Blog: Crossroads Style

Metallic shoes rarely get the credit they’re due, likely because they’re, well, rare.

But we like metallic shoes for adding a dash of something unexpected to a look, turning even a simple outfit into something more. So we keep our eyes open for them, whether we’re buying from the public at our selling counter or shopping the racks of our stores.

They come in more styles than you might imagine too. Here are some examples of the styles you can find.

Heels

You don’t need to wear these only with formal looks. Try them with your basics.

Platforms

Go sky-high with platforms, and pair them with metallic clothing pieces for even more impact.

Ballet Flats

We’re on the lookout for metallic ballet flats. They look as great with weekend shorts as workweek trousers.

Sneakers

Metallic sneakers are the ultimate find! You’ve struck gold if you come across a pair.

Boots

You can even find metallic boots to add to your closet. This pair is seasonless.

Do you have a pair of metallic shoes in your closet? Style them and share the look with us on Instagram by tagging @crossroadstrading. Or, if you have a pair that you no longer love, bring them to our buyers to assess for cash or trade credit!

We personally sell clothes at Crossroads every season, so we can refresh our wardrobes for the months ahead.

Summer is no different. Along with staying up late with friends, going out of our way to eat more ice cream cones, and taking as many trips to the beach as we can, we clean out our closets and sell to Crossroads before August rolls around.

Why August? Because we’re crazy about fashion, and it gets really good in the fall. If we sell our pre-loved clothes to Crossroads during the summer months, we have cash or store credit on hand to shop for fall!

The best part: it’s really easy to do.

1. Check Your Closet

First, run through your closet item by item and determine which pieces you no longer love. Maybe it never fit right or you just find yourself passing it over every day.

2. Pack Your Bags

Next, look more closely at each item and check for clothing damage like tears or stains. Crossroads doesn’t buy damaged items, so put those pieces to the side. Select the pieces that are still on trend and in great condition. Pack them up!

3. Visit a Crossroads Store

Stop into the nearest Crossroads store any day of the week. You don’t need an appointment, and we buy all day every day. You can even download our waitlist app and put your name on the selling list before you leave your house.

Here’s a brief video that walks you through all the steps, from deciding on what to sell to seeing a store buy in action. Take a look, and then make a plan to visit your local Crossroads store soon. Don’t live near one of our stores? That’s OK, we have a Sell by Mail program too!

Cut out dresses were made for mid to late summer, when your summer event calendar heats up as much as the outdoor temps.

The cut outs add an unexpected touch to a dress, especially a long maxi dress with lots of fabric. And maybe it’s just our imagination, but the cut outs seem to keep us cooler.

We found so many pretty cut out dresses in our search for photo inspiration, but we narrowed it down to these 7 that really stood out. They show the broad range of textiles and dress styles you can find, from ribbed to strappy to special occasion to bright prints.

Keep scrolling to see all 7 of our picks, then stop into your neighborhood Crossroads store to find your own. Or, if you have a pre-loved cut out dress that no longer suits your style, bring it in to our buyers at the selling counter. You may walk away with cash or store credit!

Looking for more fashion trends to add to your closet before summer ends? See our seasonal trend guide. There is something to meet everyone’s style. Or, follow our Instagram feed for even more ideas.

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

Tell us about your favorite Crossroads find.

I have found the most amazing vintage denim, including orange tabs, chore coats, and bolos.

How would you describe your personal style?

My kids said, “Eccentric gorp-core” and, “tertiary vintage grandpa.”

What summer trends are you hoping to see in store?

We are seeing lots of color and tiered mini dresses.

What brands are you hoping to see in store?

We love when slow fashion and size-inclusive brands come in, like Seek Shelter, Karen Kane, and Big Bud Press.

What is your favorite thing about working at Crossroads?

Being able to cycle our wardrobe with the seasons, and keeping clothing out of landfill!

Top tips for selling at Crossroads?

Talk to your buyer! They can tell you in-the-moment trends. Presentation is important; balled-up items, wrinkled items, tears, stains, etc. make a difference and might not be taken in.

Thanks for the Staff Style Spotlight, Erin! As a Store Manager, Erin has the exciting job of creating an aesthetically appealing environment that welcomes all customers, hiring and developing fashion-focused staff, curating retail store merchandise, and working to achieve retail store financial goals. 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.

Pride 2023 was in full swing in San Francisco this past weekend, with the parade and other celebrations bringing out Queer/LGBTQ+ folks and allies alike to the city. As the last days of Pride come to an end, we asked some of our Queer/LGBTQ+ team members from our Fillmore location that are celebrating at San Francisco Pride to reflect on what Pride means to them and how they show it.

Harlowe

Photo courtesy of Harlowe Noralez.

For Harlow Noralez (she/her), Pride means not being afraid to be your authentic self and showing it by being as loud and visibly Queer as possible. For Pride this year, Harlow wore an array of colorful outfits. One of her outfits included red sweatpants, a chainmail bralette, and a rainbow cardigan.

“I’m excited to see all the Queers out, happy and mingling,” Harlow said, “Just seeing everyone all excited.”

Bella

Photo taken by Zachary Stehr.

This is Bella Zurbuch’s (she/her) first Pride being out and in San Francisco with her partner. For Bella, Pride means being courageous with Queer expression in her way and being open about her identity. She said that Pride makes her happy because she gets to be surrounded by other Queer people and build a community of support. For Pride this year, Bella wore pink, blue, and purple to represent the Bi flag.

“I’m feeling supported by not only my Queer community but by people who are important to me who are straight,” Bella said. 

Analicia

Photo courtesy of Analicia Parish.

For Analicia Parish (they/them), Pride isn’t only a time to celebrate but also a time to prioritize and uplift Queer voices at a time when Queer people all over the world are being silenced. They said it’s important to reflect on the history of riots and protests that Pride originated from in the 1960s. 

They show Pride through their fashion, being open with their gender expression, and connecting with the Queer community via social media. For Pride this year, Analicia wore a purple bikini, a yellow muscle tee, with the phrase, “I don’t care what the Bible says,” white bloomers and white cowboy boots to represent the nonbinary flag.

“This is my second time being out at Pride,” Analicia said. “I’m most excited to feel comfortable in my own identity at Pride this year and share that with other people.”