Blog: Crossroads Style

They’ve been slowly creeping their way into the fashion scene... First on the runway, then on street style “it girls” and celebs, and now I’m officially seeing style bloggers covet the surprising trend of the “dad sneaker.” You know the type: the off-brand, normcore sneaker your average dad can be seen wearing at an amusement park chasing after his kids. We embraced “mom” jeans, and apparently dad sneakers are next!

I’m not entirely on board with this trend, but in case you happen to be, there are some absolutely ways to make these chunky sneakers look chic!  Take a look at five ways to style dad sneakers and make them the “it” sneaker of 2018.

1. Go athleisure.
What better way to wear any new sneaker trend than with your favorite athleisure look!

2. Pair with feminine pieces.
Create contrast by pairing these chunky casual sneakers with decidedly feminine pieces.

3. Embrace the perfect traveling shoe.
Let Chiara Ferragni inspire your style! She’s no stranger to traveling around the world and does it in only the chicest comfort.

4. Color-coordinate.
A little weary of drawing too much attention to your new sneakers? Coordinate the colors of your sneakers to your outfit for a seamless transition.

5. Suit it up.
Aimee Song creates an entirely different look with her suit, swapping out expected heels for Louis Vuitton sneakers.

Taking care of your wardrobe will not only save you money in the long run, it will also keep your clothes and accessories looking new and clean for the duration you wear them. These tips are a great way to get the most out of your wardrobe, and they’ll help you out when you do decide to part ways with your used clothes and accessories; you’ll have more luck selling to Crossroads for cash or new clothes!

Check out five simple tips for preserving your wardrobe below!

1. Find a Tailor
It may seem counterintuitive to spend money to save money, but tailoring your investment pieces to fit you perfectly will keep you from tugging and rearranging the fabric all day. Plus, you’re more likely to wear and keep an item longer if it fits properly.

2. Learn Basic Sewing Techniques
Being able to mend simple tears or re-secure a loose button on your favorite pieces of clothing will help restore them. Fix a small problem yourself to prevent it from becoming too big to repair on your own.

3. Launder Carefully
Be sure to read and follow the care instructions on the labels of your clothing before you throw them in the washer and dryer. There is a reason different fabrics have different instructions. Additionally, not every piece of clothing needs to be washed after each wear. For example, steaming a blouse will remove wrinkles and refresh the fabric.

4. Store Clothes Properly
Knowing when to hang versus fold your clothing will help prevent stretching and wrinkling. Fold t-shirts, thicker fabric bottoms, and sweaters to keep their shape. Hang blouses, trousers, dresses, and heavier tops (like leather jackets and blazers). If you store out-of-season clothing, be sure to keep it in a cool, dry place and use moth balls or lavender.

5. Remove Scuff Marks from Shoes
You probably already have a few of the household products that will remove scuff marks from a variety of shoe fabrics, from canvas to leather. Mix equal parts water and baking soda, nail polish remover, or even toothpaste, dip a cotton ball into your cleaning solution, and use a circular motion to gently rub off scuff marks.

Last week, five of my fellow Crossroads Style Council members and I took a short road trip from LA to Santa Barbara. Between photoshoot pit stops at gas stations, styling and shooting all of our fun looks, and the most amazing lunch together, I was able to round up some of the best Crossroads shopping tips from the Crossroads Style Council! 

We took over the Crossroads Trading in Santa Barbara and challenged ourselves to create an editorial outfit in just under an hour. Photos and videos will be coming to Crossroads’s Instagram soon!

Take a look at how they make the most of their store shopping experience.

Beth, B. Jones Style | Instagram

Beth is a secondhand shopping god (in my mind, anyway). Her thrift shopping challenges inspire my soul and make me want to spend hours at my favorite Crossroads locations finding treasures. From Beth:

“My tip is: at Crossroads, I get all my awesome, great, classic essentials. Like a great rag & bone tee, designer shoes, denim. So I always use Crossroads as a way to build my essential, classic wardrobe staples.”

Amelia, Clotheshorse | Instagram

Amelia is the ultimate cool girl in her classic and chic pieces. I do have to admit that her Crossroads finds on our trip were the ones I was most jealous she found first!

“Go when you can be leisurely—taking your time shopping secondhand will yield the best results. Get a coffee, caffeinate, eat something before so you’re not starving, make sure you’ve peed… Just know that you might have to do two rounds in the dressing room to be thorough.”

