
When you think of layering up for the season at hand, and particularly layering up when casually rugged style is the name of the game, where does your mind wander? Do you think of the fall and winter style staple that is the timeless shawl cardigan, or perhaps the crisp and classic crewneck or V-neck sweater? Do you think of the lounge-ready hoodie?
Or do you think of a piece that falls somewhere in between those categories — a rugged hybrid selection like the henley sweater, especially the Billy Reid Garment-Dyed Henley Sweater, might be precisely what you have in mind, yes?
This piece lives up to its name, and then some, falling on the more laidback side of the equation as far as Billy Reid wardrobe essentials are concerned. The Alabama-based designer lends a casually cool, classic air to pieces that are normally more conservative, be it the Oxford shirt or the denim blue jean — and of course, elevated menswear like one of the best men’s blazers or James Bond’s favorite peacoat remain very much part of the designer’s offerings, year after year.

Billy Reid also strays into sportswear territory, like the heritage-inspired Dover Sweatshirt, which uses handsome elbow patches to class up an already super-soft crewneck sweatshirt. And that’s where the Billy Reid Garment-Dyed Henley Sweater starts to work its magic in your menswear rotation.

Garment-dyed cotton gives it a lived-in look and feel, the designer says, while ribbed knit finishing at the cuffs and hem delivers a snug fit and a touch of visual appeal — it turns the henley into a thicker sweater, one you can even layer under a more lightweight cotton crewneck tee or, better still, a lightweight cotton henley for a dash of devil-may-care style attitude.
Heirloom elbow patches and a timeless band-collar design help the Billy Reid Garment-Dyed Henley Sweater achieve the perfect balance between a rugged layering must-have — beneath a waxed field coat might work wonders — and a refined staple you can use to dress down a crisp white dress shirt and tobacco-hued chinos ever so slightly.
Dark horn buttons are an elevated finishing design detail, giving this handsome sweater a wear-with-anything sensibility this winter. When the mood strikes, when you want a departure from the ordinary via your winter layering game, the Billy Reid Garment-Dyed Henley Sweater could be just the ticket, my friends.
























