August 3, 2021 Black-Owned Fashion Brands You Should Know
For the last year, Crossroads has been committed to using its social platforms to share Black-owned fashion brands you should know. It’s been a fun job discovering new and established labels, and then putting the spotlight on them!
We continue to feature brands each week on our Instagram feed, so be sure to follow along. Here are the 5 brands we featured in July:
1. Andrea Iyamah
Nigerian designer, Andrea Iyamah, has created this popular label that features some of the most beautiful resort wear and swimwear you’ll see all summer. Visit the label’s Instagram feed to see how a bathing suit can achieve high art. Visit the website here.
2. Da Spot NYC
@daspotnyc is the place to shop and support over 25 Black-owned indie brands. If you can’t stop into their uber-cool NYC boutique in person, don’t fret. Their online shop has all the goods. Visit it here.
3. Gueras Fatim
Unique is an understatement when it comes to designs by Black-owned Gueras Fatim. These bamboo earrings alone should entice you to follow this forward brand. Inspired by multicultural custom, vintage, and streetwear, the label delivers the best of each. See all their offerings on their website here.
4. Hanifa
Can we talk about this coat? Hanifa has created the incomparable Harlow coat, which is only a sample of their ultra-stylish designs. You must visit their site and see what they’re up to in beautiful knitwear alone! See for yourself here.
5. Simisienna
Simisienna calls itself the athleisure brand for the fun and funky (spoiler alert: their pieces prove it!). The brand is based in New York and is a proud member of @UJUUMedia, a platform for Black woman-owned consumer businesses. See its pieces for yourself here.
This blog post features only 5 Black-owned fashion brands you should know, and there are many more on our Instagram feed. You can also join us back here on our website next month when we feature our August picks!
July 29, 2021 The Style of Jean Shorts You Shouldn’t Forget
I consider myself a master creator of denim shorts, each project the result of regular jeans that have reached wear past the fun “distressed” phase. Since I still love the top fit of the jeans, I absolutely refuse to give up on them completely. So, reinvention is necessary. With some serious eyeballing (I’ve no time for measuring tape), I usually cut jeans into shorts I’ll pair with a swimsuit or tank top. However, with just the right pair of jeans, I sometimes aim for the style of jean shorts you shouldn’t forget: long jean shorts, or Bermuda jean shorts.
These pairs hit mid-thigh or just above the knee, offering more coverage and a looser fit. The longer length upgrades them a little, taking them from beach day appropriate to cafe lunch appropriate.
Cut them from looser jeans with a baggier fit. Of course, you could always find them on store racks too. However they come into your life, I think you’ll enjoy styling them in your own unique way. Keep scrolling for some inspiration.
At the end of the day, the style of jean shorts you shouldn’t forget are the ones that make you feel best. However, I’d bet money that the Bermuda style is an all-around winner, with its loose shape ideally suited for warm summer days. Once you have your pair in hand, turn to us to find the matching blouses, tees, sneakers, boots, and accessories to accompany it.
July 27, 2021 That ’70s Show Style
That ’70s Show style was first delivered to a late ’90s audience intrigued by the earlier decade. It’s funny that we’ve seen a renewed interest in that era again in the ’20s, especially when it comes to fashion. Let’s take a look at some of the ways our stores have styled or selected pieces that capture the show’s (and general ’70s era) aesthetic.
Our first look mixes vintage pieces on top with current pieces on bottom for a winning combo. Both the blouse and vest are vintage, the pants are Oak & Fort, and the boots are Mark Fisher.
All alarms are sounding for the absolute ’70s-era perfection of these Mr. Turk pants. The proud owner will keep these in their closet way past the current ’70s trend and into the trend’s predicted 2040’s return.
Harley-Davidson tees, especially vintage in a raglan style, are just waiting to be tucked into flared denim.
All it takes is this soft leather quilted handbag in rich earth tones to bring the ’70s to any look.
This look pairs both a vintage bodysuit and vintage bell-bottom jeans. Madden Girl chunky-heel shoes and ruched Glamorous bag complete the look.
Soft pink suede and rattan heels would have made these the apple of character Jackie Burkhart’s eye.
Our stores have That ’70s Show style down pat and it’s obvious by the looks you’ll find pulled together in our stores on mannequins and in photos on our regional Instagram feeds. As always, we want to know how you’re feeling about the general ’70s trend. Are you scouring secondhand racks for vintage finds, just sprinkling in a few elements to your personal look, or shying away altogether? Tag us @crossroadstrading to show us how you’re wearing this trend this summer.
Photos Via
July 22, 2021 A Shout Out to #Crossroadsfinds
Today’s post is dedicated to all of you who sell and shop at Crossroads and make our world go round and round. We couldn’t do any of our work in sustainable fashion without you! One of the best parts of what we do is seeing you show off your secondhand looks online. We bring the clothes, but you always bring the style. Thanks especially to all who use the #crossroadsfinds hashtag so we can see how you styled your Crossroads pieces once you brought them home: this post is a special shout out to you.
With almost 8700 tags on Instagram, we couldn’t be more grateful, and it’s honestly so hard to choose just a few to share. Keep scrolling to see what our amazing customers have found and styled from our stores, then search the hashtag yourself for loads more.
Please keep the photos coming! And your visits to sell and shop. We’ll just be over here waiting to welcome you and share our love for sustainable fashion. We especially hope to be giving a shout out to your #crossroadsfinds soon. See you in stores and online!
July 20, 2021 Athletic Shoes Meet Fashion
When athletic shoes meet fashion you get running shoes with silk slip dresses and tennis sneakers with cropped jeans and graphic tees. In simple terms: there’s absolutely no need to stop at a gym when wearing them.
Whether it’s the illusion that you’re always ready to hop on a basketball court for a quick game, or the inarguable fact that they are the most comfortable shoes to wear all day and night, every fashionistas’ closet has a pair (or two or three). That’s why our stores always carry them, from trainers to running shoes to court sneakers. And you’ll notice that some of the most popular ones we stock are colorful and innovative by design. They’re fashion pieces in their own right.
Keep scrolling to eye a sneak peek of what was recently found on our sales floors. Our store inventory changes daily, so stop in regularly to find your perfect pair.
Athletic shoes meet fashion in the best way, mostly by bringing any piece of fashion down to earth (ruffled organza dress and Stan Smith’s anyone?). We want to see how you do it! Tag your look on Instagram with @crossroadstrading for a chance to be featured on our brand feed.