February 24, 2022 Where to Buy the Best Secondhand Clothes
You may be wondering where to buy the best secondhand clothes. We’d like to say it’s us, Crossroads!
We encourage everyone to try buying, selling, and trading their clothes. It’s good for the environment and your wallet. And, we have some great and friendly competition out there that’s helping us spread the word about resale fashion.
But we also have 3 great things that not all of them have!
1. Physical Store Locations
We have 34 store locations across the U.S. These are physical stores where you can actually try on clothing before you buy it! Yep, that’s right: no need to buy clothing online and wait with crossed fingers that they’ll fit when they arrive.
2. Current & Designer Clothing
Sure, you’ll find some great vintage pieces on our racks, but we mostly carry popular current brands. In addition, the clothing and accessories on our sales floors aren’t donations. They’re pieces that our in-store buyers have hand-selected and bought in from the public. It’s curated thrifting at its best!
3. We Pay More
When you sell your clothes to us, you’ll earn more money than selling to our competition. We offer clear and transparent pricing and give you 30% cash or 50% store credit based on what we price each item for. We offer even higher payouts when you consign designer pieces. We’re talking up to 70%.
Did we answer the question of where to buy the best secondhand clothes? HINT: it’s Crossroads!
Stop into any of our store locations to see for yourself, or follow us on Instagram to see what’s in our stores.
You can also find more secondhand clothing store resources and learn about the benefits of sustainable fashion over here on Sustainable Jungle.
February 23, 2022 The Rise of the Mini Skirt
One of the 30 trends we list in our spring selling guide is the mini skirt. It’s a familiar favorite that has more looks than you’d expect.
In fact, here are 6 mini skirt styles and looks that we love to wear:
1. Flowy
You may imagine a form-fitting skirt when minis are mentioned, but flowy ones in soft fabrics shouldn’t be overlooked.
2. Vintage
The mini skirt ruled in the late 60s and early 70s, so thrifted versions often come in many colors and great retro prints.
3. With Tights
Don’t dismiss them on cooler spring days. Just add tights (and socks!).
4. As a Set
Give it a go in a new way by finding one in a set like this purple suit duo.
5. With Knee-High Boots
Mini skirts and knee-high boots have been BFFs for as long as we can remember.
6. Preppy
If your look is preppy, try a pleated one with socks and loafers.
If the mini skirt isn’t your cup of tea, we still have 29 other spring trends to share with you in our current selling guide. Take a look!
February 17, 2022 5 Ways to Join the Sustainable Fashion Movement
There’s a lot of buzz about the sustainable fashion movement, and you may be looking for ways to get involved. We’ve put together the 5 best ways you can join the movement right away.
All of these habits reduce the impact of your wardrobe on the environment. Their main goals are to give clothing a longer life and to invest in pieces that are sustainably produced or repurposed.
Which of the 5 are you already in the habit of doing?
1. “Shop” Your Closet
Next time you have the urge to shop, try turning a fresh eye to your current closet. Many times we pack the racks too tight, hide things away in drawers, and overlook what we already own. A closet refresh is a great tactic for falling in love with what you already have! Reorganize your clothing by color, store off-season pieces so your racks can breathe, and display your shoes and handbags on shelves so you can see them clearly. Then, play stylist and put together some new looks for the week.
2. Look for Sustainable Collections
When shopping for new pieces, look for clothing that’s sustainably produced with recycled materials or organic cotton. Some of the leading brands are starting to produce these pieces, so support the efforts whenever possible.
3. Mend Your Clothes
Why not pick up a new sewing habit as part of your sustainable fashion discovery? One surefire way to extend the life of your clothing is to mend it. See our blog post with video tutorials and start learning.
4. Shop Secondhand
On those days you decide it’s time to add a new piece to your closet, shop secondhand! We have stores across the U.S. filled with gently used clothing and accessories that are looking for a new home.
5. Trade and Sell Unwanted Clothes
Even better, bring in your pre-loved clothing to a buy-sell-trade store to earn cash or store credit towards your next purchase. You’ll keep clothing out of landfills by aiming to get it into the hands of someone who will love it.
These are just 5 ways to join the sustainable fashion movement today. Start with one and you’ll see how easy it is to combine your love of fashion and the planet.
