The three-piece suit can be hard to pull off without looking like Boss Tweed, but if you pull it off well—like this patterned gentleman—you’re in memorable territory. In style as in all things, fortune favors the brave. The trick here is matching the suit to the narrow plaid in the shirt, then setting the whole ensemble off with a diagonally thick-striped tie. They even tuck in the tie as a victory lap. Trust us, the GQ kids are drooling.

The suit comes courtesy of Alabama’s Billy Reid, which explains the southern flavor. It’s not a look that New York or Los Angeles have seen very much of. They tend to be more focused on Milan or Tokyo than Savannah, but it’s a shame.

As for the model, he might be preening, but he’s got reason to.

Manhattan can be a hectic place for the brick-and-mortar crowd—in both good and bad ways—but it’s nice to see what a brand does when it has a little more room to breathe.

On the heels of his recent Manhattan shop, our favorite southern tailor Billy Reid has just opened up a Nashville location, and it looks like the extra real estate was put to good use. Like the New York store, most of the furniture here is reclaimed from points south to give the place an anachronistic ambiance. But don’t be fooled: the business is entirely modern.

This is Reid’s seventh boutique and, other than the New York, they’re all in the South—from industrial Dallas to Reid’s hometown of Florence, Alabama. And while everyone can probably conjure up images of classic southern style—other than Colonel Sanders, that is—nobody’s been interested in becoming the Great Southern Designer. He has his work cut out for him.

Take a look at the Nashville store»

Desert boots may have run out of novelty, but there still a few remnants kicking around.

For instance, Southern Gentleman Billy Reid’s shoe-boot hybrid. The bottom is all oxford, but we detect a notable Clarks influence around the sloping laces.

As for the non-sandproof soles, we doubt he’s trudging through many dunes in Tennessee.

(Hat tip to the Choosy Beggar for the find.)

It’s been awhile since we checked in with southern gentleman Billy Reid, but he’s been busy…even if it’s not stuff you’ll see on the runways this week.

Last week, we caught a peek at what he has in the pipeline, and it’s more than enough to hold our attention. Judging by what we saw, we can look forward to some light jackets, green wool caps, large-check flannel, and a pair of buckle-heavy boots Mr. Reid took the time to sketch out for us. We even got the tailor himself to pose for us, and from the looks of his outfit, he’s an even bigger flannel fan than we are.

See backstage for yourself»

We’ve long been fans of Billy Reid’s finely tailored Southern menswear, so naturally we leapt at the chance to visit the designer’s new store and headquarters in Florence, Alabama. (He was relocating from Dallas.) As you might expect, the shop—just down the street from both a charming diner called Trowbridge’s and a more mysterious outfit called Guns-N-Such—boasts a cozy, relaxed atmosphere with plenty of exposed brick, finely detailed wood shelving, and, of course, a well stocked selection of shirts, trousers, shoes, and suiting. They were working on the shop right up until the opening—happily, you’d never know.

Take a look around»

We just got a peek at the latest Fall/Winter gear from southern gentleman Billy Reid, and it looks like he’s been spending a little time on the water.

He hasn’t lost his affinity for seersucker suits and elegantly cut slacks, but now there are a few more nautical pieces mixed in, including a Roguish anchor sweater and an eye-catching bright yellow slicker, which might be our favorite of his outerwear pieces. It’s more Newport than Tupelo, but we’re certainly not complaining.

See the rest of the line here»

We’ve never been much for sale chasing, but Billy Reid’s 30% off sale just led us to this winter jacket, which might be enough to convince us to change our ways.

It’s the same heavy wool that makes pea coats such a staple, but the inspiration here is more Southern than nautical. The jacket’s named Tishomingo Woods after a spot in the northeast corner of Mississippi where you can find similar items on the backs of bird hunters. Of course, the down-country version won’t have quite as trim a cut—but that’s what we have designers for.

Live Clothed Girls: Natalie Portman is swearing off nude scenes. We knew this day would come… [Blackbook]

A God Among Men: New rule: All considerations of modern masculinity should end with a John Holmes quote. (We’re looking at you, Chabon.) Check this one out, if only for the quote. [This Recording]

The Man Behind the Hair: Rod Blagojevich is out of his goddamn mind. [Esquire]

Billy Two: Billy Reid opens up with Mister Mort, and drops a few details on his upcoming Stetson collab. [T Magazine]