Bespoken Fall 2010

America's Next Top Model

... Because when you fall down you get back up -- or fall back down again.

Speaking of America's Next Top Model, I was thrilled to bump into Miss Jay, runway coach extraordinaire, at the Oumlil Fall 2010 show (he told me that a new cycle was about to begin -- why didn't he tell me about this runway moment? And why does he look all Mr. Jay in this photo?). I was also seated behind him at the Michael Bastian show.

Billy Reid Fall 2010

Congratulations to Billy Reid who was awarded Best New Menswear Designer 2010 by GQ. That night he also presented his Fall 2010 collection at Milk Studios during New York Fashion. I caught up with him during the after-party at the Hotel Gansevoort to talk to him about… OK, so the truth is I asked him these questions a few days later – it was really all fun and play that night. He’s a great guy to talk and, well, between his talent and his character, it’s clear why he’s a winner.

Billy Reid Fall 2010
Sachin Bhola: What was the inspiration behind the Fall 2010 collection?
Billy Reid: Classic American clothing, turn of the century field- and work-wear meets East Village folk.

Sachin: What one must-have item will instantly update a man’s wardrobe for Fall 2010?
Billy: A hand-tailored navy blazer. Get one that is made for you, or fits perfectly, not the one you wore in college -- or your dad's. It goes with everything.

Sachin: On the other hand, which item does a man not need another of in his wardrobe?
Billy: Ill-fitting clothing

Billy Reid Interview

"Southern-bred luxury" isn't a term you'd expect to hear in menswear. If this were a physics class, we'd make a case for the South and luxury having diamagnetic properties in relation to fashion's magnetic field. Intense.

And it takes an intense designer to bounce back from September 11, 2001, when William "Billy" Reid was forced to leave New York and return to his native Florence, Alabama. Perhaps this was a blessing in disguise, as the designer reconnected with his homegrown aesthetic and salvaged his momentum.

We wanted to know more. So AskMen.com caught up with Billy Reid at New York Fashion Week: Fall 2010 to check out his presentation at Milk Studios (not exactly a hop, skip and jump from the Mississippi line) and found ourselves partying the night away at the Hotel Gansevoort with Billy, toasting to (what else?) southern-bred luxury.

About Billy Reid
Sachin Bhola: Can you give us some background on the Billy Reid label?
Billy Reid: The collection is all about American clothing. It blends deep Southern roots with a downtown vibe, and I love to build pieces tough enough, and versatile enough, for both those worlds. It started in 2004 when friends approached me with an idea to open retail shops for the collection. The idea was that we would build an environment based on the interior influences and touches of our home here in Florence, Alabama. We would personalize every part of the retail experience. For me, it is about the things I do in life, and the clothes that I want to wear to support it.

Sachin: What’s the one thing you would like the public to know about Billy Reid that they are unaware of?
Billy: I would want them to know how much work and care we put into the collection. The quality and integrity of the effort is something we work so hard to present.

Men's Fashion Today
Sachin: What is the most important garment in a man's wardrobe; the one big-ticket fashion item that is worth its price tag?
Billy: Handmade boots and a handmade jacket or men's suit. You will have them forever if they're made well.