Photos Via
February 16, 2022 Meet the Spring 2022 Fashion Trends
We’ve been patiently waiting, and it’s finally time to meet the Spring 2022 fashion trends!
We’ve highlighted a few of our favorites below, but take a look at our complete Selling Guide for everything that made our list. We have 30 trends there to get you inspired. Now the official countdown to spring begins.
Maxi Lengths
Mini lengths are still as popular as ever, but maxi lengths have returned for 2022. Cue the long skirts and dresses.
Romantic Prints
Whether it’s big florals or dainty designs, fall in love with boldy romantic prints this season.
Sports-Inspired
No need to actually hit the court: just mix tennis pleats, track pants, and sporty sneakers into your look.
Kitten Heels
The return of the kitten heel is here, so find a cute pair that puts a little “spring” in your step.
Moto Jackets
This classic spring jacket returns for another season. A moto jacket makes any look cooler and can be worn effortlessly over a t-shirt and jeans, or over a flowy sundress.
Large Bags & Totes
Yes! Big bags and totes in soft leather and bright colors are here for spring. It’s time to find your perfect one. You know we have them stocked in our stores.
Besides our selling guide, we featured spring 2022 fashion trends in our latest photoshoot. You have to see the lookbook we created! Then, kick off spring with us by visiting one of our stores to buy, sell, or trade.
February 10, 2022 Q & A with Kaitlin of @windycitythrifter
We’re so happy when you tag us on Instagram and show us your Crossroads finds! After a while, we feel like we get to know you and your style very well. That’s exactly the case with Kaitlin from @windycitythrifter. We feel like old friends, having seen her amazing secondhand finds for years. We were way overdue for this little Q&A.
Read on to learn about life as an eco-stylist, Kaitlin’s IGTV series, and the elopement dress she found in our store.
Hi Kaitlin! Please share a little bit about yourself.
I’m a millennial Chicago transplant, originally hailing from Upstate NY. Style and performing are my lifelong passions, and I’ve been able to grow upon them in the beautiful Windy City. I’m married to my best friend, Mr. Windy City Thrifter, and we enjoy going on hikes with our rescue pittie and exploring how we can do our part to combat climate change.
We know you’re a long-time Crossroads customer. Thank you for that! When did you first find us, and are there any favorite #crossroadsfinds that stand out in your mind?
I first found Crossroads when I moved to Chicago in 2012. In fact, my first two Instagram posts were taken in a Crossroads dressing room! Hands down, my favorite Crossroads find was a cream button-down Free People dress that I found in June 2019, the month after my partner and I got engaged. I originally had plans to wear it for my wedding shower (which I eventually did in 2021). However, when we had to postpone our 2020 wedding and decided to elope, donning this dress made me feel so beautiful as I married my best friend!
You’re an eco-stylist. That sounds amazing. What is that role like?
As an eco-stylist, I help folks cultivate a more sustainable and budget-friendly wardrobe by styling them with secondhand pieces and helping create “new-to-them” looks from their existing closet. We connect on their wardrobe needs and goals prior to the session so we can pull and buy pieces with clear intentions. This way my clients feel confident about their purchases and how they’ll integrate them into their existing closets.
We noticed you’re creating content over on IGTV too. Please tell us more.
I love utilizing video to spread secondhand love, so over on my IGTV you can find some of my “Thrifty Wedding” content and “Intention-haul” series. I created my “Intention-haul” series in 2020 as a way to encourage others to join me on a journey of conscious and mindful consumerism. It’s a way to hold myself accountable for my own secondhand consumption. It has sparked incredible conversations in the community, and I believe the more we communicate in these spaces, the better we all do moving forward!
What’s your best advice for shopping in a secondhand store?
My absolute best advice is to go into the store with a solid idea of what you already own and a clear list of what you need to fill the gaps in your wardrobe. Patience is also key. When we consume slowly, we’re able to make the most mindful and long-lasting purchases!
Thank you, Kaitlin, for spreading the word about sustainable secondhand fashion!
If you liked this article, you’ll enjoy our other Q&A’s with Barbara from @barbara.goes.wear and Piera from @hipiera.
