Billy Reid Fall/Winter 2013

Text: Jonathan Shia
Photos: Billy Rood for Models.com and Kirt Reynolds for Models.com

It was nearing ten on Friday night with the snow piling up outside, but the room at the Billy Reid Fall 2013 show was warm and inviting, lit by a glowing chandelier installation and Reid’s trademark southern hospitality—aided in no small part by the free-flowing bourbon. The clothes hit Reid’s expected sweet spot, mixing urban sophistication (Benjamin Eidem’s double-breasted blazer) with rugged appeal (RJ Rogenski’s distressed leather cargo jacket and nubby sweater). After making his name with his menswear for several seasons, Reid has recently been expanding his offerings for women, slowly but surely, and there was a clean shape to the dresses and cocoon coats he sent out. Reid has always been known for his colors and textures, a classic designer who emphasizes wearability over provocation, and that slant came through clearly right off the bat with Sean O’Pry’s desirable opening pea coat. There was also a richly distressed caramel leather that made several appearances, its varied coloring matching the glowing wooden backdrop. For the women, the long silhouettes at times took on a retro feel, with dresses and coats sweeping down past the ankles. Reid also introduced a new collaboration this season with Coach, a classic American brand whose legacy of no-nonsense craftsmanship and style made a perfect fit. It was, as usual, a collection that will surely be just as popular in New York and Los Angeles as in Reid’s hometown of Florence, Alabama.