Cassidy, Cassidy Gard | Instagram

Cassidy’s style is all-American, colorful, feminine, and flirty. It was my first time meeting Cassidy, and she is honestly the most genuine person and so much fun to shop with!

“I always pay attention to the materials—I don’t really look at the brand. I just look at the materials that I know are high quality, and the second I feel something that feels nice on my skin, it’s always a more luxurious brand than fast fashion [ones]. And that’s how I get through really quickly–looking at the colors and materials, feeling it… things that just breathe well on my skin.”

Morgan, The Maverick Muse | Instagram

Morgan has a style all her own: daring, retro, modern, and just SO MUCH FUN. I definitely have a girl crush!

“One rule of thumb is that I will typically go where nobody else is, to not be clustered with other shoppers. A lot of thrifting is having the desire to spend time [on it], so I make sure that I don’t have any other requirements for the day and I can just leisurely stroll through and do my thing. You have to be hungry… you really have to have that desire to look and find the gems.”

Mary, Hey Mary Elizabeth | Instagram

Mary has such a fun, whimsical style, and knowing that she is able to use Crossroads to build her wardrobe, you can bet that she has great tips to help you during your shopping trips!

“Always check out the rejects from the dressing room. Think of it as a potentially curated section of clothes that didn’t fit someone else so well. Start at an area that’s not so overwhelming, such as shoes at Crossroads. When you find one good item right away, it gives you the motivation to dig in.”

Jennifer, Jennifer Beile

And from me: Go in with an open mind. If you are going secondhand shopping with specific pieces in mind, you will most likely miss out on some other great items that you weren’t looking for because you were concentrating too much on something specific. Also, look in multiple sizes! Not all brand sizing is created equal. I especially look at a range of sizes in denim, hold them up to my hips, and if they look close to fitting, I try them on. Don’t be afraid to try something on. It will always look different on the hanger versus on you.

It was my pleasure to score you these shopping tips from the Crossroads Style Council!

Instagram has quickly become the fashion lover’s go-to for instant outfit inspiration. I would go so far to say that Instagram will—if it hasn’t already—quickly surpass the traditional blogger’s platform.

When you’re looking for outfit inspo, it’s as easy as plugging in a descriptive hashtag or simply scrolling through your feed in the morning. Just follow your favorite fashionistas for a daily dose of style delivered straight to you! Need somewhere to start? Take a look at five of my favorite fashion babes you should be following on Instagram if you aren’t already.

Anine Bing, aninebing

Designer Anine Bing (check out her self-titled line here) is the queen of chic and classic with just the right touch of modern. Known for her outfit uniform of graphic tees and blazers, Anine can also be seen rocking badass booties, leather jackets, and the denim of your dreams.

Casey Carlson, officiallyquigley

A little boho, a little rock and roll, and a lot of funk. Casey has a smile that lights up the entire room and definitely has fun playing dress up everyday. Fun fact: I met Casey at our local dog park before she moved out of the area, and our pups were obsessed with each other!

Lauren Johnson, discodaydream

Lauren is the ultimate cool girl, and I am almost embarrassed by the amount of likes she gets from me! She is an unlimited source of outfit inspo, whether I’m feeling chic, casual, or playful.

Chloe Miles, chloehelenmiles

Chloe is a total style chameleon and showcases her effortless chic fashion sense throughout her Instagram.

Zoe Lazerson, zoelaz

Zoe shares her personality through her fashion! A fan of color, Zoe nails playful yet wearable style and shows you how to wear just about every trend perfectly.

Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2018 is Ultra Violet, a bold color that fashion does not utilize enough. They describe it as “a dramatically provocative and thoughtful purple shade… Ultra Violet communicates originality, ingenuity, and visionary thinking that points us toward the future.”

Looking for outfit inspo for ways to wear Ultra Violet? Look no further! Below are seven ways to incorporate this vibrant Color of the Year into your wardrobe.

1. Go bold and revitalize your blazer collection.

2. Trade in your little black dress for a vivid violet eye-catcher.

3. Invest in a muted violet coat in a classic silhouette for versatility that stands out.

4. Brighten a cold day with a cozy violet sweater.

5. Stun in a head-to-toe violet look.

6. Kick it up a notch with some bold boots.

7. Add Ultra Violet details in your accessories.