The 1980s were a time of bold fashion statements, and few items of clothing captured the decade’s essence like the Izod polo shirt. Known for its distinctive crocodile logo and preppy vibe, the shirt was more than just a piece of clothing—it was a symbol of status and style.

The story begins with René Lacoste, a French tennis legend nicknamed "Le Crocodile" for his fierce playing style. In 1933, Lacoste revolutionized tennis attire by designing a short-sleeved, piqué knit polo shirt adorned with a crocodile emblem, marking the first instance of a brand logo prominently displayed on the outside of a garment.

In the 1950s, Vincent dePaul Draddy, an executive at David Crystal, Inc., encountered Jack Izod’s tailoring boutique in London and acquired the rights to the Izod name. Draddy later partnered with Lacoste to create the Izod Lacoste brand, bringing the stylish polos to the American market. By the late 1970s and early 1980s, these shirts had become a staple of the preppy fashion movement, immortalized in The Official Preppy Handbook.

The shirts were available in a wide array of pastel colors, and wearing two layered polos with popped collars became a hallmark of ‘80s youth culture. As teens clamored for these shirts, department stores struggled to keep up with demand. A single Izod shirt cost about $25 at the time, roughly $75 in today’s dollars, making it a coveted item for those aspiring to a polished, affluent image.

“The crocodile logo was a status symbol,” says fashion historian Emily Rhodes. “It wasn’t just a shirt; it was a declaration of belonging to a certain lifestyle.”

Izod polos made frequent appearances in pop culture, from movies like Sixteen Candles and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off to music videos that celebrated the preppy aesthetic. The shirts became synonymous with suburban affluence, and many teens embraced them as part of their identity.

“I remember saving up my allowance for weeks to buy my first Izod shirt,” recalls Tom, a Gen Xer from Chicago. “Wearing it to school felt like a rite of passage—it was like saying, ‘I’ve made it.’”

Although the Izod-Lacoste partnership ended in 1993, both brands continued separately, with Izod maintaining its classic American style and Lacoste focusing on an upscale image. Today, the legacy of Izod polos remains a nostalgic touchstone for Gen Xers who remember the days of pastel colors, popped collars, and the simple joy of sporting that iconic crocodile.

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The Rise and Legacy of Izod Polo Shirts in the '80s

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