At the Minneapolis Vintage Market’s holiday edition, hosted at the Machine Shop, these four individuals had lots to share, from opposing opinions of skinny jeans to how they stay warm but stylish to the trends they hope to leave behind in the new year.
Richard Moody
How would you describe your personal style?
Evolved, in terms of over the years. I do a lot of black, mostly. I wear a lot of Japanese designs: Issey Miyake, Yohji Yamamoto. So, a lot of black but I also think it’s cool, global, interesting—I hope.
How has your style evolved since you were a young adult to now?
What I’ve learned from my 20s and 30s is that you don’t have to buy more in terms of quality, versus so much in quantity. Buying things that mix and match so you can wear them over the seasons, instead of buying them for the trend. I think I’ve evolved to learn that over the years.
If you have no idea what to wear one day, what’s an outfit you know will work for you?
Yeah, black. Probably some oversized Yohji [Yamamoto] pants, a black shirt, and a leather or bomber jacket. And always a big wrap of some sorts or a hat.
How do you take your style and elevate it for a special event?
Well, I think what we all should do is figure out what the event actually is, and study what the dress will actually be. I’ll usually do a black suit with big flowers made from someone who upcycles things. I like JeanHazel Designs, a local artist here. I think elevating can be from accessories. And sometimes, less is best. Put everything on and take things off.
How are you dressing for the winter season while trying to maintain personal style, too?
Layers, a lot of layers. I think depending on where I’m going, I wear a lot of oversized jeans as well. With the layers, something that pops so you don’t get lost in the snow. I’m not trying to blend in, I’m trying to give people inspiration to feel their best and look their best.
Where do you find style inspiration?
Often windows, like in Copenhagen, Paris, London, or South Africa. Even walking in the streets in the Twin Cities works. I like to watch old movies but I’m also drawn to vampire movies, Bram Stoker's Dracula or The Hunger. And Black movies like Cotton Club, Harlem Nights, Stormy Weather, and the old classic movies that keep us in fashion.
You say you wear mostly black, but I’m seeing more than just black today.
Believe it or not, yes! It’s interesting today. I just came from church, and I’m used to wearing all black, but it happens to be the holidays. I have this vest, which happens to be a vintage wool one from a new shop in Uptown called Shop My Closet. It seemed to be festive, and the shoes go with it from a brand in Toronto. I still have the black pants and black turtleneck but I went for something different because of the holidays.
This [coat] is by designer Pyer Moss in New York and I believe it was a collaboration with Nike. I like it because it’s very warm and very long. It came in black, which I have, and it came in white, which I also have, and it came in a short bomber jacket in red and white, which I have. So, I have all four of the jackets.
What is a fashion trend you hope we leave behind in 2025?
I hope we can really leave behind skinny jeans. And tights, jeggings, leggings. I think all the wrong bodies put their asses into tights and jeggings because it’s safe and easy but they don’t look in the mirror before they leave. I think skinny jeans just don’t fit everybody. If they could leave skinny jeans, leggings, tights, and Lululemon behind…
Is there a trend or style you’d like to see more of in 2026?
Upcycled or recycled denim pieces. Like here at the Vintage Market, find something that’s classic and bring it back. Keep it out of landfills and keep it out of third world countries.
Jasmine D’Avilar
How would you describe your personal style?
I’m a very versatile style person. I’ve been more into vintage lately and doing a lot of vintage shopping while trying to do a capsule wardrobe. But I can also rock streetwear; I love business casual. I can kind of go wherever. I’m pretty flexible with gender expression, too, so I just like everything.
Where do you find fashion inspiration?
From a lot of Black women in my life and in history. I’m always looking back through the decades. As we’re listening to this [DJ] music, it’s Diana Ross with that kind of Motown '50s, '60s era. That was super pivotal for us, so I just admire how we’ve been able to be really stylish and fashion forward. Even now, my favorite artists like Beyoncé are really inspirational to me. And Teyana Taylor is one for stylistic choices that I look up to.
How are you dressing for the winter season while trying to maintain personal style, too?
I definitely dress for the weather, but still try to choose fashionable choices. It’s got to be functional, but I think you can blur the lines between fashionable but also practical. In those cases, I like to change out my jackets, depending on the weather. Today was a little bit nicer, we hit the 20s, so I thought, “I could put on a cute colored trench coat and I won’t freeze to death.”
When the winter comes I feel like the energy is very dreary, gray, dark, and moody, so I like to bring out more color. I can boost my mood, you just feel better instead of dressing with the weather. I’ve always thought that you should dress how you want to feel during the day.
What’s a go-to outfit for you?
