Blog: Crossroads Style

October 7, 2021 The 5 Essentials You Need for Fall

Well, fall sure arrived quickly didn’t it, with the cooling weather and early sunsets. Here’s where the fun comes in: it’s time to plan for the 5 essentials you need for fall.

1. The Weatherproof Bag

It’s about to get rainy out there. Swap your go-to bag for one that can stand up to the weather, like this waxed canvas bucket bag or a sturdy leather satchel.

photo of bucket bag

2. The Cozy Sweater

Whether in a neutral fall color like navy or a bright neon print, the cozy sweater is work-appropriate when paired with trousers or skirts and movie-watching appropriate when worn with denim.

photo of person in sweater

3. A Classic Trouser

Pinstripes are always fun for these, and we tend to favor lighter fabrics for comfort. The key is to find the cut that works best for you.

photo of person in pinstripe trousers

4. The Long Dress

One of the best fall investments! This is the dress that is stretchy and warm and makes you look pulled together in just one piece. Wear it with Mary Janes or Doc Martens, dependent on your mood that day.

Photo of person in long dress

5. A Blazer

Any well-fitting blazer in your favorite color will do, but if you can find one in velvet or corduroy, even better!

photo of blazer

Consider these 5 fall essentials the backbone of your seasonal wardrobe. With them, your fall capsule wardrobe is set! If you want to weave in some of the season’s biggest trends too, just take a look at our fall selling guide. Happy fall!

Photos Via

October 5, 2021 How to Shop Secondhand Clothing

If you’re new to the sustainable fashion movement: welcome! You’ve made a conscious decision to change your fashion-loving habits in a way that’s more gentle on the environment. The planet (and your wallet!) thank you. In return, we’d like to share with you our best tips for how to shop secondhand clothing.

Let’s start with the basics: you’re now shopping for high-quality, gently used pieces for your closet.  Where you shop will be up to you, but the most common places to find great secondhand clothing are thrift stores (where clothes were donated), buy-sell-trade retailers (where clothes were bought in and curated), estate sales, flea markets, and online auction marketplaces like eBay.

There are really just 3 rules to follow that will make secondhand shopping a snap. Keep them in mind, and you’ll be a pro in no time!

1. Hunt for Your Favorite Brands

Start with what you know: your favorite fashion labels. Hunt for them on the racks and delight in the price savings you’ll find. Expect to pay only a third of the original retail price.

photo of clothing pile

2. Look for Quality Materials

For brands you don’t recognize, the quality of the materials is what you’ll focus on. Look for long-lasting pieces that can handle many wears and many seasons. We’re talking about leather, silk, wool, and linen.

photo of black boots

3. Invest in Designer Pieces

It can take years to find a capsule of secondhand designer pieces, but it’s so worth it when you have your hands on a little black Chanel dress, Louis Vuitton duffle, and Hermes scarf. These are pieces that will add a bit of flair to your wardrobe for a lifetime, and the type of pieces you’ll hand down one day to that younger fashionista in your life.

photo of louis vuitton bags

Look at that, just 3 easy ways to get started when shopping for secondhand clothes. One last thing: follow your favorite secondhand stores to keep an eye on what’s hitting their sales floors. For example, check out our main Instagram feed here.

September 30, 2021 Black-Owned Fashion Brands to Know

Crossroads remains committed to spreading the word about Black-owned fashion brands to know about. Each week, we feature a new brand on our Instagram feed, so be sure to follow along. If you missed them, here’s a recap of the 4 brands we shared in September:

1. Ofuure

@ofuure pieces deserve the main stage. Pronounced oh-fu-ray, the label creates African-inspired pieces in a size-inclusive range. The fashionable pairing of rich colors and dramatic sleeves are on full display below. Visit their website here.

Photo of woman in purple floral dress

2. Omi Woods

@omiwoods is the jewelry designer whose work has been seen in the pages of Vogue, Essence, and GQ. Pieces are made with fair trade African gold and globally sourced conflict-free fine metals. The result is enchanting delicate pieces you’ll want to add to your collection. Shop the site here.

photo of gold coin necklaces

3. Brandon Blackwood New York

Repeat after us: @brandonblackwoodnyc bags are perfection. This handbag brand is way past up-and-coming, as evidenced by its department store partnerships and sophisticated online shop. The mini bags are our personal favorite. Or is it the shearling ones? It’s too hard to choose! See all the pieces here.

photo of person with pink bag

4. Femme Sucree

We’re about to see leopard print everywhere this fall and winter, so why not consider this stand-out round shoulder bag from label, @femmesucree_fs. They’re committed to offering affordable luxury to the masses, and this bag delivers on that promise. Shop it here.

photo of round leopard bag

This post has included only four of the Black-owned fashion brands to know right now, but there are many more featured on our Instagram feed. You can also join us back here on our website next month when we’ll feature our October picks!

September 28, 2021 Careers in Sustainable Fashion

I love fashion and always have. At 12, I assigned my younger sisters articles for my personal “fashion magazine” that I typed up on glossy paper and filled with collages made from the pages of real fashion magazines. Add into the mix a slim clothing budget, and shopping for secondhand clothing quickly became a part of my fashion routine. At the time, I had no idea that careers in sustainable fashion existed. So, what great luck when I found my job at Crossroads! 

But I haven’t been alone in this good fortune. Many, many others started their sustainable fashion careers at Crossroads since we debuted our first store in 1991. Quite a few have even grown their careers considerably here (It’s not an urban legend that the company’s first employee is now our Chief Retail Officer!).

If you’ve been dreaming of your own sustainable fashion career, especially now when the data on the environmental impact of fast fashion is so compelling, here are some Crossroads employee stories that we hope will inspire you to consider the careers we’re currently offering in sustainable fashion.  Yep, you should join us!

Jason’s Story

Life as a Store Manager

September 23, 2021 Ankle Boots for the Win

We’ve got our eyes on all the fall fashion trends, and we’re predicting it may be ankle boots for the win. They’re everywhere we look these days, and they stand out in every look we see.

There isn’t just one style to point out, either. There are lots of choices, like chunky-heeled, platform, pointed-toe, and rain booties. Materials vary too, from soft leather to patent leather. Whichever you choose, you’ll find you’ll have versatile styling options. You can tuck pants into them, show them off through the side slit of a bodycon dress, and wear them with tights or a mini dress. And for extra credit, keep your eyes peeled for a vintage pair in a classic ’60s or ’70s style.

Keep scrolling to see exactly what we mean.

person in ankle boots

person in ankle boots

person in ankle boots

person in ankle boots

person in ankle boots

person in ankle boots

Although we’ve placed our bets on ankle boots for the win, there are plenty of other fall fashion trends that we expect our shoppers to be on the hunt for in the coming months. Check out the 30 we rounded up in our fall selling guide, then stop into any of our stores to shop or sell them!

Photos Via