Billy Reid: Fashion Designer

Billy Reid is an American fashion designer known for his classic styles in high quality fabrics featuring unusual accents - "low-fi Southern-bred luxury," according to Reid's website.

His line is primarily men’s clothing with a spattering of women’s clothing as well. Many androgynous leather bags are available, which is naturally what caught my eye when I visited the store.

(Forgot to check the price on this one!)

$800

The company headquarters and flagship store is in downtown Florence, Alabama, in a turn of the 20th century bookstore. The shop is downstairs and upstairs is his design studio. 

Reid has grown from the initial flagship store in Alabama, and showroom in Manhattan, to ten storefronts including shops on Bond Street in New York City, Dallas, Nashville, Charlotte, Charleston, Houston and Atlanta.

Fall 2013

Spring 2014

Fall 2013

Nice men's leather loafers

 K-Swiss/Billy Reid sneakers
Around $80

Men's Shirts

Men's distressed leather jacket

Ladies coat, dress and top

Ladies Car Coat $895

Ties galore

Men's Jackets

Decorated T
How Southern is this?

His style has been defined as "classic American style with a Southern flair; classic but with a modern aesthetic." His line is known for its excellent tailoring and a philosophy of sustaining traditional crafts such as leather-working  both in the United States and in Italy.

A touch of Southern charm extends beyond the clothing, as stores are notable for their atmosphere of faded elegance, including Persian rugs covering dark hardwood floors, worn velvet antique chairs, artwork and animal trophies, antique chandeliers, framed family photographs and antique apothecary cabinets.

You walk into the flagship store and it feels as if you are stepping into his home.

Reid's clothes are sold in many Bloomingdales and Nordstrom stores across the US. 

What a unique idea for dressing rooms:

Old distressed doors

Walls decorated with old photographs

Reid worked in the design industry for many years, launching his label, Billy Reid, in 2004. He has won many awards, including GQ’s “Best New Menswear Designer in America, ” CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund prize, and CFDA’s “Menswear Designer of the Year” award.

He has collaborated with Coach, J. Crew, Gap and possibly other companies for certain items.

Billy Reid
Google image

Locally, Reid is known as a “bon vivant,” reflected in his love of good music, good food, and conversation. He has supported and promoted local talent – from bands to chefs to craftsmen to artists to photographers.

From some of the chatter I overheard in the store, Reid is a favorite stop for musicians and bands from Nashville and other places. I heard it said that Mumford & Sons, an English folk rock band, had shopped in the store the day I was there.

Read more about Billy Reid and view his collections here.