Blog: Crossroads Style

For years you asked: can I sell my clothes online by mail? And yes, Crossroads offers a Sell by Mail program for the continental U.S.!

It’s really easy to use the service. You order a bag right here on our website (it’s free!), fill it with the gently used clothing you’d like to sell, and send it off. The bag even includes a pre-paid shipping label.

Crossroads receives your bag in about 5 days, the bag is processed by our buying team in about 4 weeks, and you then get paid that Thursday by Zelle e-payment.

The handy graphic below shows you the complete process.

When you order the bag, you can select if you want your unpurchased items donated or returned to you for a flat fee.

If you’ve never sold clothing in one of our store locations before, we highly recommend using our selling guide to learn about the types of items Crossroads is most likely to buy.

And if you’re new to Sell by Mail, we have a number of online guides to help you too.

Our 4 Best Tips for Sell by Mail

Sell by Mail: A Step by Step Guide

Ready to give it a try? Order your free bag here.

It’s 2022. It still looks weird every time I write it, but here we are making some 2022 fashion trend predictions!

I’ll start by saying the year may already feel as unpredictable as the last, but we are seeing some trends begin to stand out. Below are 5 that we currently have our eye on.

1. Ski-Inspired

Maybe it’s because outdoor activities are the best activities right now. Maybe it’s because we’re all dreaming of a snowy winter afternoon followed by warm drinks in the ski lodge. All we know is that we’re currently into sleek ski jackets, fine-knit sweaters, and shearling-lined booties.

2. Relaxed Fit Pants

We’re seeing lots of pants in looser fits, some high-waisted and some in a lower rise. They’re relaxed, just like we’re trying to be in 2022.

3. Cropped Tops & Jackets

The cropped trend was big in 2021 and remains on our radar. We started with cropped tees but have since added cropped jackets and even cropped suits.

4. ’80s/’90s Influence

We’re all still having so much fun finding and mixing ’80s and ’90s pieces, whether vintage or inspired. Add in the thrill of thrifting, and we don’t see this trend subsiding any time soon.

5. Body Suits

A bodysuit introduces so much ease to morning dressing! It’s becoming a basic layering piece in our wardrobes and we’re taking this trend from 2022 onward.

Outside of these 5 fashion trend predictions for 2022, we have lots more to share on our winter selling guide.  Or visit any of our store locations to see what our fashion buyers are currently buying into the stores. They’re some of our favorite trendsetters!

Workers with a love of fashion are now turning to eco-friendly companies to blend their personal interests with their values. This has resulted in an exciting rise in sustainable fashion careers.

Most of these fashion jobs have emerged from fashion companies’ increased commitments to reducing waste and pollution in their production methods.

Also included in this movement are fashion companies that keep unwanted clothing out of landfills by giving them a new life on the secondhand market. 

For example, at Crossroads we’ve put the buy-sell-trade fashion model in front of our business for over 30 years. We’re proud to be a part of the sustainable secondhand fashion movement, and we’re always on the lookout for talent across the country.

Our employees learn the entire secondhand retail process, from buying pre-loved clothing from the public to merchandising it for shoppers.

They learn which fashion labels have excellent resale value and discover which sustainable brands are popular with customers.

With knowledge of how sustainable fashion works, they have an excellent base for future roles. Many have gone on to become fashion designers, corporate buyers, and marketers.

Sustainable fashion careers are currently available at Crossroads in locations across the country. Learn more about them here.

Every Friday, we share Black-owned fashion brands you should know on our Instagram feed.  If you didn’t catch them last month, here’s a recap of the 5 brands we featured.

1. The OULA Company

@theoulacompany has all our attention. Who wouldn’t want this gorgeous printed dress for dinner parties and nights out? What a stunner! The company uses textiles that are sourced responsibly and creates its handmade pieces in the U.S. See even more standout pieces on their website.

2. Nicole Shante

Label @nicoleshanteofficial features eye-catching designs by @nicoleshante_ that are “inspired by women who are strong-spirited and fearless.” This bold pantsuit is an example of what we absolutely love about the line. Shop the site here.

3. SOLELY FIT

Premium activewear label, @solely.fit, creates dancer-like pieces that are proudly made in LA and manufactured with a commitment to ethical working practices. We can’t take our eyes off their line of bodysuits. See all the pieces on their website here.

4. Peju Obasa

We adore the eco-conscious crocheted mini belted bags of @pejuobasa. They can be worn many ways (we really like them across the chest), and this one in tangerine has us dreaming of a tropical winter escape. Shop their line on their website.

5. par Bronte Laurent

There is no better way to celebrate the New Year than with a beautiful piece of fashion, and Black-owned @parbrontelaurent delivers that beauty with this flawless piece. Founder Bronte Laurent aims for pieces so comfortable you never want to take them off, and we think she’s hitting the mark. Shop the line.

This post includes only a few of the Black-owned fashion brands you should know about; there are even more featured on our Instagram feed. You can also join us back here on our website next month when we’ll feature our January picks!

In our final countdown to the end of 2021, we’ve been thinking a lot about the fashion trends we loved this year. The list was long, but we’ve narrowed it down to some of our favorites. You can see part 1 of this series here.

Jumpsuits

If you discovered jumpsuits this year, welcome to the club! It’s the best fashion secret ever: a one-piece outfit that’s a blank slate. Add a scarf, booties, a belt, a necklace, or nothing else. There’s no wrong answer. The jumpsuit’s got your back.

Monochromatic

There’s absolutely no need to stand confused in front of your closet for 10 minutes each morning when your only goal is wear just one color. Oh, monochromatic dressing, where have you been all our life? Who knew that all black, all white, and all gray were all chic?

Lace

For one brief shimmering moment there, summer felt almost normal again, and pretty lace was there to meet our mood. We looked for it in classic eyelet and leapt at twin set pieces. Without a doubt, one of the fashion trends we loved.

Hot Pink

Some days in 2021 were super low-key, while others were blazing with energy. On those days, we could turn to hot pink, either in full force head-to-toe or in pops of color like this adorable furry bag.

Waist Bags

We figuratively had our hands full this year, so when we *literally* had them full too, we counted on waist bags to get us from the coffee shop to work to those afternoon errands.

That’s our wrap-up of the fashion trends we loved in 2021. We know we can’t wait to see what trends emerge in 2022. How about you? You can get some first hints of what’s to come in our winter selling guide. Until then, enjoy your NYE celebrations and HAPPY NEW YEAR from all of us at Crossroads! xoxo