Blog: Crossroads Style

December 26, 2022 Staff Style Spotlight: Karen

Karen wearing white shirt, cream skirt, blue wrap scarf, and a colored tie.

As part of our Staff Style Spotlight series, meet Karen, a Sales Associate at Crossroads. We asked Chicago employees to bring their style and star in our latest photoshoot wearing their Crossroads finds. Read about Karen’s personal style, favorite Crossroads finds, and favorite thing about working at Crossroads.

Karen wearing white shirt, cream skirt, blue wrap scarf, and a colored tie.

Tell us about your favorite Crossroads find.

My favorite Crossroads find was these Y2K Pepe jeans that I found while processing our newly purchased merchandise.

What are you dying to see come into your Crossroads store?

I’m waiting for some black platform boots, preferably calf-length or knee high.

Karen wearing white shirt, cream skirt, blue wrap scarf, and a colored tie.

What are your winter closet essentials?

My winter essentials include flare low waist plaid pants, jacket vests, chunky boots/shoes, and flare long-sleeves.

How would you describe your personal style?

I would say my style is Y2K either grunge or fairy-core inspired. I wear a lot of brown/black/cream tones, but also pops of color.

Karen wearing white shirt, cream skirt, blue wrap scarf, and a colored tie.

What is your favorite thing about working at Crossroads?

My favorite part about working at Crossroads is being able to express myself and my style. Crossroads provides so many opportunities to be creative.

Top tips for selling at Crossroads?

Always search up the item or brand if you don’t know/recognize it.

Thanks for the Staff Style Spotlight, Karen! As a Sales Associate, Karen assists customers on the sales floor, monitors the fitting rooms, and processes new merchandise for the floor all while providing great customer service. Does this sound like something you would be interested in? Join our team! Check out our Careers page to learn more about working at Crossroads.

January 5, 2023 Start a Fashion Buyer Career

This is the year to finally start your fashion buyer career! You have a dedicated passion for fashion, you love keeping track of the latest labels and trends, and you’re located near one of Crossroads Trading’s U.S. locations.

Crossroads trains its fashion buyers on how to identify the best fashion pieces to bring into its stores. A formalized training program teaches buyers which labels sell best in their neighborhood, how to price clothing for the retail sales floor, how to authenticate designer clothing and accessories, and how to spot the latest styles and trends.

Buyers also get to work with other people who love fashion and can shop at the store with their employee discount. Our team members have built some of the best wardrobes out there! Check out our Instagram feed to see our fabulous staff style in action.

Crossroads is also committed to promoting from within, meaning that you’ll have the opportunity to grow into management roles along the way.

Take that next step and learn more about Crossroads’ open positions. Apply today and start your journey towards a fashion buyer career that you’ll love for years to come. We can’t wait to meet you!

photo of fashion buyers

fashion buyer Inspecting Clothes

December 29, 2022 Time for a Closet Cleanout

The New Year is on the horizon, and we’re itching for our January closet cleanout. This annual event is when we assess everything in our personal closets and ask the tough questions like, Am I really ever going to wear this?

After we take a look at every single piece, we then sort our unwanted clothing into two piles. One pile is for selling to a resale shop like Crossroads Trading and one is for donating. How do we make this determination? Clothes that are the most likely to sell are current (within the last three seasons) or classic vintage, and in excellent condition.

photo of bag after closet cleanout

A lot of our sellers also turn to our seasonal selling guide and lookbook to get ideas for the styles we’re looking for.

If you’re new to selling your clothes, watch an expert Crossroads seller, @bjonesstyle, clean out her closet:

Ready to conduct your closet cleanout and earn cash or store credit? Find your local Crossroads store and bring in your clothes. No appointment is necessary! You can even use our waitlist app to avoid the line.

And if you don’t live near a Crossroads store location, you can still sell to us! Check out our Sell By Mail program.

December 27, 2022 Q&A with Christina of @fivetwoandmore

We’re always paying attention to your Instagram tags, and Christina of @fivetwoandmore caught our attention when she shared her #crossroadsfinds. We reached out to see if she’d tell us more about her personal style (she focuses on petite fashion!), and her love of secondhand fashion. Read on to learn more about her.

Please tell us a little bit about yourself, Christina.
Hi, Thrifting Community! I’m Christina, a native New Yorker from Queens. I’m a full-time lawyer who likes to express herself through her style.

