Lacoste has been handed a full carte blanche at Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussmann, taking over the iconic Coupole store with an immersive women’s fashion experience running from March 16 to April 6, 2026. The activation spans twelve boulevard window displays and two pop-ups across the ground and second floors, marking a significant moment of creative collaboration between two of France‘s most storied institutions.
Two Institutions, One Creative Vision
The carte blanche fosters a dialogue between Lacoste, with its distinctive sporting heritage and iconic crocodile codes, and Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussmann, a historic partner long recognized for its authority in womenswear. Rather than a simple brand pop up, the takeover is framed as a cultural and creative statement, offering a complete vision of the Lacoste woman as she moves through the store, from the iconic street-level windows on Boulevard Haussmann all the way up to the designer floors.
The SS26 Runway Collection at the Heart of It
At the core of the project is the Spring-Summer 2026 Runway Collection, designed by Creative Director Pelagia Kolotouros. The collection reimagines the locker room as a liminal space, suspended between the euphoria of triumph and the silence that follows defeat. Sensuality, unfinished proportions, and athletic heritage reinterpreted through a vintage sportswear lens form the foundation of an elegant and dynamic wardrobe.
Kolotouros drew inspiration from René Lacoste‘s formative years, transforming the intimate communal ritual of the locker room into a meditation on transformation, emotion, and self-expression. The collection originally debuted at Paris Fashion Week in October 2025, staged inside Le Lycée Carnot, where tile-clad walls, fogged glass panels, and cascading shower curtains turned the runway into a fully immersive athletic sanctuary.
A Complete Wardrobe on Display
Orbiting the runway pieces, Lacoste‘s main women’s collection anchors the narrative with a versatile, full wardrobe built for women who stop at nothing. It strikes a balance between femininity, tailored elegance, and practicality, combining style and functionality to move effortlessly from the court to the city.
Together, the runway looks and the main collection create a layered portrait of the Lacoste woman, both aspirational and accessible, athletic and refined.
Why This Activation Matters
A carte blanche at Galeries Lafayette Haussmann is not a routine retail moment. It is one of the most prestigious platforms a brand can occupy in Paris, given the store’s role as a benchmark for womenswear in France and its visibility with both local shoppers and international visitors. For Lacoste, the move signals growing confidence in its women’s offer and in the creative direction Kolotouros has been building since her appointment in 2023. It also positions the brand firmly within the broader conversation around sportswear’s elevated role in contemporary fashion.
