Blog: Crossroads Style

September 8, 2022 The Best Secondhand Designer Bags

Is there really any find better than secondhand designer bags at your favorite resale or thrift shop?

A beautiful, high-quality designer handbag is one of those fashion investments with an excellent return. Not only will you find you keep the piece for years (and sometimes a lifetime), but the best designer bags age very well. The leather gets softer over time, and the shape and structure stay intact.

Often, the style even comes and goes into fashion too. Think about all of the 90s designer bags that are in high demand right now.

So add to this fashion investment a discounted price for a secondhand one, and secondhand designer handbags become a treasure hunt find.

With them on our minds, we took a look at some of the Instagram feeds for our store regions (did you know we had those?), and we found our stores stocked with some amazing ones.

Maybe you’ve heard of some of these designers before?

Prada

photo of Prada designer bag

Celine

photo of secondhand Celine designer bag

Judith Leiber

photo of secondhand Judith Leiber designer bag

Burberry

photo of secondhand designer Burberry bag

Louis Vuitton

photo of Louis Vuitton duffel

Saint Laurent

photo of Saint Laurent purse

photo of Saint Laurent handbag

Telfar

photo of Telfar bag

Continue to see the latest secondhand designer bags that reach our stores by following our regional Instagram feeds linked below, or our main brand feed, @crossroadstrading. We hope you find your perfect match!

Photos Via

September 6, 2022 Q&A with Teresa of @teresathuy

Today, we’re happy to introduce you to Teresa of @teresathuy and To The Nines. Learn about how this multi-talented influencer is enjoying a new chapter in Texas, and still finding time to shop at Crossroads.

Welcome, Teresa! Please tell us a little about yourself.
Hello, Crossroads family! My name is Teresa, and I’m a content creator, model, fitness instructor, and host based out of Austin, Texas. I am very new to Austin! In May 2022, I married my best friend in a courthouse and moved here from Houston to be with him.

I grew up with four siblings, and my parents had a knack for finding a good deal on everything. I think that’s why I love Crossroads so much! Every time I visit, I find unique, high-quality secondhand pieces for a great price. It’s such a thrill! I really enjoy putting together fun looks with all of the deals I find.

photo of Teresa

 

You’re a model, content creator, fitness instructor, and host of your own show, Spill the Tea. How do you make time for these multiple creative pursuits? 
I have worked 9-to-5 jobs, where I felt unappreciated and didn’t see a chance for growth. Since moving to Houston from Florida in 2015, I’ve learned to try things that spark my interest and that I get excited about. I think it’s important to find and make time for the things that light a fire within you. I want to make an impact and bring joy to others, and I feel alive when I teach a class and get in front of a camera.
photo of Teresa

 

We were excited to see you tag your Crossroads finds. How did you discover us?
My sister-in-law is into sustainable fashion, and she raved about finding cute stuff at Crossroads. I went to check it out. I was not disappointed! Crossroads is my favorite shop for secondhand items, and I will stop by when I’m in Houston this weekend!
photo of Teresa

 

What has been your best Crossroads find, and how did it match your personal style?
I love everything I’ve gotten, but I think my best Crossroads find is an orange/white plaid Escada wool & silk blazer I got for $37! It fits my bold and bright personal style. I love textures, bright colors, and prints. It has an oversized fit, and I look forward to wearing it this fall with tailored shorts, a crop top, and heels.
photo of Teresa

 

You’ve been blogging since 2013! How has the blogging space changed, and what can we expect to see from you next?
Yes! On my blog, www.TeresaThuy.com, and on social media, I enjoy sharing my favorites, whether it be beauty products, travel tips to cool places, or easy recipes. I like having a space that is mine: my website and blog. You can easily browse blog posts and see my professional work in one space.

 

I feel there are many avenues for people to learn. Instead of reading about style trends or a recipe, others may opt to watch a YouTube video or Instagram reel. People should expect to find more of the fun content I like to create in video form! I have gotten requests for tutorials and cooking sessions, and I am excited to share these with you!
photo of Teresa
We can’t wait to see more from you, Teresa! Thank you for spreading the word about secondhand fashion (and Crossroads!).

 

You can find Teresa on Instagram at @teresathuy. You can join us there too.

