Alexander Olch Ties

Alexander Olch, a Harvard grad, film director and designer believes “a man shouldn’t just dress well – he should dress with character.” It’s this kind of philosophy that is brought out in Olch’s handmade ties that blend the unconventional with the traditional. Vogue called him “part East Coast prep, part Old World charm; uptown co-op meets downtown speakeasy.” He says he gets his inspiration from styles in the 1920s, ‘30s, and ‘40s but the collections are not only accessible for today, but have a sensibility that easily fits in while distinguishing you from the rest. His ties’ widths, which are between two and five-eighths and two and three-quarters of an inch, also give them a blend of traditional and inventive aesthetic. Alexander Olch.

Dive Bar Shirt Club

To own a truly authentic bar T-shirt you should have a connection to the place or a great adventure story about it. “Back in ’96 when we did a spontaneous trip to Nantucket…” But at the end of the day, a cool T is still a cool T whether you bought it at the bar or not. This is where Dive Bar Shirt Club comes in. For $20 a month, this service will send you a genuine T-shirt from some of the most unique bars in America. There’s no minimum order required and you can cancel anytime.

When two Southern guys studying in England had to travel back to the US they were always disappointed by the selection of shirts they found at home. Most were “formless and baggy or too expensive.” Their disappointment was our gain because these two enterprising gentlemen decided to change direction after business school at Oxford from a career in finance—and instead set up shop in a renovated tobacco warehouse in Richmond, Virginia. That’s where they began making shirts based on the principles of high quality and tailored fitting they found in London. They learned their craft by day from an English tailor and then spent their nights at a pub (on Ledbury Road) drafting their business plan. Combining Italian fabrics with British tailoring and some Southern influence, Ledbury offers classic dress shirts, a few patterns, and a couple of button-downs. Their clothing philosophy is to make shirts that have attention to detail, fit properly, and will stand the test of time with style. Our favorite aspect of their shirts is that they lowered the second button to create a proper amount of space on the neckline. With many shirts, you run into the problem of having the second button too high or too low when not wearing a tie. Also, if your form can handle it, opt for their slim fit. You’ll have a sleeker, more distinguished look without the excess fabric. Ledbury shirts cost between $115 and $135.

Billy Reid

We’ve waited for more than a year to feature Billy Reid, hoping it would coincide with the opening of one of his Southern-themed boutiques in Atlanta. We hear a local shop is still in the works, but until then we thought you need to know about Reid’s clothing and online store. Reid’s style is unapologetically Southern, taking a bit of the traditional, some vintage and mixing in a slight edge. His jackets, shirts, and jeans feature classic elements but wearable gentility.

Conventional fabrics blend with modish details and finishings, giving his style distinction. Walking in one of his stores you get the vibe pretty quickly. Old black and white photographs, antique wood floors and laid-back hospitality (have a bourbon while you browse) are balanced by the sounds of the latest alt-folk band and a young staff that looks like they only drink at a speakeasy. Reid puts out two full lines of clothing each year that include options for dressing up and down. For the full experience, head to one of the seven locations in the South and New York’s East Village. The closest locations are in Nashville, Charleston and Charlotte. Billy Reid

Over the past 20 years Bill Halman has been selling unique clothing from his Virginia-Highland shop to stylish hipsters, city sophisticates, and women trying to update their man’s wardrobe. Now the local fashion guru is opening another location and returning to his roots as a designer. Bill Hallman Studio in Buckhead recently opened as part fashion workspace and part boutique mixing his own label with other brands. Certainly beyond the ordinary of menswear, it’s worth a visit for denim, T-shirts, vintage luggage, unique watches and accessories all at varying price points.  www.billhallman.com

Bill Hallman Men: Virginia Highland, 792 N. Highland Ave.
Bill Hallman Studio: Buckhead, 3400 Around Lenox Road, suite 213