 

As a creative outlet, I began sharing my fashion journey as a petite female on Instagram. I share how to style clothes for a petite figure and how to find affordable pieces while remaining stylish and feeling good in what you wear.

 

That’s not the only thing I like to share. I love to share the amazing food I get to enjoy no matter where I am, beauty products for sensitive skin, and all the new places I get to travel to and explore. Join me as I balance my worlds and make the most of the moment and my wardrobe.
photo of christina @fivetwoandmore

 

How would you describe your personal style?
My personal style is hard to explain. It truly depends on the occasion and how I feel. One moment I’m feeling very feminine, girly, and flirty, another moment I’m feeling comfy and cozy, and another moment I’m feeling sporty and street. My wardrobe and my style cover many bases. You can find me styling most things except for the color pink.

 

photo of Christina

 

Thank you for tagging your #crossroadsfinds! How did you find our stores?
I was raised to always find the best deal or sale, which ultimately led me to thrifting and secondhand clothing. I wasn’t aware that I could find brand new with tags or barely worn clothes from brands that I love for such a steal and affordable price. Once I learned about thrifting and secondhand clothing, I looked for stores in New York where I could shop and found Crossroads Trading in Manhattan and Brooklyn.

 

photo of christina @fivetwoandmore

 

You’re in one of our favorite fashion cities: New York! Are you noticing any NY fashion trends on the rise?
What I love about New York is all the different fashion trends and styles people are following. It can easily depend on the neighborhood and season. Recently, I’ve noticed certain trends that are coming back that were trends when I was really young. Some trends I’ve noticed include dad sneakers, looser/baggier bottoms, chunky boots or loafers, reusable totes as purses, and vintage luxury pieces.

 

photo of christina @fivetwoandmore

 

What would be your dream secondhand fashion find? 
A luxury dream find would be a Dior handbag or Jimmy Choo mule. They’re nice to have, but not a need. A non-luxury dream find would be a black leather jacket with an asymmetrical zipper. I used to have one that no longer fits and became very frayed. It’s definitely a staple I want back in my closet.

 

photo of christina

 

A big thank you to Christina for taking the time to tell us more about her personal style, and what she’s seeing on the streets of NYC these days. You can admire all of Christina’s fashion finds on Instagram at @fivetwoandmore. You can join us there too!

December 26, 2022 Staff Style Spotlight: Mika

photo of mika

As part of our Staff Style Spotlight series, meet Mika, a Lead Cashier at Crossroads. We asked Chicago employees to bring their style and star in our latest photoshoot wearing their Crossroads finds. Read about Mika’s personal style, favorite Crossroads finds, and favorite thing about working at Crossroads.

photos of mika

Tell us about your favorite Crossroads find.

I bought a gray floral satin maxi slip dress by Vince several months ago, and it is easily the most flattering piece I own. A close second is a hand-painted hoodie by Half Evil. It’s my favorite streetwear piece when I need an extra layer.

What are you dying to see come into your Crossroads store?

I am desperate for a Vivienne Westwood bustier top; it would be a great addition to my wardrobe. I’d also love to grab one of Skoot Apparel’s custom hoodies. I love how edgy their designs are.

photos of mika

What are your winter closet essentials?

Chicago winters are brutal, so layering is a must. I love to have really great long-sleeve basics to grab, and statement sweaters are essential. I also really love a platformed chunky sneaker to stay stylish and above the snow.

How would you describe your personal style?

My style consistently blends together 90’s grunge/goth and Hypebeast branding. It’s a bizarre combo, but it’s very me!

photo of mika

What is your favorite thing about working at Crossroads?

I love seeing the unique pieces our customers bring in! It’s so fun to hear the stories behind each garment.

Top tips for selling at Crossroads?

Shop around! What we have in store is a great example of what we’re looking for. Also, bring in everything, even if you’re skeptical about whether they will sell. You never know what hot new niche style the items might fit into.

Thanks for the Staff Style Spotlight, Mika! As a Lead Cashier, Mika has the exciting job of creating an aesthetically appealing environment that welcomes all customers, assisting customers throughout the store, and handling all sales-related tasks. Does this sound like something you would be interested in? Join our team! Check out our Careers page to learn more about working at Crossroads.