I’m definitely a jeans and a nicer top kind of person. And then some sneakers to match. That’s my go-to. Or a monochrome look, because it's easy to just choose one color.
How do you elevate a casual, everyday look?
Accessories, accessories, accessories. Have a cute bag, some shoes, a scarf, or something to add a little bit of a story to it, some mystery. Jewelry is always a good way to spruce up a fit.
What is a trend you’d like to leave behind in the new year?
There’s a lot! I feel like people should steer away from trends. Find your own lane and stick to it.
But to leave behind, men with jerseys over a hoodie. That combo? I’m sorry, but no thanks. That’s one of the more diabolical ones for me. It’s an absolute no from me. Every time I see that I’m just like, come on. I think you can be a sports fan and it’s okay to wear that, but maybe just while the sport is happening. I’ll let it stay there, where it’s supposed to be. But if it’s outside of that? That choice is kinda crazy.
What about a trend or style you want to see more of in 2026?
Skinny jeans. But then, on the other extreme side, more bell bottoms. I like a little flare. Or matching sets, a monochrome match. I think loungewear and suits work for that.
Do you have any personal style goals for this next year?
I’ve been looking into only purchasing natural fibers. I’ve been seeing so many people complaining about the polyester and plastic that’s in our clothes. As a vintage and thrift shopper, I appreciate having quality materials that can last 20, 30, 40 years. And that’s because it’s all craftsmanship, made by people who love the craft. I think about those things. I’m trying to purchase more cotton and wool, the natural fibers, because fashion is the number one polluter, unfortunately. And as a lover of it, I’m just like damn, I should be conscious about not only my spending habits, but my [shopping habits] so they reflect my values and help our planet.
Tiara (right) and Cassy (left)
How would you describe your personal style?
Cassy: I guess I would describe it as having feminine, flowy silhouettes. I’ve been really into lace lately, and pastels.
Tiara: As for me, I’m more into androgynous style, which I think just fits my gender expression more. But color palettes are more neutral; earth tones that I think suit my skin tone best.
Where do you pull inspiration from?
Tiara: Mainly, I want to say Pinterest. But in Minneapolis, I live around campus so I see a lot of people on the West Bank who are cool. Their style is just crazy, it’s so authentic and original. There’s cool people around me. If I’m not going outside a lot, it’s Pinterest.
Cassy: I would say the same. Social media like TikTok, Instagram, all of that. I really like 2000s fashion and have been getting into '70s fashion, too. I’ve been looking at those eras while incorporating modern pieces and silhouettes.
Tell me about your outfit today.
Cassy: I’ve been liking to wear dresses, like lace dresses, over jeans. And I just found a cardigan. But I wanted to feel comfortable today while also making me feel a little elevated, which I got with the fur coat and the lace.
Tiara: It’s a simple yet comfortable outfit, but I wanted to elevate it a little bit with accessories. I chose this red [bag] for a pop of color and a more formal shoe to not be too casual. I knew I wanted to wear this baggy jacket, so I chose the other things to accentuate it a bit more.
How do you elevate an everyday, casual outfit to make it more special?
Cassy: I mean, like even now, a good fur coat or something like that [can elevate a look]. Especially boots in the winter season.
Tiara: I’m more of an accessories person, so sunglasses, jewelry, necklaces. I tend to have the same outfit every time so I like to accessorize to customize it.
Do you have any style goals for yourself next year?
Tiara: I tend to want baggier silhouettes but I want to experiment more with form fitting silhouettes. So, yeah, '70s and '80s, where it’s some flared pants and a tighter shirt, maybe like a David Bowie moment. I think I’d like to do something like that.
Cassy: I always put outfits together where there are certain pieces that I feel like reference certain eras the most. But I think a fashion goal is wearing baggy on baggy. I think in society we’re taught to wear certain pieces that accentuate certain body parts with proportions and whatnot, but I think I’d really like to dabble with wearing what makes me comfortable. Sometimes that might be wearing pieces that don’t give me any shape at all and embracing it. Not falling into the pressure of wanting to wear something that’s only, completely flattering.
Tiara: We’re kind of doing the opposite!
What are some styles or trends you’d like to see more of in 2026?
Tiara: I think I want, because of the certain uptick in conservative clothing, I’d like to see the polar opposite of that. And when we talk more about slimmer silhouettes, people not conforming to modesty too much would be really cool.
Cassy: I guess adding onto that, I’ve been seeing a lot on how 2010s fashion is coming back, on TikTok. I hate saying things are "coming back," because some things have never left for some people. I like layers and how fun it was back in the 2010s, how free and free spirited it was. People didn’t care as much, it was brighter colors. I’d like to see that.
