At Lacoste, the Alps Meets Jamaica

New York saw its first major snowstorm of the season — or at least the illusion of it — on Saturday at the Lacoste fashion show, where imitation snow provided the backdrop and faux fur lined the catwalk. For his fall–winter 2008 collection, the label's creative director, Christophe Lemaire, drew inspiration from two winter vacation destinations: the skiers enclave of Megève in the French Alps, and the Jamaican capital of Kingston. The show opened with a series of elegant grayscale looks with mustard accents. There were pleated, calf- and ankle-length jump-skirts, blouses worn with prep-school ties, and boiler suits for women; and flat-front trousers tucked into wool socks and hiking boots, and turtlenecks layered under dress shirts and cozy cable-knits for men. V-neck cardigans — in instantly classic jacquard patterns — were worn by women and men.

While Jamaica isn't generally associated with cold-weather wear, Rastafarian colors — black, red, green, and yellow — provided the inspiration for many of the solid and striped separates (sweater dresses, trousers, scarves, and ties), shown midway through the runway show. And when all the island looks had come and gone, Mr. Lemaire embraced a pastel palette, sending women and men down the runway in pink, purple, and teal sweaters, parkas, hats, and gloves.