September 1, 2022 Black-Owned Women’s Fashion Brands

If you join us frequently on our Instagram feed, you know we share Black-owned women’s and men’s fashion brands weekly. Don’t worry if you missed any in August, because we’ve included them all here for you.

Alyda

Alyda is a brand specifically for petite shoppers under 5’4”. They create classic styles in this specific size and fit, and the pieces are ethically made too! Visit their online shop to shop the entire line.

photo of models

April & Alex

@aprilalexshop is known for its edgy and offbeat styles made from reclaimed fabrics. Made in London, you’ll catch subtle hints of the local flair in all their pieces. Take a look at their entire line on the brand’s website.

photo of person in off the shoulder top

Chaos

Chaos is a fashion brand working in partnership with Saheli Women, an NGO community of female artisans. Pieces are designed in England and crafted to perfection in India. Get a glimpse of the entire line on their IG feed.

photo of people wearing bright colors

These 4 brand picks are only a few of the Black-owned women’s fashion brands we’ve featured on our Instagram feed. Join us there to see even more. You can also join us again on our website next month when we’ll feature our September selections!

August 30, 2022 The Perks of Working in Secondhand Fashion

Working in secondhand fashion has many perks you may have not thought of before. We rounded up a few of them here, and then encourage you to check out our careers page if these excite you!

A Discount on a Discount

Let’s start with one of the best perks for fashion lovers. Since secondhand fashion is usually priced around a third of original retail, getting an employee discount on top of that is pretty amazing! And if you’re working with a store that sells higher-end labels and designer brands, you’ll build yourself an incredible closet of clothes for a fraction of the regular cost.

photo of someone working in secondhand fashion

Learning About the Latest Styles

If you find yourself talking about the biggest trends this season, or your top 10 fashion labels, then we have lots of conversations for you. Our team works together to stay on top of the latest brands and styles that our shoppers want.

photo of people having a meeting

Working with Fashion People

Outside of the great trend debates, you’ll appreciate working with people who are passionate about secondhand fashion too. And in the case of Crossroads, you’ll meet people who are looking for sustainable ways to address fashion and the environment.

Fashion Merchandising

If you’ve ever wanted to learn about retail merchandising — think floor moves, floor displays, and window dressing– then working in secondhand fashion is especially fun. With so many one-of-a-kind pieces, you’ll learn creative styling at its best.

photo of people working in secondhand fashion

Social Media Marketing

Social channels are a popular way to market all types of businesses today, including secondhand fashion. In fact, Instagram feeds like @crossroadstrading are used to show customers the pieces that have just arrived in stores.

photo of person modeling an outfit

Learning How to Be a Clothing Buyer

A lot of fashion lovers dream of being a fashion buyer one day, and learning how to assess and price resale fashion pieces is an excellent place to start.

Sound like perks you want in your life? We have job openings!

August 25, 2022 Nostalgic for 90s Tracksuits

Recently, we’ve found ourselves nostalgic for 90s tracksuits. In fact, maybe all tracksuits, since they’re the no-thought-necessary matching outfit we always want to find in our closet (especially first thing in the morning before our first Zoom call).

We’ve had them on our minds so frequently that we added them to our latest selling guide under the sporty trend there.

We personally lean towards tracksuits in warm, premium fabrics, so they’re structured well and last for years. Then, we pair them with a great pair of trainers, because those always finish the look just right.

You’ll see from our inspiration photo picks below that we like to see them layered with everything from long wool coats, to puffy jackets, to designer handbags.

We know we’ll have them top of mind when we hit up our neighborhood Crossroads store for our latest cool weather fashion selections. And before we know it, we’ll be showing off our latest set, reminding us that 90s tracksuits were always more about style than running a track.

Keep scrolling for style inspiration, then stop into Crossroads to look for your own set, or to buy-sell-trade your gently used pieces for cash or store credit.

photo of person in tracksuit

photo of person in tracksuit

photo of person in tracksuit

photo of person in tracksuit

photo of person in tracksuit

photo of person in red sweats

P.S. We’re now buying for fall! We buy all day every day from the public. No appointment is necessary, and you can even add your name remotely from home with our waitlist app.

 

 

 

 

 

Photos Via