Meet Ricky Regal: the inspiration behind Bruno Mars’s new clothing line with Lacoste

'When I'm on stage my name is Bruno Mars. When I’m making lavish luxurious garments, I go by Ricky Regal'

Bruno Mars's 'Ricky Regal' collection for Lacoste. Courtesy Lacoste

Bruno Mars's 'Ricky Regal' collection for Lacoste. Courtesy Lacoste

Bruno Mars's 'Ricky Regal' collection for Lacoste. Courtesy Lacoste

Bruno Mars's 'Ricky Regal' collection for Lacoste. Courtesy Lacoste

Bruno Mars's 'Ricky Regal' collection for Lacoste. Courtesy Lacoste

Bruno Mars's 'Ricky Regal' collection for Lacoste. Courtesy Lacoste

Bruno Mars once sung about wanting to be a billionaire, and now he may have taken a step closer to his lofty financial goals following the announcement of a new collaboration with the French fashion house Lacoste.

Launching on Friday, the new clothing line features a 1970s-era tracksuit and shirts, with big retro collars and a large Lacoste crocodile logo. It's been two years in the making.

Take a look through the gallery above to see more of the collection.

The Uptown Funk singer created an alter ego – Ricky Regal – to act as inspiration for the new project. Fashion forward and daring, Regal became Mars's muse.

"I've been very fortunate to have been asked to do collaborations in the past, but it always came with guidelines," the US singer-songwriter said. "Lacoste was the first and only brand that said, 'Bruno, we want you to make this truly yours.' The respect of such creative freedom coming from a heritage fashion house was an honour."

Leaning heavily on sartorial influence from the 1960s and 1970s, Mars looked back to his childhood, and the cache of wearing Lacoste during his school days. He explained that to wear the famous crocodile logo really "meant something" among his peers.

Filled with zip-through track tops in mustard, black, red or cream, with retro piping and stripes, the cuts are big and the collars are large. There are 1970s block patterned shirts and tracksuit bottoms with contrasting piping, as well as tie-dyed shirts and velour track tops, one arriving with matching striped, aubergine velour shorts.

The Lacoste logo has even been rethought, and sits enlarged on the chest, with Ricky Regal written underneath in vintage lettering.

Before anyone gets too excited about owning a piece, however, it's important to note that the collection will only be sold at the new Lacoste concept store in Los Angeles.

While it will also only be available for two weeks, it is expected to sell out within a few days.

To house it, Lacoste will build a special in-store pop-up space, with green velvet walls, musical instruments and pinball machines, to echo the lounge heritage of the city.

This is the second time Lactose has teamed up with a non-athlete on a range of clothing. The first was with the multi-talented Tyler, The Creator, a musician, artist and designer in 2019.