Simon Doonan and Jonathan Adler, the cutest couple in NYC, but I missed them.

After deciding that I liked the big resin “1212” graphic cuff that came as a seat gift–Lacoste has launched a jewelry line–I settled in and prepared myself for the preppy. According to the tip sheet, for spring 2011 Lemaire was inspired by OpArt, Bauhaus, and the Villa Noailles which was designed by Robert Mallet-Stevens.

Jacquelyn Jablonski opened the show looking impossibly chic and reedy in a crisp white shirt and trousers punctuated by a skinny black tie. The first looks were graphic and blindingly white. The middle part of the show brought out the signature peppy color that characterizes Lacoste, and the cheery yellow and orange citrus hues looked fresh, especially on several kimono sleeved pieces. Shorts and loose pants anchored the pieces throughout.

The models were smiling, looked absolutely comfortable in their flat shoes, and were a veritable United Nations. So many different ethnicities were represented on Lacoste’s runway, and it was a pleasure to see.

The Lacoste aesthetic was firmly in place, and in the words of Christophe Lemaire, “Vive le Crocodile!”