Since the birth of the iconic alligator – the world’s first clothing logo and the symbol of its French tennis-great namesake – in 1933, Lacoste has been nearly synonymous with sport. When champion René Lacoste put his fa­vored tennis uniform (a white piqué polo shirt) into production for the mass market, it revolutionized the standard stiff and starchy athletic attire, usher­ing in an era of sport styles that were as comfortable and functional as they were chic.

It is an aesthetic that continues to guide the brand today, with its expansion into casualwear, footwear, and accessories.

In an ingenious marriage of adjective and image, this book presents a full range of words and concepts synonymous with the storied brand: Heritage. Well-being. Cotton. Quality. Air. Lightness. Joie de vivre. Iconic. It is an encyclopedia of casually elegant style.

Those principles can already be seen in the design of the book, which comes in a series of colorways, each only featuring the iconic alligator logo on the cover. Look out for a release from Assouline later this month.

Another view follows after the jump.

French book company Assouline has impressed us with various projects in recent years, namely the Goyard collaborations and of course their impressive line-up of premium books, taking publishing to a new level, unseen from other publishers out there. It’s also the product surrounding the books that makes the brand stand out.

Another one of those unexpected, yet interesting collaborations has recently been released. Assouline designed a leather bag for Cole Haan. The genuine leather bag is perfect to carry your favorite books, magazines and your laptop. The bag comes with an embossed Didot alphabet. The lining comes in canvas and also features some more practical pockets.

The Assouline Leather Bag by Cole Haan is exclusively available in the Assouline flagshop store in the Plaza in New York and goes for 450 USD.

More detailed images follow after the jump.