Lacoste built a sneaker with a tennis-ball heel, and it debuted on a clay-colored court at Roland-Garros. The ACE-T1 is a chunky white trainer perched on a real, fuzzy, optic yellow ball, with the model name written across the felt. The Lacoste tennis ball sneakers arrived at the brand's SS27 show in Paris, and they're far less subtle than a crocodile on a polo shirt.
That is the whole idea. In a sport where Wimbledon still insists on all-white attire, Lacoste called its collection 'Dress Code: No White Required' and then sent out a shoe that looks like it escaped from the ball bucket. With this expensive prop, Creative Director Pelagia Kolotouros has made the brand's tennis heritage impossible to ignore.
Lacoste's SS27 Collection Rewrites Tennis Dress Codes
The show started the way you'd expect, with crisp white sportswear and tennis staples. Then it loosened, adding layers, outerwear, and accessories before finishing in sun-baked clay tones. Two famous rule-breakers inspired it.
Suzanne Lenglen turned up to the 1919 Wimbledon final in short sleeves and a calf-length skirt, while her opponent wore long sleeves. René Lacoste, nicknamed the Alligator by the American press, wore a crocodile stitched onto his blazer, an emblem that later became a global brand.
Both changed what a tennis player was allowed to look like. Putting a ball on a heel follows the same instinct, only more loudly.
Inside the Design: Tennis Ball Sneakers and Neon Heels
Look closer, and you'll see more thought than the novelty suggests. The ACE-T1 has a chunky, ridged white midsole, lime tabs at the heel and laces, and a moulded white cradle that grips each ball so the yellow felt stays on show. The silhouette borrows from a tennis net stretched by an incoming ball.
Fashion loves a visual gag, and Loewe's surreal Fall 2022 collection, with its balloon shoes, showed how far a brand can push one. The ACE-T1 follows suit, though the thick sole looks well cushioned.
The collection also features sneaker-style heels in neon green, white and silver, and Venus Williams showed how they work off the runway. Seated in the front row, she wore a blue-and-white mesh pair, choosing them for comfort without sacrificing style. Long, oval toes and corded closures that cinch tight instead of tying in a bow give them a sportswear edge from the SS27 collection.
Lacoste Is Ready To Serve With the Ace-T1 Sneaker
Social media instantly seized on the design. One user asked, 'Do they squeak?', while others called them 'stylish and effortlessly classy,' prompting Lacoste's official account to reply with a tennis emoji.
From the front row, guests like Uma Thurman, Dwyane Wade, and Venus Williams, who wore a pair of mesh sneaker heels from the collection, offered real-world proof that Kolotouros's vision works off the court.
@culted We’re at the @Lacoste SS27 show in Paris #lacoste #venuswilliams #fashiontiktok #tennis #celebrity ♬ original sound - MADE BY AMBNT
Beyond its viral footwear, the Spring/Summer 2027 collection blends heritage athletic wear with modern tailoring, shifting seamlessly from crisp white tennis sets to rich clay-toned outerwear.
Expected to roll out in Spring 2027, the ACE-T1 and its accompanying heel capsule prove that whether these shoes hit retail shelves or remain an archival showpiece, Lacoste has successfully served up one of the most talked-about moments of Paris Fashion Week.
