Blog: Crossroads Style

Have you been wondering about how to start a fashion career? If you’re passionate about fashion and eager to explore a career in this field, then you should know about Crossroads Trading! Crossroads provides aspiring fashion buyers, designers, and marketers with valuable skills. Many of our store employees have grown into management roles within the company or continued on to other exciting fashion careers.

Here are just a few of the career skills that our store employees learn and develop in our stores.

Fashion Buying

Many of our employees join our teams to learn about how fashion companies buy clothing. Our buyers are formally trained on how to evaluate and price clothing based on label, style, and condition. Along the way, they learn the most popular styles and brands on the market, including smaller boutique brands and designers just hitting the scene.

Visual Merchandising

Our employees develop visual merchandising skills by assisting with sales floor and window displays.

Fashion Marketing

If you have an interest in fashion marketing, you should know each store designates a marketing liaison to photograph store pieces and post them to our regional Instagram accounts. All store employees also have a chance to cooperate in these projects by modeling, taking photos, or pulling pieces to style.

Designer Authentication

Our store buyers are trained on how to authenticate designer pieces from luxury brands like Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and Alexander Wang.

Networking

Our employees get to work closely with others who are inspired and drawn to fashion too. Plus, our store teams have a lot of fun!

On top of all this, our employees get a store discount. Imagine the closet upgrade!

If this advice on how to start your fashion career has sparked your interest in working at Crossroads, then we welcome you to learn more on our careers page or view our most current job postings here.

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Your boots have been keeping up all winter, but with a little more sunlight each day you’re ready to talk about the best winter to spring shoe trend aren’t you?

Well it’s super simple, you’ll love that we’re giving you the thumbs up for it, and you probably already own what you need. Ready? It’s wearing socks with loafers.

It makes perfect sense: your leather loafers are swift when hitting the pavement, but a pair of socks will ensure extra warmth until we’ve reached those warmer days ahead. The best part? This look works with cropped pants, skirts and shorts too. Take a look at our inspiration photos below.

Wearing the Best Winter to Spring Shoe Trend

Where to Shop for the Best Winter to Spring Shoe Trend

If you already own a pair of loafers, then you’re all set. But if you need to find some for your closet, our stores carry everything from popular mall brand loafers to designer ones. Below is just a sampling of what I found looking through our regional Instagram feeds.

We want to see how you style your loafers with socks looks! Tag @crossroadstrading on Instagram for a chance to be featured on our company feed.

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If you’re building an investment piece wardrobe, it’s likely that an Hermes scarf is on your list. It’s one of the best treasure hunt pieces to find in a resale store like Crossroads! Once you get your hands on one– or a similar large silk scarf with as much versatility– try these 9 ways to wear an Hermes scarf.

1. Old Hollywood

Step 1: Fold it in half into a large triangle and tie it under the chin. Step 2: Add a pair of your biggest sunnies. Step 3: Pretend you’re walking to your convertible for a drive along the coast.

2. As a Belt

Keep the rest of the look casual–jeans and a t-shirt work perfectly here–and weave the scarf through your belt loops for a fresh approach to a belt.

3. Loose Wrap

Loosely wrap the scarf around your next once, similar to how you’d wear a traditional winter scarf.

4. To One Side

There are two ways to get this look: tie the scarf around a low ponytail or wrap the scarf once around your neck. Either way, leave one side of the scarf much longer than the other and pulled over one shoulder.

5. With Leather

A traditional piece like an Hermes scarf looks even better when it’s worn in unexpected ways. Opt for a leather motorcycle jacket instead of a riding blazer.

6. Multi-Wrapped

In this style, it’s wrapped several times around the neck with a small knot to finish. We like how the vintage clip-on earrings make the look even more dramatic.

7. Loose Knot

The mood you’re going for is nonchalant. The knot is below the neckline and a little imperfect.

8. Headband

An Hermes scarf looks amazing as a head wrap, and the headband style is the easiest one to perfect.

9. Giant Bow

Tie a bow and then fluff out the sides for an exaggerated and fun look.

With our 9 ways to wear an Hermes scarf, did we convince you to add one to your wardrobe capsule? Follow our Instagram feed to watch for Hermes and other scarf arrivals in our stores, and learn more about how consignment works at Crossroads.

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Ah, Chanel. Coming across a piece is a thrill, especially in the resale world. However, if you aren’t purchasing directly from a Chanel boutique, you’ll want to know how to authenticate the piece. Let’s talk about what to look for in authentic Chanel pieces.

1. Perfection

Start with this attitude: Chanel is the gold standard of luxury fashion, so their reputation and high cost are tied to a superior product. That means that everything you examine next should look perfect.

2. Stitching

The stitch count is high on Chanel bags– there is no skimping here. Even in a vintage bag you’ll see the stitching has stayed tight. The lines are straight, and the quilt squares are exact in size.

3. Flawless Stamping

A lot of care is taken to get the stamping just right. If imprinted, the stamp should have depth. Gold and silver imprints should be clear and easy to read. See some examples below.

4. Heavy Hardware

Lightweight hardware is a dead giveaway that a Chanel piece is inauthentic. Chains should have weight, and even clasp locks should feel heavy when they’re turned.

5. Quality of Accompanying Materials

Even something as simple as the item’s box, cards or dust bag can be telling. Chanel extends their craftsmanship to everything, so confirm that all accompanying materials are as perfect as the item itself.

So there you have it: exactly what to look for in authentic Chanel pieces. If you enjoyed this guide, check out similar ones we did for Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Coach. You can also follow our Instagram feed to see new pieces that come into our stores, or consign your designer item with us anytime.

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I would like to put it on record that sweater vests get a bad rap. Maybe it’s because we associate them with our dads and grandpas. However, I keep noting these days how stylish they can be, and in so many different ways. Not convinced? For your consideration, I present what I think are the 8 best ways to style a sweater vest.

1. With Your Favorite Tee

So simple, yet so cool.

2. Over a Dress

I’ve seen this look done with short and long dresses. The result is consistently good.

3. Buttoned Loosely

I’m on the hunt for one with buttons now! The half-buttoned styling here makes it more casual.

4. With an Untucked Button-Up

Let your button-up frame the whole vest.

5. As a Top

I don’t know why I never thought to wear it alone as a top!

6. With Layers Upon Layers

Just layers and layers of goodness over here.

7. Tucked into Jeans

No need to hide your waistline with this styling.

8. With Puffy Sleeves

The sweater vest almost exaggerates the puff sleeves. Love this!

Did I convince you with my 8 best ways to style a sweater vest? If yes, let us see your styling by sharing a photo on Instagram.

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