I pulled up to the neon-lit Upper Garden of Walker Art Center on a warm September night, adjusting my Barbie pink gingham dress before crossing the threshold between reality and enchantment. As I neared the building, a sea of dissonant textures and patterns came into vision—polka dots and leopard print; polyester and tulle; sailboats, paper planes, and feathery head dresses. If it sounds like the haphazard remnants of a circus crew, you’re not far off. This was Walker Art Center’s annual Avant Garden like we had never seen it before—more vibrant, unusual, and unserious—the result of giving the community’s most creative and fashion-driven minds one single, open-ended cue: permission to play.
Referred to by many as the “Minnesota Met Gala,” Walker’s annual fundraising event is one of the Twin Cities’ most elaborate fashion spectacles, uniting attendees under a themed dress code that challenges the imagination to stretch wide open. This year’s theme—“play”—may be the most abstract yet, encouraging guests to uncover their inner child “in a world that feels increasingly serious.”
I dreamt up my look for the night alongside local designer Susan Mammadova of Dare to Darling, who turned me into a 1960’s-inspired Malibu Barbie. The result was a simple, tailored bodice top mini dress in pink gingham, featuring an oversized, wire-lined bow. I styled the retro silhouette with a pair of vintage suede gloves from Golden Pear Vintage and oversized heart-shaped earrings from Rosella Vintage.
Photo by Susan Mammadova
“I wanted to keep the dress simple but give it an avant garde twist,” shares Mammadova. “The big bow was the perfect way to align with the playful theme of the night while breathing life into the Barbie aesthetic.”
But ‘60s Malibu Barbie was just one interpretation of the expansive theme. From magicians to clowns to showgirls, we rounded up our official picks for the night’s most imaginative, enticing looks—here is our 2025 Avant Garden best dressed list.
Sails Up
One of the first things I spotted in line at the event’s bar was a giant sailboat peeking out from above the sea of colors and fabrics. I immediately inquired. “For me sailing is play,” said the boat’s wearer, Martha. “So, I thought it would be playful to have a boat on my head.” Outfitted in a handmade structured dress and “Marie Antionette-inspired hair,” Martha’s body and blue hair extensions resembled the sea—a blank slate for her expertly crafted sailboat headpiece to rest upon. And it even has moving mechanical parts (in case a handmade sailboat hat wasn’t already enough).
Photo by Emma Enebak
Dot Drama
Attendees veered their heads toward Paityn Adams as she wandered the garden in an oversized, polka-dotted tie and matching asymmetrical hat—her take on a “DIY suit.” Although Adams doesn’t describe herself as a designer, she handmade the look the night before, staying up into the late hours of the night as she sewed oversized buttons to her playful crinoline shape. “I just didn’t like anything I saw online,” she laughed.
Inspired by the structure and geometry, Adams purposefully opted to stray from color and let the polka dots speak for themselves. “Sometimes I think it’s almost bolder to do black-and-white. And I made a jumbo tie; which is cool.”
Photo by Emma Enebak
Tailored Toys
If you didn’t see this elaborate and colorful ensemble worn by Heather Whitebread, you probably heard it. The look was composed from a plethora of antique noisemakers, sourced and applied by Whitebread herself. “The best part is, [the noisemakers] detach from the dress, so you can use them,” says Whitebread, who attached each piece herself by velcro. The look was finished off with a multicolored wig and zip-tied noisemaker headpieces, seamlessly personifying the essence of play.
Textured Treasures
Sarah Kuhn, the stylist behind Edina’s The Fitting Room, repped a collection of local designers in shimmering fall tones. From feathers and knitwork to gold and emerald, the varying textures and shades combined for a bold, cohesive statement. Find each piece in The Fitting Room’s fall collection, including a collection of maximalist jewelry like the crowning gold neck piece by local jewelry designer Stephanie Lake.
Photo by Emma Enebak
Water Works
Local artist and author Eme McAnam was hesitant to attend her first Avant Garden, until her apartment neighbor and fashion designer Barnabas Mwaiko (who recently dressed WNBA star and Olympian Napheesa Collier for the Time 100 red carpet) approached her at the gym with an idea. The resulting look is a structured two-tone blue garment made with tulle and piping to give it a 3D appearance. “[Mwaiko] knows I love blue, so he made me look like water—it’s got a beautiful flow.” McAnam’s forst novel “Freefalling,” details a tale of senior romance, and is available now on Amazon.
Photo by Emma Enebak
Grandmother Chic
Eclectic, funky, and delightfully maximalist, MartinPatrick3 stylist Chanelle Whimper pulled together a look from pieces in her own closet, aiming for a hodgepodge ensemble that felt like “playing in your grandmother’s closet.” The Venetia Carter lace-up boots and bright-pink Akira bag were standouts, bringing an upbeat Y2K edge to the night’s fashion playground.
Photo by Emma Enebak
Dark Spark
Glittering in a studded Versace blazer, local model Karlowba Adams Powell’s look was complex and edgy. Caged layers, reflective leather, and cheetah print pumps combined to tell a story of play through rivaling patterns and fabrics. Dressed by designer and stylist Pierre McCleary of 1026 Styles, with jewelry by Pieces of Kandakes, Powell focuses on sourcing from brands and boutiques that empower women to be their most confident selves.
Photo by Emma Enebak
Roma Romanticism
Difficult to miss with his draping train and shimmering spectacles, Richard Anderson united a diverse collection of vintage treasures to present his interpretation of play. “The bodice was designed by the man who did the ‘Wonder Woman’ costumes,” he shared, “and I finished that off with a traditional Indian groomsmen bridal jacket.”
Inspired by Dolce & Gabbana’s “Roma 2025,” a summer exhibition of haute couture staged across various Roman landmarks, Anderson attached a handmade train to give the silhouette flow and complexity. “Play to me means dressing up, and I love that we are in an era of maximalism right now,” he said.
Photo by Emma Enebak
Wild Stripes
Bold and unbridled, this head-to-toe animal print number worn by local model Jarron Williams deserves its flowers. Handmade by local designer Andy Vilaisak of VIXAI Collections, the look was inspired by singer and actor Jeremy Pope, incorporating tiger print and a bejeweled “King” pendant to evoke the vibrance of the jungle.
Photo by Emma Enebak
Bold Bloom
As a member of the event’s ticket committee, local influencer Sade Young made a statement in hot-pink tulle, incorporating subtle silver accessories for a touch of shine. “To me, play means being carefree. This dress felt perfect because it takes up space,” she shares. “It’s hot pink, its poofy, and it says, ‘look at me.’”
Photo by Emma Enebak
Paper Play
Uniting elegant tailoring with childlike craftiness, this paper plane look I spotted just before leaving the venue might have been one of my favorites, “It’s literally a rip-off,” said the look’s wearer, Scott. “I copied a look from Louis Vuitton’s Spring/Summer 2023 show, and thought ‘I can make that,’” he shares. Scott sourced the base black suit for under $20 at Unique in Minneapolis, and then made each paper plane by hand, uncovering a long-forgotten childhood pastime in the process. “It reminded me of being a little kid and throwing paper airplanes off the roof,” he says.
Photo by Emma Enebak
