story by Dana Varon
photos by Aeric Meredith Goujon
This is just what you get when you take a Southern gentleman and transport him into New York City. Not only is Billy Reid a transplant, but so is everything in his downtown store’s digs. So, it seems just right that he also constructed everything on his set for his Fall 2011 show. Feeling like you are in an old Southern home, models traipsed around dark wood benched tables and treaded on warm wood floors. Above hung an old weathered painting of your great grandpa who was a colonel or something but amongst it is the cleanest, crispest line. The fresh-faced boys were right at home with their more grown up school kid navy blazers, cords and cabled turtlenecks. Caramel tan cowboy leather jackets look well worn and winsome wingtip loafers walk by. Washed navy selvedge chinos cuffed at the ankle bring back the pants in a cuter way. For the girls Mr. Reid wanted the classic men tailored pieces to be more romantic, with French seams and floating fabrics. Double silk georgette oversized blouses, and un-dyed velvet dinner jackets are more ladylike and luxe.