Southern Charm and the City
Designer Billy Reid
With Southern tradition and heritage in his soul, Billy Reid designs men’s clothes that encapsulate genteel yet sturdily constructed goods. His materials of choice—such as the thick corduroys, chunky wools, and carefully constructed cottons seen in his Fall/Winter 2011 presentation—help translate his point of view to men who care about the way they look, but most importantly, how they feel. The approach has as much appeal in New York City as in Florence, Alabama, where Reid is based.
For Summer, he’s made the approach to getting dressed in the morning quite simple: chambray blazers, crisp oxfords with subtle detailing, polo shirts and an assortment of lightweight nautical inspired V-neck sweaters.
Red polo shirt, Spring/Summer 2011
Fall/Winter 2011
“The collection is ultimately classic American clothing and we build upon it with as much integrity as we can,” says Reid.
His aesthetic resonates with young musicians. Recently Reid worked with K. Swiss and American Songwriter to put on a musical showcase at the SxSW festival in Austin. His boutiques also host evening socials that typically involve live music, and every year in June, they have a similar showcase of local and emerging musicians who play for their towns. (His stores are in Florence, Nashville, Charleston, Dallas, Houston and New York.)
“Inspiration comes from all over, and music is definitely inspiring when we’re designing. Right now I’m into The Decemberists, The Civil Wars, Jessica Lee Mayfield, Herbie Mann, and Keegan Dewitt.”
Reid has acquired substantial fashion cred—he won the 2010 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund and the GQ Best New Menswear Designer awards. The latter came with a Levi’s collaboration. And he curates a lifestyle around his label that extends to his boutiques, his passion for music, and his recent collaborations.
Although the brand is diversifying, “for us, right now, it is about…ensuring that it’s created with a specific focus on tailoring and construction.”
To support Red Cross disaster relief in the Southern states, Reid designed this T-shirt, available at BillyReid.com.
Fall/Winter 2011
