Blog: Crossroads Style

Your closet might be worth more than you think.

That jacket you loved last fall but haven’t reached for lately? The jeans that are still great, just not quite your style anymore? Or the bag that seemed destined to become your everyday favorite but somehow never did? Instead of letting them take up valuable closet space, it may be time to cash out your closet.

Start With the Good Stuff

A closet cleanout gives you an opportunity to think about the pieces you haven’t worn lately. Start by looking for pieces that are still current, in excellent condition, and ready to be worn by someone new.

Think denim, jackets, dresses, shoes, handbags, and accessories from labels people are shopping for right now. Check our Selling Guide before you start your edit to see the latest styles and brands our buyers are looking for.

Then be a little ruthless. If you keep passing over a piece every time you get dressed, it may be ready for its next closet.

Skip the Selling Side Hustle

Sure, you could photograph every piece, write descriptions, answer questions, negotiate prices, package orders, and make trips to the post office.

Or you could bring your clothes to Crossroads.

Our trained buyers review your pieces and select the items that are a good fit for our stores. For accepted items, choose cash and put some extra money in your pocket, or take trade credit and head straight to the racks.

No store nearby? Our Sell by Mail program lets you send your clothes to us from home with a prepaid shipping bag.

Make Room for What’s Next

A new season is one of our favorite excuses to take stock of a wardrobe. Clearing out pieces you’re finished wearing gives you more room to see and appreciate the clothes you still love.

Plus, selling keeps great fashion moving from one closet to another instead of sitting unworn.

So take another look at those crowded hangers. Your fall spending money might already be there. This season, cash out your closet and let those past favorites pay for whatever comes next.

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When fall dressing starts calling for more than your usual jeans, it’s time to introduce an unexpected cropped wide-leg pant: culottes. They have just enough volume to make an outfit interesting, while their shorter length puts fall tops and footwear front and center. Here are a few ways to style them.

Add a Chunky Knit

Start with a fall favorite: the oversized sweater. A chunky knit creates a relaxed contrast with the structured shape of the pants. Try a partial tuck to define the waist, then finish with socks and loafers or ballet flats. For color, we’re looking at chocolate brown, burgundy, charcoal, cream, and deep olive.

Bring Out the Boots

The cropped hemline practically begs for a great pair of boots. Try sleek ankle boots for a classic look, or play with proportions by adding a taller pair that disappears beneath the hem. A slouchy boot is especially fun this fall, giving the whole outfit a little more drama.

Add a Leather Jacket

For a look that feels made for a crisp fall day, pair your pants with a fitted tee or lightweight sweater and throw a leather jacket on top. Black is always a favorite, but worn-in brown leather looks great with denim, plaid, gray, and other autumn shades.

Try a Monochrome Look

Pick one color family and run with it. Black pants with a black sweater and shoes create a sleek silhouette, while shades of camel, cream, or gray bring a softer take. Don’t be afraid to combine textures like wool, leather, suede, and cotton.

Make Them Your Own

The best thing about culottes is how many different directions they can go. Preppy with loafers and a cardigan? Yes. Sporty with sneakers and a bomber jacket? Absolutely. A little ’80s with a funnel neck and boots? We’re in.

Check the racks at your local Crossroads and see which pair inspires your next fall outfit.

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Fashion has officially gone off balance, and in the best possible way. This season, asymmetrical shapes are giving familiar wardrobe pieces a fresh point of view. From one-shoulder tops to skirts with unexpected hemlines, these styles add just enough drama to make an outfit interesting without requiring a complicated styling plan.

Here are 4 pieces that are currently trending.

1. Off-the-Shoulder Tops

Start with one of the easiest ways to try the trend: a one-shoulder top. Look for fitted knits, draped jersey styles, or long-sleeve versions as we move toward fall. Pair one with flowy pants and flats for daytime, then swap in trousers and heels for evening.

