Winner: $100 Gift Certificate
Suzie Moore
I don’t know how I got dressed before I discovered Crossroads. Everything from shirts, to tops, to dresses, to shoes, to bags and belts and purses – I love it all. I have been to every Crossroads in my regional area, and when I travel – I love to find the Crossroads in cities I travel to. I was recently in New York. After looking online, I was sad to see there wasn’t a Crossroads close to the city! But then while walking around Brooklyn – I saw a woman with a trademark green Crossroads bag. I ran up to her (literally, in retrospect I probably looked like a crazy person) and was like – Where did you get that bag?! Is there a Crossroads around here!? She looked at me like I was insane (I mean it was bad – I seriously wanted to take the bag out of her hands to see if there was an address on it). But she calmly pointed me in the right direction. Low and behold – Crossroads had opened their Brooklyn location the day before! My husband I and I went nuts in there – we had to buy an extra suitcase just to get home. Crossroads, I love you!
Runner-up: $20 Gift Certificate
Jennifer Drago
Some of my favorite memories of Crossroads lie in the countless times that I’ve found an item of clothing, jewelry, shoes, or purses that are worn to events that change my life.
- A Juicy Couture hoody worn to the hospital to be induced – my labor was a piece of cake!
- The jewelry I wore on my last first date provided the confidence I needed to shine – We’re getting married next August.
- The Carlos Santana shoes worn when he proposed was found on your half/off rack – best $12 I’ve spent.
- Dolce Vita pumps that I wore to my first interview – I got the job and love it
These pieces have become part of my life, history, and success that I love telling the story of. These additions to my closet are all welcomed and treasured, but they aren’t what keep me coming back.
My favorite part about the stores I visit, especially the Blossom Hill location, is the people. I can always count on a smiling face or one of the girls running up to me with size 11 shoes (she knows they are hard to come by!). They have become my friends and part of my fashion-obsessed family. They have even made our Christmas card list – my son loves hand delivering it every December. They keep his picture up all year long. Thank you Crossroads, for being more than just a store; you’re a part of my history.
Runner-up: $20 Gift Certificate
Andria Winter
Sometimes when tragedies arise it’s necessary to make some huge changes in order to survive them. Two years ago, my boyfriend was diagnosed with cancer. I was a woman with a successful business, wonderful family and friends, and an amazing man with whom I was planning my future. I had it all, but in the blink of an eye, everything came crashing down on me. My boyfriend became my dependent when he stopped working in order to undergo surgery and treatment. Business became slow during the recession. I found myself struggling financially for the first time in my life. I could no longer afford to go to the mall…were clothes always this expensive? Necessity arose often and I needed more work clothes, jeans, or shoes. Across the street from my work is a Crossroads so I ventured in one day and was thrilled at what I could buy on a budget. I’m also an aunt of 9, so when Christmas and birthdays came up, I was even able to afford great gifts: new tops and jewelry for my teenage nieces and cool shirts for the boys! Crossroads helped me feel like a normal person during a difficult time. I still had my style and I was still a cool aunt, but best of all, my bank account wasn’t being hurt by it. I even received numerous compliments on my clothes! Two years later, my now husband is in remission, times are better, and I still love to shop at Crossroads!
Runner-up: $20 Gift Certificate
Stephen Hong
Recently in my short-lived existence, I realized that I was at a fashion crossroads (no pun intended). For some odd reason, my sartorial sensibilities dictated that I either trend more toward the “Bieber” or the “Bruno Mars.” Living in the Midwest further deteriorated my ability to discern vogue versus archaic clothing choices. Despite my budding fashion pessimism, I ventured for the first time into a Crossroads Trading store on a drizzling Chicago morning fully expecting another fruitless expedition. Immediately a bevy of jeans hanging on a rack silently mocked my personal style apocalypse. As an ominous cloud of hipster doom descended upon me, a helpful store employee, who herself exuded a rather enviable casual, nonchalant demeanor, began guiding my fashion quest. We waded through a daunting selection of shirts and jeans and not only did I discover a surprising selection of designer brands and styles, but the clothing actually fit my 5’9” frame. The day began empty-handed, but I left Crossroads with a pair of dark wash jeans, perfectly fitting v-neck tee and fantastic plaid button down. I may not be an aspiring musician who can woo a coffee shop crowd, and I do not intend to sound excessively self-deprecating when I label myself as completely “average,” but at the very least I can now dress the part of the “cool” kid. And I still have fifty dollars left to pay for those darn acoustic guitar lessons or fedora weaving classes. Next stop: tattoo parlor?
