S10 Ep20 MESSY JESSY VINTAGE: Jessica Barr, a Brooklyn-based dealer - on opening a collaborative vintage showroom and her unexpected, growing specialty in vintage bridal.

S10 Ep20 MESSY JESSY VINTAGE: Jessica Barr, a Brooklyn-based dealer - on opening a collaborative vintage showroom and her unexpected, growing specialty in vintage bridal.

Author: Emily Stochl September 14, 2026 Duration: 54:44

Today we're chatting with Jessica Barr, owner of Messy Jessy Vintage, a Brooklyn-based vintage brand specializing in women's wear and bridal, with a showroom she shares with two fellow dealers and a rotating presence at markets and events across New York, including the Manhattan Vintage Show. 

Jessica studied journalism in school, and became fascinated with sustainability and inequality in fashion — studies that eventually led her to a dedicated practice of secondhand shopping and, not long after, selling vintage itself.

Her real education in vintage came post-grad, working for Matt Smith at Newburgh Vintage Emporium, where she sharpened her eye for feminine silhouettes and fell hard for 1970s dresses. From there, her Etsy shop grew from a side hustle into a full-time business, eventually landing her in a Brooklyn showroom. In the last year, vintage bridal has become an unexpected and deeply personal part of her business, drawing in brides for laid-back appointments and building a community she never anticipated.

We're getting into it all — the treasured thrift store finds, the incredible vintage buys from a theater's costume department, road trips across Massachusetts, and the labels and styles she can never resist. All that and more on today's show! 

Let's dive right in!

DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE:

  • [02:52] Jessica grew up loving fashion, including Jennifer Aniston street style and Phoebe from Friends, and hunting down pieces from Poshmark in high school 
  • [04:45] She studied journalism in college with a focus on sustainability and inequality in fashion
  • [08:25] Reconstructing a shredded 1980s Pink Floyd tee from the thrift store 
  • [10:21] Working for Matt Smith at Newburgh Vintage Emporium post-graduation 
  • [13:11] Developing her vintage brand's point of view: 70s dresses, cottagecore, feminine eveningwear 
  • [14:39] How vintage bridal became part of the business, and selling her first wedding dress 
  • [17:24] Balancing TikTok trends with personal sourcing vision 
  • [19:16] Why her bridal content resonates so strongly 
  • [23:37] Going full-time in vintage when she moved to Brooklyn, and the hustle of NYC's saturated but supportive vintage market 
  • [27:56] Opening a shared Brooklyn showroom 
  • [34:01] How her sourcing has shifted toward wholesale as the business has grown 
  • [41:31] Holy grail finds and go-to labels
  • [48:22] Favorite pieces from her personal collection, and her current vintage wishlist

EPISODE MENTIONS: 

LET'S CONNECT: 

SPECIAL THANKS: 

A special thanks goes out to my Patron Insiders – your support makes Pre-Loved Podcast possible!

  • Patty Weber
  • Kathy Brand
  • Lisa of Queenie & Pearl
  • Lydia Welp
  • Michael A.
  • Megan Morris
  • Jennifer
  • Alana Rivero
  • Jerrica Yasumura
  • Amanda Hale

 


Every week, Emily Stochl invites you into a conversation that goes far beyond the clothing rack. Pre-Loved Podcast with Emily Stochl is built on the idea that every second-hand garment has a past, and that exploring those histories makes our present style more meaningful. Rather than just offering shopping tips, each episode feels like sitting down with a fascinating friend who shares your passion for vintage, digging into the many layers of what it means to wear pre-owned fashion. You’ll hear from a diverse range of guests-from collectors and stylists to entrepreneurs and historians-as they explore not only personal style but also the practicalities of running a resale business, the complexities of the global second-hand market, and the environmental ethos behind choosing used over new. The heart of this podcast lives in those incredible stories: the serendipitous flea market find, the garment that carries a decade of memories, or the simple, powerful act of giving a piece a new life. Emily guides these discussions with genuine curiosity, making each topic accessible whether you're a seasoned thrifter or just curious about sustainable fashion. It’s a thoughtful, engaging look at how what we wear connects to culture, art, beauty, and the kind of mindful consumption that can reshape an industry. Tune in for a fresh perspective that celebrates the character, sustainability, and deep personal connection found in pre-loved fashion.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Pre-Loved Podcast with Emily Stochl
Podcast Episodes