reid's telltale label, also note the awesome lining.
Words by Jian DeLeon Photos by Jay Wen
Hot on the heels of his GQ win for "Best Menswear Designer of the Year" and the resulting (and rather competent) Levi's Collaboration, Alabama good old boy Billy Reid stabs further westward with his Fall/Winter 2011 line. Plenty of these pieces seem a natural fit with his Stetson hat collaboration, a collection that skews more "Boardwalk Empire" than "Mad Men" in terms of period references and patterns. Tobacco brown leather takes the form of a tough-looking overcoat and a ruggedly elegant blazer. Boots are subtly brogued so as to not look too dandy, and shirts in a variety of fits and patterns are ever present. It may seem like his collection is going mainstream with this borderline "more-of-the-same" design -- it's different, but only slightly. That may be because he plans on expanding the brand, with plans to open up a store in Washington, DC coming into fruition. Nevertheless, Billy Reid stays straddling the line between an aspiring Ralph Lauren and a so-called "heritage brand."
this tobacco leather is already showing some signs of wear.
an array of the line's shirts.
on-trend brogue boots in black...
...and in burnished brown.
that's one hardy-looking duffle.
