Blog: Crossroads Style

Black influence on style can be seen everywhere. We recently looked at 3 popular fashion trends that were born in Black culture, but we’re still only scratching the surface. Today, let’s look at a few more ways that Black culture has significantly influenced the fashion we wear now.

Hoop Earrings

Now considered a staple accessory in any wardrobe, hoop earrings go far back in history. Visit a museum of Nubian and Egyptian artifacts, and you’ll find beautiful pieces.

However, Black movements in the U.S. in the 1960s and 1970s brought hoop earrings into the modern era, as prominent activist figures like Angela Davis began to wear them again. Hoop earrings were back.

Nail Art

Like hoop earrings, nail art can be traced further back in history, but its re-emergence into modern pop culture happened in the 1980s.

The runner and icon, Florence Griffith-Joyner, stole the Olympics scene for breaking world records and the fierce nail art she brought to her races. Like art on a new canvas, it opened the gate for this fashion trend to spread globally. See a photo gallery of her gorgeous nail art here.

Streetwear

By now, the term streetwear is known to anyone who follows fashion. Designer houses produce their own lines of it through bucket hats, oversized pieces, and graphic t-shirts.

However, this style of clothing didn’t emerge from the fashion houses. It was introduced to the world in the late 1970s and early 1980s through hip-hop artists from NY and LA who have left an undeniable mark on how we dress today.

Again, these are 3 modern trends we can’t imagine missing from the fashion world. Their emergence from Black influences of the past can be seen all around us today.

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It’s time to mail clothes to sell for cash! Whether you’ve just wrapped up a new year’s resolution to update your wardrobe, or a big spring clean for a fresh start, we have a way for you to turn your pre-loved clothing into cash or store credit.

Our Sell by Mail service is available year-round for sellers in the continental U.S., and it’s super easy to use.

So, why choose Crossroads when you mail your clothes to sell?

It’s Simple and Free

It’s so simple, we can show you all the steps you need to follow in this 1-minute tutorial:

We Share Exactly What We’re Looking For

Our buyers are looking for seasonal clothing in excellent condition, and we create a helpful selling guide each season to show you exactly what we’re looking to buy. Compare it against your unwanted clothing to decide what to send in.

Earn Cash Or Store Credit

If you live near a Crossroads Trading store location, you have the option to choose a 50% store credit over a 30% cash payment. Use the credit to shop in any of our stores.

Your Earnings Are Clear

We price your clothing for what we can sell it for, then give you 30% cash or 50% store credit from that amount. No foggy pricing structure here.

We’re convinced our Sell by Mail program is the best option out there. Go ahead and get started by ordering your free bag!

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The ballet fashion trend is a perfect topic for Valentine’s Day, with its pretty fabrics and silhouettes, and its own shade of pink.

The trend is included in our spring selling guide, and we couldn’t help but expand on it by sharing 6 ballet-inspired pieces that we really love. We recommend every single piece.

Wrap Top

Wrap tops are quintessential ballet pieces, and they have gorgeous necklines that we can’t resist. The tie feature allows you to style them to your comfort.

Ballet Skirt

We like to dress up a fitted basic, like a turtleneck or ribbed tee, with a tulle ballet-inspired skirt in a short, frilly style.

Ballet Flats

One of the biggest returns of this season is the classic ballet flat, and we couldn’t be happier about it. These are some of our favorite slip-on shoes.

Ballet Pink

You can’t go wrong with this soft and pretty color, especially on Valentine’s Day!

Unitard

Make it look like you just emerged from a morning ballet class, even when you’re just headed for a cup of coffee.

Ballet Bag

We will never shy away from a big, structured duffel like the ones ballet dancers use. This one in leather is especially stunning.

We’re racing to our closets to make sure we’re well-stocked on these 6 ballet-inspired pieces. If you’ve got spring fashion on your mind too, see even more of the season’s trends in our latest selling guide.

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There are way more than 3 popular fashion trends we can attribute to Black culture, but today we’re focusing on some that are Crossroads favorites. All of these trends can regularly be found in our stores because our buyers just can’t get enough of them.

1. Sneaker Culture

There is no doubt that we love our sneakers (and probably have too many pairs). The sneaker trend is credited to Black basketball players in the late 1960s, who didn’t find the traditional canvas tennis shoe appropriate for the game. By the 1970s, sneaker producers like Nike saw that the Black community wanted access to the shoes as well. And that’s where our much-beloved sneaker culture was born.

2. Logomania

Although the Louis Vuitton monogram was introduced on their luggage over 100 years ago, designer logos were not available to most people and were printed on limited products.

However, in the 1980s, Harlem-based designer, Dapper Dan, changed all that by printing designer logos across all types of items, from clothing to car interiors. Although this led to legal struggles with the designer houses and the closing of his business, Dapper Dan came out on top. Designer brands had realized the demand for logomania and now collaborate with Dapper Dan on their collections.

3. Oversized

Oversized, or baggy, clothing entered the mainstream public’s sphere in the 1980s with hip-hop artists. The look was common in Black neighborhoods, where clothing was often handed down and not perfectly sized. Hip-hop artists wore baggy pieces to connect with their audience, and the trend took off from there. It has had real staying power–you’ll even find this trend in our latest selling guide.

Let’s make sure to give credit where’s it due: Black culture has had a huge influence on some of the biggest (and best!) international fashion trends, and we’re ever so grateful.

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Oversized fashion is everywhere, including our latest seasonal selling guide. Our stores stock our racks with them, and we’re probably guilty of owing too many pieces. But what can you do, when the look is so fun to style and so comfortable to wear?

Here, we’ve gathered the 7 oversized fashion pieces that we find ourselves turning to over and over again. They become the showcase piece in any outfit, they usually look best paired with a slimmer silhouette piece, and they can take on a whole new look when tucked or half-tucked. They’re playful pieces for sure!

Keep scrolling to find the piece that stands out to you, and then stop into any of our stores to find a gently-used version that will inspire your spring style.

1. Button Down

2. Blazer

3. T-Shirt

4. Pants

5. Coat

6. Suit

7. Sweater

These are our favorite oversized fashion pieces for good reason: they look fantastic! Don’t you agree?

If this isn’t your trend, that’s OK too.  You can find other seasonal trends, styles, and brands we’re currently loving in our selling guide.

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