Billy Reid Unveils Stylish Chukka & Moto Boot Collection

The Alabama-based designer is stepping into fall with two handsome new boots.

Good things are certainly worth the wait, especially when you consider making an investment in your footwear rotation, the kind that’ll stick around for years to come. And so it goes with Alabama designer Billy Reid, who took great care in bringing footwear back to his stylish Southern brand after a long absence.

The designer, who’s perfected staples like the classic henley shirt as well as James Bond’s favorite peacoat, focused on two wear-with-anything styles to jumpstart the triumphant return of Billy Reid footwear.

The fact that each silhouette comes from the Reid archive should only make the return that much more covetable.

Diehards might recall the Florence-based company also worked on heritage sneakers with the likes of K-Swiss across the past decade.

Reid’s latest collection echoes designers like Todd Snyder, who’ve also introduced footwear into their own line, under their own brand umbrella.

The collection boasts day-to-night style in the form of a handsome chukka boot (the Indianola) and an edgy, rugged-meets-refined moto boot (the overdyed leather Paglia Moto Boot).

To perfect each style, Reid & co. worked with a third-generation Tuscany manufacturer, which used materials like premium pebbled cowhide leather and hand-burnished detailing to get even the smallest touches correct (and comfortable).

“We are bringing back a few of our favorites from the archive in limited runs as we relaunch the category,” Reid said of the launch, emphasizing that the first drop features footwear that “longtime fans will recognize and that are just as timeless, comfortable, and durable as you remember.”

The Paglia boasts a full leather lining and a burnished cap toe, plus a branded side zipper for a bit of a rock n’roll feel, while its leather insole should mold to your foot quite nicely over time.

The Indianola, on the other hand, is made from a rich light brown kudu leather, and the boots should develop “a beautiful patina and character over time,” the brand said.

Either pair is assuredly investment-worthy: The Indianola is priced at $448, while the Paglia will set you back $498.

But with Reid’s penchant for quality and craftsmanship, these are stylish, effortlessly cool boots made to last well beyond this fall.