Blog: Crossroads Style

You may have heard that Crossroads is now open in Houston, Texas! Our newest store (number 35!) is nestled in the heart of the bustling Montrose neighborhood.

If you’ve never been to Houston, then you may not know that it is BIG. They say everything’s bigger in Texas, and they weren’t kidding—in fact, you can cram all of New York City, San Francisco, and Boston within Houston’s city limits. Don’t get overwhelmed by it’s size though, because we’ve made a list of our favorite spots around our store to fuel yourself before or after some serious Crossroads shopping!

Morning Workout?

Before a big shopping day, consider centering yourself with the 9:30 am yoga class at DEFINE body and mind, right next door to our store. This popular exercise chain hosts a variety of classes including barre and cycling.

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Coffee

Post-workout, head over to get caffeinated at Blacksmith. Whether you choose a simple black coffee or a Spanish cortado, Blacksmith will present you with a work of art. I ordered the homemade biscuits with crème fraîche and marmalade. Yum! They also offer a full breakfast and lunch menu that includes original and tasty items ranging from yogurt & granola to Vietnamese steak and eggs.
–Lunch

While I was in Houston, I went to Aladdin Mediterranean Cuisine three times for lunch. Seriously—it was that good. Everything from the hot and fresh pitas, the 8+ flavors of hummus, and the salads & sides (of which there must be at least twenty options to choose from) was amazingly good. The owner is a gem too!
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Dinner + Drinks

For dinner and drinks, head over to Underbelly, just two blocks west of our store. Chef Chris Shepard is serving up locally sourced food inspired by Houston’s diversity. Shepard was awarded the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Southwest in 2014, so you can be sure to get a truly Houstonian experience at Underbelly.
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Dinner no. 2

In the mood for Japanese? Head over to Osaka Japanese Restaurant for a roll and maybe even another cocktail (this place has a full bar to boot). Unlike its Michelin star counterpart Uchi across the street, this restaurant won’t require a reservation, so you can pop in to satisfy that sushi craving STAT.
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Late Night

Katz’s Delicatessen is open 24/7 and serves up perfect diner food in an old school deli atmosphere.  Whether you get the pastrami or corned beef, you can’t go wrong at Katz’s.  

And of course, Crossroads is now open for all the shopping you want to do in between. Follow our Houston store on Instagram @crossroads_texas for a look at new arrivals and great merchandise!

The moment I saw 3×1’s Crop Lima jeans, I knew I had to have them—but with a $295 price tag, I set out to create my own affordable version. I closed my web browser, picked up my seam rippers, and ran to the Crossroads DIY Studio to create these frayed hem jeans myself!

First things first: you can use any pair of jeans to achieve this fringed accent. I’ll be using a pair of light-wash skinny jeans, but you can use any color or silhouette you want.

You will need:

– A pair of jeans

– A seam ripper

– A pair of sharp scissors

– A ruler

1. Cut the bottoms off your jeans with scissors.

2. Use your seam ripper to open up the vertical seam on both sides of each leg. You can use a ruler to measure the length of your fringe. I went with a whopping six inches for an extra long fringe!

3. Now you can start fraying! You can use your fingers to rub the edges of the fabric to find your loose vertical threads. Then just start unraveling. I used the seam ripper to isolate each thread, pulling them out one by one.The entire process should only take about an hour to unravel both legs up to your desired height.

4. Finish with a run through the washer and dryer. Then twist the fringe between your thumb and index finger creating chunks of denim-y fringe!

Here’s a finished pair. I added some stitching to keep the fringe from unraveling beyond my original measurement.

Light wash or dark wash, this fun DIY is an easy and free route to transforming last season’s jeans into this summer’s hottest denim trend.

If you not only love fashion as a form of self-expression, but also find the ins and outs of the industry itself fascinating, you may find yourself wanting to go beyond blogs and fashion magazines. Good news: it’s easy to delve further!

I’ve rounded up my five favorite books about fashion and style below. These books give a behind-the-scenes look at the industry from those who have essentially created it from the ground up, and from those whose lives it has deeply impacted. From development to photography to marketing, you’ll get all kinds of influential fashion commentary.

1. Women in Clothes, by Sheila Heti, Heidi Julavits, Leanna Shapton, and more
Get thought-provoking perspectives on fashion from those who know it best: women like you. The authors of this book surveyed over six hundred women about their views on fashion, giving us wonderfully revealing conversations about what fashion can say, and how it can impact your life.

2. Mario Testino: In Your Face, by Mario Testino
This book is filled with photos of the most fabulous fashion moments and will make the most gorgeous coffee book table. You’ll want to open and read it over and over again.

3. The Sartorialist: Closer, by Scott Schuman

I love street style shots more than any high fashion or runway photography. I love seeing how real people in this world dress and express themselves. If you do too, then this book—from renowned street style photographer Scott Schuman—is for you.

4. I’ll Drink to That: A Life in Style, with a Twist, by Betty Halbreich
Betty spent forty years of her life as a personal shopper at Bergdorf Goodman, and she has the stories to prove it. Hilarious, charming, and personal, Betty chronicles how she has been able to help women learn how to find their true selves with the help of fashion.

5. Champagne Supernovas: Kate Moss, Marc Jacobs, Alexander McQueen and the 90s Renegades Who Remade Fashion, by Maureen Callahan
There will never be another decade like the ‘90s. In my humble opinion, it was the best decade for fashion and music, and the last before technology overtook our lives. This book chronicles the best of the best in its unique fashion culture.

We love this Riviera-ready look that Amelia of Clotheshorse LA put together so much, that she (and those amazing pants) immediately became the inspiration for styling summer stripes from our closet!

Because this week’s newest arrivals feature so many fantastic stripes, I picked my favorites and headed straight to the styling closet. You can look forward to shopping for striped pieces similar to these at all Crossroads locations.

Our simple Striped Crop Top ($9.50) is the perfect place to start. Pair this 100% cotton tee with high-waisted shorts and platform sandals, and finish off the look with a brightly colored purse.

Add a pop of red with our Mini Stripe Collared Tank ($16.50). I upped the cute factor by adding a black bow tie and cherry red bag.

Go neutral with our ‘70s Striped Tunic ($18.50). Achieve this look with light wash jeans, a pastel tote, and minimal flats.

When the temperature climbs into the hundreds, you’ll want our High Neck Striped Tank ($9.50) handy. Just add your trusty denim cut-offs and let your brightest sandals complete the look.

Amelia makes styling summer stripes look easy, and we hope our looks have inspired you to give this look a try too!