2. Mini & Maxi Skirts

The statement skirt is having a big year, and asymmetrical hems are part of the fun. Midi and maxi skirts with uneven hems or cascading layers create movement as you walk.

3. Off-Center Knits

Sweater season is coming, and knits are getting a twist. Watch for sweaters with diagonal hems, shifted necklines, uneven shoulders, or draping that falls to one side. They’re an easy match for the denim already in your closet.

4. Silk Camisoles

You just need one dramatically-cut piece to get this look. Try a silk camisole with a longer side, and layer it with your functional favorites.

Ready to try asymmetrical fashion? Check the racks at your local Crossroads for secondhand finds that make the trend your own.

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Oh, the feeling of opening your closet and being able to actually see what’s inside. No crowded hangers, no stack of jeans threatening to tumble over, and no forgotten tops hiding behind the pieces you wear every week. If an organized closet is on your wish list, Crossroads Sell by Mail is a great place to start.

Start With a Closet Edit

Before you organize, take everything out and give your wardrobe a good look. You probably already know which pieces have earned their place: the jeans you reach for constantly, the jacket that works every season, and the dress you’re always happy to wear.

Then there are the pieces you keep skipping over.

Pull out clothing, shoes, handbags, and accessories you’re ready to part with, and check the Crossroads Selling Guide to see what our buyers are currently looking for. Focus on clean, current pieces in great condition.

Fill Up Your Sell by Mail Bag

Here’s where the clean-out gets satisfying. Request a free Sell by Mail bag, then fill it with the pieces you’ve decided to sell. The bag comes with prepaid UPS shipping, so once it’s packed, you can send everything to our buying team in one go.

That means no photographing items one at a time, writing individual listings, or waiting around for messages from potential buyers. We’ll review your items and pay you in cash via Zelle or trade credit, depending on the option you select.

Suddenly, that pile on your bedroom chair has a destination!

Give Your Closet Some Breathing Room

With the extras cleared away, organizing what remains gets much easier. Group similar pieces together, fold your denim, give your favorite bags a dedicated spot, and leave a little open space between hangers.

The goal isn’t necessarily a smaller wardrobe. It’s a closet filled with pieces you’re excited to wear, plus enough room to find them.

Best of all, the clothes you sell get the chance to become someone else’s favorite find. Your closet gets breathing room, great fashion stays in circulation, and you may earn some cash or trade along the way.

That organized closet is looking closer already.

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Some accessories quietly finish an outfit. Others completely change its personality. The floral brooch falls into the second camp, and we see plenty of reasons to give this throwback accessory another look.

Brooches have that vintage-shop appeal we love: a little unexpected, full of character, and easy to make your own. Flower shapes are especially fun because they can go romantic, playful, or slightly dramatic depending on the size, material, and where you pin them.

Curious how to add one to an outfit? Here are some of our favorite ways.

Start with a Jacket

The lapel of a blazer or jacket is the natural place to start. Pin a fabric flower to an oversized blazer with jeans and a tee, or try a metal vintage-inspired style on a denim or leather jacket. It’s a small addition that can make pieces you’ve worn dozens of times feel fresh again.

Pin One to a Sweater

Soft knits and flower pins are a pairing worth trying. Place one near the shoulder of a crewneck sweater or cardigan, then keep the rest of your jewelry simple. We especially like this styling trick with neutral knits, where a colorful or metallic pin gets plenty of attention.

Give Your Bag Some Personality

Your clothes aren’t the only option. Try pinning a fabric flower to a tote or soft shoulder bag. It’s a fun way to personalize a favorite bag, and you can switch it out whenever you’re ready for a new look. Just be careful with delicate leather or fabrics that could show pinholes.

Go Bold

There’s no rule saying a brooch has to pair with a solid color or neutral look. Try one with a bold print, or in an unexpected place like the waist of a skirt. You can also group a few smaller pins together for more impact.

Have your floral brooch in hand? Visit one of our stores to build a new look around it, perfect for back-to-school and the fall season.

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