Billy Reid Review: Read This Before Buying

This Billy Reid review will give you the scoop on this highly acclaimed brand. Read on to learn more.

Table of Contents

If you’re familiar with luxury brands, then you probably already know about Billy Reid. The brand has a strong presence in the world of high-end fashion, and you can see their clothes on celebrities like Daniel Craig, Ryan Gosling, and Idris Elba.

What sets Billy Reid apart is the company’s unique approach to design. Their aesthetic draws heavily from the American South, but there’s undeniable designer influence as well, resulting in a style I can only describe as “luxury Americana.”

I tried out three pieces from Billy Reid, and in this article, I’ll share my thoughts on the clothes and the company, in general, to let you know whether the brand should be on your radar.

Quick Take: Is Billy Reid Worth It?

Billy Reid’s menswear is stylish and incredibly well-made, but it’s also expensive.

That said, if you can afford it, you won’t be disappointed. It’s one of the few luxury brands I’d feel justified splurging on from time to time.

The price is going to be the biggest issue for most people. And I get it — one T-shirt costs a whopping $78, and a lot of people just can’t afford that.

But you can’t deny that these clothes are high-quality, fashionable garments that will last a long time.

In my opinion, Billy Reid excels the most at shirts and outerwear. Their approach to jackets and button-ups is timeless, but it’s also different from a lot of other brands.

The company does offer basics, but given the prices, I’d avoid them unless you really want to treat yourself.

Billy Reid might not be an everyday clothing brand, but they fill an important niche in menswear. If you’re in the market for a seriously upgraded shirt or jacket with a unique style, definitely consider what Billy Reid has to offer.

Billy Reid: The History

Founder Billy Reid started making clothes in 1998 as a one-man operation, working out of a room at the Hotel Chelsea.

A graduate of the fashion program at the Art Institute of Dallas, Reid would personally venture out to transport the clothes from the pattern maker to the cutter.

It didn’t take long for the brand to outgrow that hotel room. In 2001, Reid won Best New Menswear Designer from the CFDA. Shortly after that, he relocated to Florence, Alabama, where the company has been headquartered ever since.

Reid’s classy yet easygoing vibe hasn’t changed since those early days, giving the brand so much cachet in the fashion world. It’s a company that stays true to its roots without taking itself too seriously.

Aesthetic

Billy Reid isn’t the only brand to mix rugged and refined elements, but the way they go about it is undeniably cool.

I’m a big fan of how simple all of the garments are. They’re not basic or boring, but they’re not flashy either. I find this kind of understated style really classy.

Billy Reid tends to focus on the details, like the logo tags on the side of their T-shirts. I appreciate these little touches; they show just how well thought-out the designs are.

I’m always impressed by companies who manage to keep their aesthetic consistent, and Billy Reid is a standout here. It’s super easy to build a great-looking outfit using only Billy Reid pieces.

Some of their pieces lean more “designer” than Americana, so it slightly depends on the garment. But for the most part, Billy Reid has an appealing aesthetic that unifies all of their clothing.

Construction & Quality

Billy Reid absolutely knocks it out of the park when it comes to quality. Their pieces really do feel like luxury pieces, and they leave no stone unturned.

The fabrics are strong but soft, and there are no rough edges or shoddy craftsmanship. Everything is extremely comfortable, and the construction is nice and sturdy.

Billy Reid’s ethos is all about making clothes that are built to last, and they deliver on that. I can see these clothes lasting for years, if not decades.

The saying “you get what you pay for” definitely applies here. Compared to other brands in the same price range, Billy Reid actually has pretty solid value for money, and many of their pieces are surprisingly affordable (especially during sales).

Sizing & Fit

I found Billy Reid to have pretty standard and accurate sizing, though shorter guys may struggle with garment lengths. However, none of the fit issues were dealbreakers for me.

For example, the washed tee was about an inch too long for my build, but I ended up getting it hemmed because I liked it so much. Now, it fits great and is a staple in my rotation.

The jacket was pretty good, although the sleeves are on the longer side. I’m almost convinced this is on purpose because the sleeves look so good when cuffed. Again, not a huge deal, though it might bother you if you don’t like cuffing your sleeves.

Like a lot of other brands, Billy Reid only offers one inseam option of 34”, which is way too long for me (I normally wear an inseam of 28”).

But since it’s pretty common to have to get pants tailored, this didn’t bug me that much. (Also, Billy Reid does offer complimentary in-store hemming).

Also, some of the fits didn’t quite match the sizes.

For example, I usually wear 28×28 pants (with a true waist size of about 29”), but Billy Reid’s size 28 is way too tight in the seat for me, so I’d have to size up to 30 for the best fit.

The legs have a nice slim tapered fit, but the seat and hips are way tighter for some reason. If I did go up a size, I’d probably end up with a less tapered fit, though I can’t say for sure.

Here’s a closer look at the garments I tried on:

Tupelo Trucker Jacket Review

The Tupelo is a 100% linen trucker jacket, which I’ve never seen before. It’s a nice change of pace from the countless denim and cotton options out there.

Billy Reid Trucker Jacket — Check current price

It’s made from a nice heavy linen that’s soft and breathable enough to wear in warmer weather. I probably wouldn’t wear this on really hot summer days, though. Because it’s a thicker linen, it’s also a great choice for spring and fall.

The antique brass buttons complement the khaki color well and provide that classic trucker jacket feel.

A nice detail I noticed is the asymmetrical design of the pocket flaps. It’s super subtle, but it adds character.

5 Pocket Pant

The 5 Pocket Pant is kind of a hybrid between jeans and chinos. They feel like chinos, but the 5-pocket construction is more common with jeans.

In terms of comfort and style, these pants score pretty high. I got them in the moss color, which is a great neutral tone that goes with just about anything. They feel high quality, and I like how they fit through the leg.

Like I mentioned earlier, I got my normal size of 28×28, but the seat is too small, which leads to some fabric pulling that’s less than flattering. It’s not the worst I’ve ever seen, but I don’t think I’ll be keeping this pair.

Washed Tee

The Washed Tee is a simple garment-dyed crewneck made from 100% organic Pima cotton.

Although this is as basic as it gets, I really like this shirt. It’s incredibly soft and fits me perfectly, with zero tightness or pulling anywhere.

Billy Reid t shirt — Check current price

I got the shirt in blush, which is a muted pastel pink, and it adds a nice pop of color to a more neutral or earth-toned outfit.

At the end of the day, this is a $78 T-shirt, and it’s safe to say I won’t be replacing all of my tees anytime soon. But price aside, this is a supremely comfortable shirt that I really enjoy wearing.