While most commonly associated with Alabama, where he lives and works with his wife and family, Billy Reid (2010's CFDA recipient for Best New Menswear Designer) has another state on his mind.  Celebrating the completion of the Spring 2011 line in his Noho flagship store, Reid mused about the influences behind his collection, which blends the prep tailoring of the southern gentry with the rugged workwear of a cotton picker. "I've been thinking a lot about New Orleans," the Louisiana born designer explains on the floor of the shop decorated in the style of one of The Big Easy's Garden District mansions, "The Saints' huge Super Bowl was so exciting, but at the same time it's also the five year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina...the city has just been on my mind a lot this year." Though far from Bourbon Street, the whiskey was plentiful and served in teacups reminiscent of a prohibition speakeasy while friends, family, and members of the menswear mafia packed the two levels of the store to the live tunes of The Postelles, the heirs apparent to the New York club rock scene and disciples of The Strokes' Albert Hammond Jr.  Jeff Halmos of Shipley and Halmos was seen chatting up Billy by the door (the one location where the temperature did not resemble that of a steamy Louisiana evening), and founder Chris Corrado caught up with Ernest Alexander fresh off their Las Vegas trade show. Despite all the revelry, Billy does not consider himself too much of a party animal. He joked, "The year they make me Grand Marshall at Mardi Gras, king cake in hand, is the year you know it's gone to hell."