Vaughters’ style always in fashion

No one has ever mistaken the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ locker room for a fashion runway.

If anything, it’s the type of place where the fashion police would hand out citations left, right and centre to players for wearing flip flops, baggy gym shorts and compression shirts with the sleeves chopped off.

“We wear sweats to the game and we wear sweats when we travel. Everything’s actually really laid back here, which I think I kinda appreciate,” said first-year Bombers defensive end James Vaughters after Wednesday’s closed practice.

“It’s gotten so big in the NFL with the tunnel fits and travel fits and everything. I was into it, but being at the point of my career where I’m at, I just want to win and play well. I appreciate the focus that they have here.”

It’s a different story away from the gridiron where fashion has become a major focus for Vaughters. In fact, the 32-year-old from Chicago has worked as a wardrobe stylist and personal shopper with his most notable client being Solomon Thomas, a nine-year NFL vet who currently plays defensive tackle for the Dallas Cowboys.

The Stanford University alums reconnected in 2022 when Thomas was playing for the New York Jets and Vaughters, who was released after a brief stint with the Pittsburgh Steelers and was without a team, was living in The Big Apple.

“That was really the first outlet I had to do it as a job, instead of just like ‘I like to dress nice, and I like clothes,’” said Vaughters, who also got a certificate in fashion design management that year from Cornell University.

“I was able to show that I can meet expectations. He has a 17-week season, and I can have him dress well for it. I actually designed some suits for him to wear for the NFL Honors because he was a consecutive Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee. That was a great springboard for me, just cause I’ve been looking for ways to have a portfolio if I want to go get my master’s.”

Vaughters proved to be no slouch, as Yardbarker published an article titled “40 famous men who have truly impeccable fashion sense” which featured Thomas alongside some massive names like Barack Obama, Ryan Gosling, David Beckham and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Vaughters has since moved on to become a fashion director for AoD (Art of Design) Magazine and was on the front cover of their second issue last month.

“Fashion was something I always had an interest in growing up,” said Vaughters.

“Being a kid that was bigger than most, you get made fun of. Your clothes don’t really fit, you’re growing fast and can’t buy clothes every six months or so. All I wanted to do is blend in and it’s kind of hard to do that if someone is making fun of you for your shoes, or your jacket or something. It was something that I realized impacted how people viewed me. And I’m kind of introverted, so I wanted to do something that represents me without having to speak all the time. I think style is good for that.”

Vaughters has made his No. 93 look fashionable in blue and gold. He leads Winnipeg with five sacks which puts him one shy of tying his career high that he set back in 2017 with the Calgary Stampders. He’ll have a chance to add to his total Saturday in Edmonton when the Bombers (8-7) take on the Elks (6-9).

“He’s got a relentless motor and he’s powerful, but here’s the one thing I really like about James: his professionalism,” said head coach Mike O’Shea.

“He had a sack the last game and I showed the clip, and I spent three minutes asking him to do it a little differently. And I think a lot of guys would just think ‘Well, I just got a sack.’ But I think he understands why we need to talk about it like that. I think he agrees that he would try to do it a little differently. He’s taken the coaching and he’s just one of those guys where that’s OK with him.”

As for coaching his teammates on what to wear, Vaughters has bitten his lip.

“I think he knows that I’m too far gone in the fashion game that anything he says isn’t gonna matter too much,” said defensive tackle Jake Thomas.

Thomas has been thrilled with everything else he’s brought to the team, though. Vaughters appeared in 27 NFL games between the Chicago Bears and Atlanta Falcons — with a highlight being sacking Tom Brady on Thursday Night Football in 2020 — and registered 21 sacks in four seasons with Calgary.

“I think it was really good to get someone at that other end, opposite end of Willie (Jefferson), with experience who has a good pedigree in this league to hopefully try to give Willie a few more one on ones,” said Thomas.

“James has done a great job this year kind of being a moving piece. Sometimes he’s playing defensive tackle, sometimes defensive end, sometimes he’s off the ball, he’s given us a lot of capability of giving different looks to the offence and he’s been a great addition. You never know what guys are gonna be like but he’s a great guy and fits in the room very well.”

Even with everything Vaughters has going on outside of the sport, football remains his top priority. The 2018 Grey Cup champion is eager to play some meaningful games at this time of year after winning just 11 contests in his last two seasons with the Stamps.

After all, there’s always room to add another ring to to the wardrobe.

“This is when we play the football that really matters. I’m in a culture that understands that we have an opportunity that we need to take advantage of and details that we need to be on top of every week,” said Vaughters.

“The energy that you feel around the facility, it’s nice to have that after not having it for a couple of years.”

The Bombers are taking Thursday off and will travel to Edmonton on Friday.

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca