Meet the Staff of Santa Monica Crossroads

April 18, 2012 By 1 Comment

If you’ve been following this blog, I don’t think it’s necessary to go into great detail about why our staff is awesome. I mean, take a look at these photos! The phrase “I know it when I see it” comes to mind – no further explanation necessary.

But since we wouldn’t just leave you hanging (and if amazing outfits aren’t an indicator), today we introduce Morgan, Kayla, Alli and Gil from Santa Monica Crossroads. If you ever experienced exceptional customer service in our store or had a nice chat with a member of our staff, read on below to know that they’re just as friendly behind the scenes as they are with their customers. They get fashion inspiration from music videos,  like rocker chic and die over Wildfox. To put it as People Magazine would…they’re just like you!

How would you describe your style?

Morgan: I would describe my style as rocker chic. It’s very 80′s, early 90′s inspired. I love lace, leopard print and velvet and I love pairing any of those with a pair of high waist denim shorts.

What are some of your favorite fashion labels that you’ve seen come into Crossroads?

Kayla: I get so excited whenever I see All Saints, Wildfox, and J.Crew come into the store!!

What do you like most about working at Crossroads?

Alli: I love building relationships with customers and hearing the stories behind pieces of clothing from sellers.

What was your inspiration for this outfit?

Gil: When I saw Rihanna’s playful 90′s punk look in the music video for “We Found Love” I instantly fell in love! Mixing Rihanna’s distinct vintage look in the video with my own girly flare, some turquoise jewelry, and chunky heels (to satisfy my obsession with Jeffrey Campbell) makes for one fabulously funky outfit!

 

Filed Under: Featured Post, Meet Our Staff

Meet Leah

March 30, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Okay, so maybe every day can’t be a perfect day. Spring sometimes begets snow, and a night out sometimes begets a lost phone. However, if you’re ever walking through Lincoln Park on one of those days, try stepping into our store. Besides some serious retail therapy, you’ll also be pleased to meet Leah, an assistant manager and a bubbly and  crafty one at that! Leah is a lover of Guns ‘N Roses, road trippin’, cats, her job and her customers. For today’s blog feature, we asked Leah what she likes about her work, what Chicago is like, why she has an epic tool wall, and even about her love of old scary movies. She also gave us a little glimpse into her life by sending us these adorable photos,  all captioned by Leah herself. Read on, meet on!

How long have you worked at Crossroads and what do you do there?

In May it will be my third year with CTC! I started in a sales/buyer position and now I am an assistant manager! So I do a little bit of everything at the store: buy in awesome clothes, talk with all sorts of interesting customers, create jazzy window displays, and I love cleaning the tagging counter. Seriously.

Where are you from, and how did you come to live in Chicago?

I grew up in Iowa, which is right next door, to the west of Illinois. It’s super nice and smells really good, especially in the summer. There are lots of great outdoors-y things to do. I came to Chicago for college, and I have moved away a couple of times, but always end up back here.

What do you like about your job?

Working at Crossroads is a pretty sweet gig! I love the amazing people that I get to work with everyday. Having a fantastic team makes all the difference. One of the coolest things about Crossroads is that everyday I never know what is going to happen, it is always something new. Whenever the front door opens, you don’t know what you are going to be looking at next: a brand new YSL Muse bag or the coolest silk jumpsuit you have ever seen. Also, getting to chit chat with the customers is great, you can get the story behind the bag or find out about new boutiques in different hoods. I also love checking out our customers outfits – if you shop at Crossroads you gotta have great style, so it is great for style inspiration!

I like to befriend cats everywhere I go.  I was just chillin’ with these kitties down in New Orleans.

What are some fun activities your staff has done as a team?

We have done the Dave & Busters night, played put-put by the lake and attempted bowling. Instead we ended up eating a lot of pizza and nachos, and watching a birthday party karaoke – very entertaining! In the summer after work we try and hit up Dairy Queen as much as possible, and I’m talking like four times a week! We take our summers very seriously in Chicago.

How would I describe Chicago to someone who has never been?

Cold. Seriously, freezing. It is a great city though. It has really cool architecture, and it’s a very good walking city. Strolling around and checking out buildings and neighborhoods is my favorite. The city has a real interesting history, and lots of museums to learn all about it. We have tons of amazing places to eat, like really, really good food – serious Midwest food with lots of cheese involved. One of the things I love most is that where I live, I can walk a few blocks down and all of a sudden you are in a zoo, face to face with some rhinos! There’s really great live music too! There are shows of every type, every night.

I just went on a road trip.  Had to stop and hang at Elvis’ house, pretty incredible! Country time in Nashville!

Do you sell to Crossroads? Have you ever seen a customer sporting something that was yours?

I sell about once a week, I don’t know if that is a lot or not. I have to keep my closet rotating. I have sold so much stuff that I can’t even remember what was mine! I really loved this big faux fur bag, with a floral embroidered strap, and yarn puff balls hanging from the side. That went fast, but I got to see it still all winter when the person who bought it would come in shopping.

Do you shop at Crossroads? What is the coolest thing you have bought?

Holy cow do I ever shop at Crossroads! I can’t even shop in a regular store anymore, because Crossroads is too much fun. I have found some serious gems at Crossroads. I have a couple of Betsey Johnson runway dresses that I adore! I have gotten some vintage Coach bags, which are great for everyday. There are all sorts of random pieces I have picked up that I can’t live without – a leather fringe vest, Missoni dresses,  and give me a brown boot any day. Needless to say, my closet is epic!

This is my work area at home, lots of random fun stuff to play with.

I also hear you have an epic tool wall and are constantly making something!  How did you get into that, and what are you working on right now?

I like tools; I think they are fun. When I see things that I like, I normally would rather create it myself. You can make it exactly how you want it, and you know no one else is going to have it. I have always been real crafty, so I  have about ten projects going on all the time. I started making jewelry a long time ago when I really got into metals and soldering. From there I just started trying everything I could get my hands on. My dad is very supportive and is constantly giving me new tools to play with. I recently refurbished a table I found in an alley. I just sanded it down, added a new coat of paint and some cool knobs. My next project is making a dresser from scratch (the boyfriend will be helping me with this). We found some old shutters that will go in the front, and then we’ll go from there!

How would you describe your personal style?

My style icons are the toxic twins, (Steven Tyler and Joe Perry from Aerosmith) and Marilyn Monroe. I like lots of accessories, and I have to have a ring on every finger.

You worked our Pitchfork booth! Tell us about it.

Working at Pitchfork is great ; it’s like working at the store, but you get to be outside with live music playing all around you. Having a tent there is super cool, there are lots of people that are visiting and have never heard of Crossroads, and they fall in love with it and end up hitting up the stores later that week. There are also a lot of locals who already shop at our stores and get so jazzed that we are there, or people who find out about us and then become regulars! It’s a real great way to spread the word.

I went to a Van Halen show recently, it was so cool! Diamond Dave was full of high kicks and was wearing a sequin jacket with snakeskin flares. What a dream! Plus Kool & the Gang opened; it doesn’t get much better!I stopped at a mystery house in Kentucky. That lady on the right was our tour guide.  She had me stand on this table in a house that you can’t really stand up straight in, a whole lot of awesome!

I hear you’re a Gun ‘N Rose fanatic and lover of scary movies. Tell us about your love of both. 

I may be the biggest Guns N’ Roses fan of all time! I love, love, love them, have my whole life. Unfortunately I am too young to have seen them back in the day. I have been to a Velvet Revolver show with backstage passes though, so I did get to meet Slash and Duff. Best day of my life! I’ve also seen the newer GN’R, so I’ve seen my lovely Axl live, also amazing! I have a serious issue with 70s/80s metal and rock, love it too much.

I do love horror movies, mainly older ones like Doctor Giggles, Wizard of Gore, anything Vincent Price and Alfred Hitchcock. I do check out newer movies for sure; I had to have midnight tickets for the opening of Human Centipede 2, but those movies are just straight weird rather then scary. October is the best month because of all the haunted houses. I usually go to at least 8 or 10 each year. One time I went ghost hunting with the dudes from the show Ghost Hunters on an old battleship in North Carolina, pretty sweet!

Oh look at that! Found another New Orleans kitty!  This guy was too awesome. 
Baby Frampton!

Who is Frampton?

The love of my life is my baby kitty Frampton. He is the most amazing little man around! He is going on ten now, but still a maniac. He is a huge gray kitty who doesn’t realize he is a cat. I’m pretty sure he thinks he is a human. He insists on being involved in everything I do, from showering to eating. He has taken entire slices of pizza out of my hands, making off like a bandit. Recently he grabbed a fork out of my hand. He took that fork full of enchilada and beat it. He was a very happy little man that night. I, of course, let baby Frampton get away with absolutely everything. Frampton does what Frampton wants.

Thank you for your time, Leah!

Filed Under: Featured Post, Meet Our Staff Tagged With:

Meet Gianna

January 3, 2012 By 1 Comment

If you shop our U-District Seattle store, chances are you’ve happened upon a nice dress, a sweater or two, some barely-worn designer jeans, and a jaw-dropping bag at an even more jaw-dropping price. Chances are, you’ve probably also happened upon our equally awe-inspiring Manager-In-Training, Gianna. Just like the store itself, Gianna is a fashion force to reckon with. A collector of designer handbags, a fan of fabulous sunnies and an avid kitty-enthusiast – I suspected Gianna was just too cool to be true. Turns out there’s no stretching of the truth here: Gianna is the cat’s pajamas. Period. Read on to meet her, and feel free to greet her in the comments below!

Tell me a little about yourself. Where are you from? Where are you now?

To put it simply, I am a fashion-obsessed, energy drink addicted bargain-hunter who loves animals and all things 1980’s!

I grew up in Sacramento, CA. and lived there until 2007. My husband (boyfriend at the time) and I decided that we wanted a change, so we packed up our belongings (and two cats) and moved up to Seattle.

How long have you been with Crossroads? Where and how did you start off?

I have been with Crossroads since 2002 (I can’t even believe it’s been that long!). My mom and I have been loyal customers of the Crossroads on Arden Way in Sacramento for as long as I can remember, so one day my mom encouraged me to apply. I got hired on as a Buyer the next week. I was so excited!

The next year I moved to Los Angeles to attend FIDM to study Fashion Merchandising, but I became homesick after a year, so I transferred to the campus in San Francisco and was re-hired at the Sacramento Crossroads. I expressed my interest in become a member of management, so I worked my way up to eventually become one of the assistant  managers for the Sacramento store.

When I moved to Seattle, I was lucky enough to keep my same position and work for Kristina at the Seattle store on Broadway. When the University location opened in 2008, I came over to that location and have been there (mostly!) ever since! I became the M.I.T. for the University location last year.What’s it like being a manager at Crossroads?

It’s wonderful! It is great to be part of a company that really cares about its employees and the impact we make on the environment. Additionally, we have a great team here at the University District store. We all get along great, work well together, and love what we do!

As a California transplant, how do you like Seattle?

I love Seattle and I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. The city has a lot to offer, but still provides a small-town, friendly vibe. I love people-watching here, too…it gives me a lot of fashion inspiration!

Both of our Seattle stores have legendary cute walls. Can you tell us what this is and how it started at your store?

I worked at the Broadway store for about 6 months after that location expanded in 2010. Kristina and I are both (basically) obsessed with our cats. We spent a great deal of our lunch breaks comparing cat photos. Eventually, we decided it would be best to share the photos with everyone, so we started printing them out and pasting them on the office door (or “the cute wall”). When I moved back to my store last December, I continued on the tradition of the cute wall. It is pretty much mandatory for all employees to contribute to the cute wall!Do you shop your store? Do you ever shop other Crossroads?

What kind of a question is that??! I shop my store every day! And I love shopping at the Broadway Crossroads, too. I make it a point to visit other Crossroads stores when I am in other cities, too. It is fun to see what treasures all of the different locations have.

You have two cats that are pretty much your babies! What are their names?

Yes, my furry children…….their names are Steve and Waffle. Steve is a high-energy businessman who wears bow-ties and likes lint rollers. Waffle is a fluffy lap cat who likes to yell at innocent shower takers.

Kristina, our Broadway Seattle store manager, tells me you have a penchant for collecting designer handbags. Is this true? How many do you have?

Let me tell you, collecting handbags is a sick hobby to have! Right now I have 9 bags. I used to have more, but now I am trying to weed out all of the unnecessary bags and focus on quality and classic styles that will retain value. I love Louis Vuitton and Alexander Wang handbags! I am working on those collections right now and I think my next step will be to nab a Chanel bag (it might be a few years from now, though)!What were you for Halloween?

I was Rayanne and my dear friend, Emily, was Angela from My So Called Life.

What is your current favorite band? Okay, or a couple!

Well, I wouldn’t call them current, but right now I am listening to a lot of Depeche Mode, New Order, Joy Division and The Clash. I collect cassette tapes and most of what I listen to is in cassette-form.

What are a few of your favorite brands?

Topshop, Alexander Wang, Madewell, Vivienne Westwood, Free People, Jeffrey Campbell, Dolce Vita, etc.What is your favorite season and why? What are you excited about for the winter?

Summer! I love sunshine and summer hats and sunglasses. For the winter season, I am excited about possibly seeing snow here in Seattle, wearing boots with scrunchy socks, capes and ponchos, and lots of layers!

Do you have any selling tips for our readers?
For new sellers, I always suggest taking a look around the store to get a good idea of what we are buying and what does best for us. I think it is much easier to understand what we are looking for by actually seeing examples of items in the store.

Thank you for your time, Gianna!

 

P.S. Many thanks to everyone who participated in the goodie bag giveaway featured in our last blog post. Congratulations to the winner, Liz!

Filed Under: Featured Post, Interview, Meet Our Staff

Meet Michael

November 16, 2011 By 2 Comments

San Jose Crossroads buyer Michael is a fashion stylist and papa to a “bear of a dog,” not to mention a European fashion enthusiast who thinks Courtney Love is the next celebrity to come out with a line. Meet Michael!

How long have you been working at Crossroads?

This December would make it 5 years now. It’s crazy that I’ve been with the company this long. I started working for Crossroads as a part-time job. Just to have a bit of cash flow from when I was in college. College is over now and I’m still here. I must really enjoy it. Haha. A lot of us at my store have been working there for many years. We’ve grown to be a family and we can’t get enough of each other…or It’s like a cult, so we can never leave (just kidding!).

What are 3 memorable moments in your life?

Graduating college, the day I came out to my friends and family *cue Diana Ross track*, and the day I met my dog, Kobey.

 If you could take a trip anywhere, where would it be?

Well since I have a thing for clothes coming from the Netherlands or surrounding countries, like Norway, Denmark, or Belgium, any one of those would be amazing. It definitely would be somewhere in Europe. I’d land in Paris first, because symbolically it’s like a French door threshold which you have to pass to gain entree to all the European countries. I absolutely must stop through Antwerp and Copenhagen, then probably end the entire trip in London. Oh my God! Let’s go right now! I think I just figured out my backpacking trip to Europe Summer 2012.

Good answer! What about your home…how would you describe San Jose to someone who hasn’t been there before?

The city is up-and-coming with all new attractions and places to check out. It’s the third largest city in the Bay Area and the tenth largest in the country. (Thank you Wikipedia, but who knew!?) The best way to describe San Jose to someone who hasn’t been here before is to experience it for themselves. I make a great tour guide! It’s funny, if you’d ask me this very same question 10 years ago, I’d say San Jose sucks, but I was going through the rebellious teenage phase living in suburban hell. I guess I grew up.

You have a Visual Communications degree from FIDM in SF. Tell us what that’s like? Why did you decide to do that?

Well I always knew I wanted to do something with fashion. I didn’t know at the time what that job would be, so I went to FIDM and they helped me figure that out. I knew I didn’t want to design garments. That required way too much work and everything I did would be overly criticized by the masses. I knew I wanted to work alongside the people in the industry, like the designers, editors, and photographers, in a field like marketing, styling, branding, and such. The Visual Communications degree was broad and open to different career choices in marketing, styling, or art direction.

Michael’s styling

You also do styling for photo-shoots. How did you get into that? Are there any cool projects you’d like to tell us about?

Well go back to the previous question – that’s pretty much how I got into styling. It’s like playing dress up as a kid. Instead of dressing Barbie and Ken dolls, you get to dress beautiful women and gorgeous men. You’re able to create and tell a story, visually through fashion. Potential photo shoot ideas in the near future would be doing a series of fairytales or nursery rhymes inspired photoshoots, retelling familiar stories with modern apparel and a different outlook. Perhaps a darker twist at the end.

How do you spend your days off?

I live the simple life on my days off. Most of the time it’s looking after my bear of a dog, Kobey. He’s a black Labrador and golden retriever mix, so he’s BIG and very playful. He sometimes has the mind of a Pomeranian, but he doesn’t quite get that he’s built like a bear. I love him though! When Kobey isn’t around, you can find me either hanging out with friends, working out, watching movies, wandering around a museum (which reminds me that I want to see the Ralph Eugene Meatyard: Dolls & Masks exhibit at the deYoung) and sometimes I just like to sleep in all day, haha.

Joanna, our San Jose District Manager, tells me you like baking? Whaa? What are you going to make next? Can I have some?!

I actually haven’t been baking as much lately, but since it’s nearing the holiday season I may start baking again. Pumpkin or apple something, I don’t really know yet. My parents have a persimmon tree in their yard and persimmons are in season now, so I’d like to try making something with persimmons. Once I figure it out, I’ll drop some by to you guys :)

Yes please! As a stylist, do you have any tips for anyone seeking to get into styling?

Network with friends or people who share the same interests, like other stylists, makeup artists, hair stylists, and photographers. Collaborate with them and see what story you all can create. Most importantly if you choose to be a fashion stylist, educate yourself! Research up-and-coming designers, trends, and collections. Always be open to inspiration. Inspiration is all around us…it could be anything from bundles of fallen leaves to a broken street lamp. Take photos, write ideas down immediately, look through magazines and blogs, and save photos you like! They may become very useful for a photo shoot . I put them all on my blog so they’re easily accessible. If you ever wanted to know what I’m inspired by, just go to my blog!

Michael’s styling

How do your styling skills come into play at work?

Since we work with clothing all day long, customers all the time seek us for our opinions and suggestions about what’s new, current and trendy. I’ve had many customers ask me to create an outfit for them for a particular occasion or just to help them make a fresh new wardrobe. Styling a customer and styling a model are two very different things. You work with customers in all different shapes and sizes, and you have plenty of different options of clothes and styles for them to keep trying until they find something they’re comfortable in and look great.

I’m our store’s window designer as well, so every time I put up a new window display I get to dress up our mannequins. Our store will also be doing the winter trend report, so that means I get to put together outfits based on this season winter trends.

How would you describe your own style?

Neoclassic industrial minimalist from the future!? Haha. I’m really into just the simplicity of the shape, classic styles, and crisp clean solid hues of color.

Do you have a style icon? If so who is it?

Raf Simon, Raf Simon, Raf Simon!!!! Marry me, Raf Simon!?

Who do you think is the next celebrity to come out with a line?

Courtney Love, enough said!

Do you have any selling tips for our readers?

Keep it current!

Thank you for your time, Michael!

Filed Under: Featured Post, Interview, Meet Our Staff Tagged With:

Meet Emerson

October 4, 2011 By 11 Comments

Last month you had the opportunity to meet Sam, but this month I’d like to introduce you to Emerson. Beyond the racks of Market St Crossroads, the owner of Funkanometry SF likes karaoke and has a vintage yellow bike named Bonita Applebum. True story. When asked how he describes his style, Emerson narrows it down in two words, “grandpa chic.” Looking at his photos, this means a mix of dapper duds and urban flavor sprinkled with a bit of plaid…all things I like. Go Em!

How long have you been working at crossroads?

I’ve been working at Crossroads for about a year.

What’s your favorite part of your job?

My favorite part of the job is my co-workers. Also, the store is located in a pleasant and fashionable community.

 You have a vintage of yellow bike you ride around town. Where did you get it? Where do you usually head to after work?

The name of my vintage yellow bike is Bonita Applebum. She was my gift for my 30th birthday. I usually ride her to get groceries at the nearby Trader Joe’s.

If you weren’t working, how would you spend a Saturday?

I would be hanging out with friends and checking out trendy restaurants and going to karaoke.

If you had to recommend a few things to someone who has never been to San Francisco, what would they be?

A few things I would recommend are pastries and caffeine at Tartine, a fatty dinner at Mission Chinese Food and cold beers on a sunny day at Dolores Park.

You are the creative director and owner of Funkanometry SF dance company in addition to working at Crossroads. How did you get into dancing, and what’s it like being a part of it?

I started it with my best friend who also has the same passion for dance. It began just as a fun hobby then grew into a non-profit dance company. We have amazing dancers on the team that keeps me motivated and inspired to continuously do better. It can be a lot of work but, it is work that I enjoy doing. It also keeps me young.

What are some events your dance group participates in? Do you ever do performances?

We actually perform all over the world, but our big bay area shows are the hip-hop dance fest this November, Pride, Body Rock in San Diego and our very own show called Sock Hop, which is next summer.  Sometimes we get invited to perform at different parts of the US and participate in workshops.  Being non-profit means that we offer low rates for our dance services, reach out to the community by performing at school functions, and lead after school dance programs in the Bay Area plus more.

 Any videos or photos you can show our readers? 

What are a few of your favorite dance songs?

Like I Love You by Justin Timberlake

That’s The Way Love Goes by Janet Jackson

All Night Long by Mary Jane Girls

Hello by Martin Solveig

DANCE by Justice

If you could have got into just one show this past fashion week, which would it be?

Patrik Ervell. I like Patrik Ervell because of how good his clothes fit my body type.  I can barely afford the brand, but every time I wear his clothes, even a simple shirt, the fit is very flattering and the quality… so good. There’s also the tiny details that catch my eyes whenever I see a new a piece.  It’s always an exciting experience, that’s why I love Patrik.

You also have a fashion blog called Mangoes for Dessert. Why and when did you decide to start it, and what is your focus? 

I started it 3 months ago and the focus is look good, do good, feel good. I believe that fashion should be able to transform a man into his to be the best version of himself and the clothes should reflect that.

Where did the name of your blog originate? What inspired you to start it?

It originated from my childhood.  I was born in the Philippines where I lived in a province surrounded by mango trees.  Everyday there was always fresh and ripe mangoes in the middle of the dining table.  I remember my siblings and I always finishing the main course in order to just get a taste of some really sweet mangoes.  The name Mangoes for Dessert reminds of happy precious moments with my family.  The inspiration for the blog comes from my friends who love and adore fashion.  We always talk about how fashion and style are such key elements to a good lifestyle.  To appreciate fashion is to appreciate beauty, to appreciate beauty one needs to love life and all the good things that comes with it.  A bit cheesy.

 Not a lot of guys in the Bay Area are into fashion. Why do you think that is and why do you think they should be?

Men in San Francisco are a bit more relaxed but I have seen several guys who really show good fashion and style. I think more guys should get into fashion because it truly helps setting the standard in men’s fashion in the bay. It’s nice to see men who take the time to get ready in order to be presentable for whichever the occasion and whatever they do.

 How would you describe your personal style?

Grandpa chic with a little bit of fun.

 Do you have any selling or buying tips for our readers?

Make sure it’s clean and in good condition :)

Thank you for your time, Emerson!

Filed Under: Featured Post, Interview, Meet Our Staff Tagged With: ,

Meet Samantha

September 1, 2011 By 10 Comments

When Bridget, our Pasadena store manager, suggested Samantha as the second installation of our Meet Our Staff feature, I was stoked beyond belief. Why? An enthusiastic vinyl record collector, Samantha listens to punk/hardcore but has a background in piano and ballet. Besides that, her style is as amazing as it is eclectic – one day she’s classic rock and roll, and the next day she’s wearing a soft bird print shirt and a delicate sheer skirt. The only question left? Samantha, when are you selling that top?

Tell me a little about yourself. Where are you from and where do you live now?

I’m originally from the Central Coast of California. I was born in Santa Maria but spent the majority of my life growing up in Nipomo.  San Luis Obispo County is made up of a lot of small beach towns so I’ve always felt like sort of a small town girl. I’m now currently living in East LA along with my younger brother, Samuel.

What do you do at Crossroads? How long have you been working at Crossroads?

I’m a full time buyer and floor supervisor at the Pasadena location. Besides that I am also in charge of supplies and operations. This September I will be celebrating my one year anniversary with Crossroads!

You’re an avid vinyl collector. How did you get into that? How many do you have? What was the first vinyl record you ever bought?

The first record I ever bought was a Set Your Goals record back in 2006. My boyfriend and I started getting really into collecting about two years ago and have a combined collection that we are pretty happy with. We don’t have anything too rare or expensive, we just sort of buy what bands we like and listen to. We however do have a pretty extensive collection of Algernon Cadwallader and Sabertooth Zombie records which are two of our favorite bands. So far we have roughly 120 records since haven’t really kept up with our hobby very much lately. Slowly but surely we’re adding more to it though!

What kind of music are you into? Five bands you’re currently feeling. Go!

Oh man, I listen to a lot of stuff! But I suppose the majority of what listen to the most is post-hardcore, punk/hardcore,  and ‘90s emo bands. I’m a big fan of the Kinsella brothers! Any bands they’ve been in I love. I got to see Cap’n Jazz play at the Echoplex last year and that was one of the highlights of that summer.

Lately I’ve been listening to a lot of Braid, Jawbreaker, Lucero, Sabertooth Zombie, and At the Drive-In.

You used to be into ballet and play piano. Tell me about it!

When I was little, my mom had me involved in all sorts of after school activities. Anything from karate to sewing lessons, it was a lot of fun. The two that I stuck with the longest were ballet and piano though.  I started taking piano lessons a little before I turned five and continued to do so weekly for thirteen years. I used to enter annual competitions which called for months of training. I would perform a duet piece and two solo pieces before an audience while an adjudicator took notes and dictated at the end whether or not I would pass onto the next level of competition. I remember it being very stressful but such a rewarding feeling.

As for ballet, I started taking lessons also around the time I was five and continued to do so 4-6 days a week for eleven years. Ballet is by far the thing I’ve been most passionate about up until this point in my life. I think it’s because I spent so much time working and training hard and I always took it very seriously. I never wanted to become a professional.  I think I always knew in the back of my mind that there was something else out there for me. Performing was the best part about dancing, getting to show off all the work you’ve put in during rehearsals and of course getting to wear the costumes!

Bridget thinks you look like Minnie Driver. Is that just Bridget being Bridget or does it have any truth to it?

Customers are always telling me I look like her! At least one person every week mentions it, it’s funny. I used to get it a lot when I was younger, but it wasn’t until more recently that new sellers come in and ask me if I’ve ever been told that I look like her. I don’t see it very much myself, but customers seem to think so.

I hear you like to DIY your clothes occasionally. What are some cool things you’ve made?

I don’t so much anymore, but I have in the past. My mom studied fashion design and has always been into fashion so I’ve just grown up around that creative atmosphere. I think I have to give her credit for getting me into fashion and design. I used to mostly alter pieces that I would find while thrift store shopping but I have made a few things as well.

How would you describe your personal style?

I wear what I like! I definitely embrace whatever trends I’m into and try to make them my own. I can be a bit eclectic and mix it up with colors and loud prints, but mostly I wear a lot of monochromatic looks, like playing with silhouettes, and wear a lot of black. I think I’ve become a bit predictable however, so I’m thinking of switching up my style a bit for fall.

Do you shop where you work?

I think I shop at Crossroads at least once a week. I’m trying to save money, but it’s difficult when you’re constantly surrounded by great new things coming in every day!

What are some of your favorite Crossroads finds?

I’m a big Alexander Wang buff. Since working here, I’ve collected quite a bit of Alexander Wang pieces and T by Alexander Wang basics. The quality is always great, and I love how I’m able to use each piece as a clean slate to build various different outfits from.

What are three items in your closet you will never, ever trade?

My Tory Burch flats! I got a pair of brown ballet flats with the black patent toe and gold emblem. I wear these guys to death. Another great Crossroads find that I’ll never give up are my All Saints military boots. They’re the perfect color to pair with lots of different looks and have just the right amount of masculinity to them. Last but not least, my Comme des Garcons holographic snake skin wallet.

Eventually, it’s going to have to get at least a little cold out in Pasadena. What are you stoked about wearing for the Fall?

I’m looking forward to incorporating more nudes and pastels into my wardrobe and also experimenting with some tomboyish/menswear for women looks. Also, I’m itching for a new pair of Jeffrey Campbell shoes. I’ve my eye on the Ad Long Brogue in the natural color.

Shoes or bags? Skirts or jeans? Necklaces or rings?

Shoes, skirts, and necklaces!

Do you have any selling or buying tips for our readers?

If it’s your first time visiting our store, browse around and get a feel for the type of merchandise we’re buying. This helps give you an idea of some things you might have at home that we’re looking to bring into the store. Get to know us! We’ll tell you what we’re about and we’ll let you know what we can do for you.  We’re a friendly bunch here at the Pasadena location and we can always find the time to answer any questions or concerns you might have. We love educating our customers!

Thank you for your time, Samantha!

Filed Under: Behind the Scenes, Featured Post, Interview, Meet Our Staff Tagged With: , ,

Meet Sam

June 14, 2011 By 22 Comments

Meet Sam! In addition to being one of our corporate buyers, Sam is also our in-house fashionista and an avid Crossroads shopper and seller. We’re always oohing and ahhing at what Sam decides to wear to work each day – and yes, she looks this good at work, everyday. So it was only natural that I’d ask her if we could do a brief blog feature on her to introduce her incredible style (and personality!) to our blog readers.

What do you do at Crossroads? How long have you worked at Crossroads?

I am the associate corporate buyer and I have been working at crossroads for almost five years now.

Do you plan your outfits or get dressed on a whim?

I definitely get dressed on a whim for work. On my days off I feel like I plan it a little more because I’ve been waiting to wear things I wouldn’t necessarily wear to work. I do however always go outside to check the weather first.

Do you follow trends or do you set your own? What are some things you’re excited about wearing this summer?

Of course I feel like I set my own. I’m one of those people who is convinced that I had the idea first for almost all trends, but who doesn’t? I’m really into maxi dresses right now but when it comes to summer fashion it is all about color for me. I love bright colors.

Three items in your closet you can’t live without. Go!

It changes almost every time I get something new, but right now BDG black skinny jeans, brown leather moto jacket and a top knot. I definitely consider hairdos to be a part of my outfit I can’t live without.

What would you call your “style?”

When it comes to fashion I defiantly have multiple personalities. I like to dress up as people and as stereotypes. Like I will go full rock and roll one day and the next it will be 50’s housewife. All in black one day and a psychedelic paisley jumpsuit the next. 

Where do you like to shop, and what your favorite brands?

I’m a pretty obsessive Crossroads Shopper. I don’t shop much elsewhere. I like to go to Jeremy’s and vintage shopping on occasion, but I especially love shopping at Crossroads in other parts of the country! I don’t pay much attention to brands, I shop mostly by style.

Cats or puppies?

Cats. But I’m starting to reconsider now that the stray kitten I took in almost a year ago (General Mao Mao “Mushu” Numpkins) is absolutely insane. She won’t stop biting me…she might as well be a dog.

Thanks, Sam!

Filed Under: Behind the Scenes, Featured Post, Interview, Meet Our Staff Tagged With: , ,