September 5, 2023 Black-Owned Fashion Boutiques to Shop
Every week on our Instagram feed, we share some of our favorite Black-owned fashion boutiques, always ones with online shopping available. If you missed our August picks, we’ve included all of them here so you can catch up!
Zelie for She
Zelie for She is an LA-based brand known for its limited runs on all its designs. This makes each look that much more special!
Start following their IG account to make sure you don’t miss any new drops.
Le Beau Monde
Le Beau Monde is a label that offers affordable pieces that capture the latest trends. We’re eyeing their crochet pieces and cutout dresses, perfect for these final days of summer.
Click through to their Instagram feed and start following.
ALYDA
ALYDA is a brand focused on petite womenswear. If this is your fashion need, you can count on them for ethically-produced pieces in classic cuts and styles. We’re admiring this perfect slip dress.
Click through to their Instagram feed to start shopping.
Thelma West
As you can see, Thelma West’s ethically sourced diamonds are crafted into eye-catching, one-of-a-kind creations. Click through to visit their Instagram feed and find the pieces that speak to your individual style.
These are only the August Black-owned fashion boutiques we shared on Instagram. Follow our feed and check our website monthly for even more featured brands.
August 31, 2023 Trend Forecasting: Pinstripe Pants
Pinstripe pants are back this fall! For many of us, they take us straight back to the 90s, when we wore them with baby tees on repeat. (Dangerously large hoop earrings were usually included too).
That specific baby tee look has returned as well (see below), but there are many other style pairings for them this season if you want to try something new.
We know we plan to pair our pinstripe pants with bodysuits, crop tops, tank tops, and striped tees. We’ll add a long trench coat on rainy days and oversized blazers for the office. We’ll try them in cropped and baggy cuts, and match them with sneakers or ballet flats.
We’re excited about all the options! Keep scrolling to find your personal style inspiration.
This is only one of the trends we selected for our seasonal selling guide, where we forecast the trends ahead so you know what we’re looking for when you sell your clothes. Take a look to see all the other trends, styles, and labels we’re on the lookout for this fall. Then, stop into any of our stores to sell or shop this weekend.
August 29, 2023 Where to Sell Secondhand Clothes Now
Exactly where to sell secondhand clothes these days? It becomes a pressing question after you clean out your closet and find you have a pile of unwanted pieces that are still in excellent condition. Maybe they never fit quite right, or they never really matched your personal style. Whatever the reason, these pieces should find a new home!
Over the last decade, more options for selling your clothes have popped up, but they all fall neatly into three different areas: in a resale store, by mail, or in an online/app marketplace. Let’s take a quick look at all of them.
1. In a Resale Store
Resale stores like Crossroads have trained fashion buyers who buy clothing from the public. In the case of Crossroads, we buy clothes from the public all day every day. You immediately get 30% in cash or 50% in store credit for what your items are priced at.
The major benefit is the ability to take all your clothes to one place and potentially sell multiple items at once, without needing to photograph and upload listings to an online selling site or selling app.
2. By Mail
To sell by mail, look for a reputable company and find their pricing structure. If you use the Crossroads Sell by Mail service, you can order a free shipping bag with a pre-paid postage label, fill it up, send your items to our fashion buyers, and receive your payment by Zelle (store credit is available too if you live near a store). You can even choose to have your unpurchased items donated or shipped back to you for a return fee.
3. Online/App Marketplaces
Finally, you can use an online marketplace like eBay or Facebook to upload listings for each piece and sell them individually. There are several app marketplace options that follow the same process too. Just be prepared to answer questions, negotiate prices, and ship items individually as they sell.
The truth is that where to sell secondhand clothes is entirely up to you! If a resale store sounds best, find your nearest Crossroads store location. If selling by mail seems more convenient, we have that option available for you too!
Whatever you decide, we wish your unwanted clothes a bon voyage to a new closet.
August 24, 2023 7 Ways to Style Ruffled Blouses This Season
Ruffled blouses, and ruffles in general, have earned a spot in our seasonal selling guide. We’re already thinking of ways to wear them, and have searched IG to find 7 ways to style them this season. Which looks are your favorites?
1. With a Vest
Ruffles are so playful, you can double down on them with an interesting piece like a vest. A tapestry print adds even more fun.
2. With a Mini & Ankle Boots
A mini and a pair of this season’s popular ankle boots give some edge to a dainty ruffled top.
3. Make it Monotone
Keep it monotone with a matching color palette in your trousers, shorts, or skirt.
4. With Jeans & Trainers
Balance a prim-looking ruffled blouse with denim and a pair of cozy trainers.
5. With a Pleated Skirt
Ruffles and pleats are a match made in heaven, so bring them together and match this look.
6. With Overalls
Ruffle blouses are so versatile you can even pair them with overalls.
7. With Classic Black Pants
A pair of cigarette pants or skinny jeans in black will always be a solid choice.
See even more of this season’s trends in our current selling guide!
August 22, 2023 The “Sell Your Clothes” App You’ll Want to Try
Search for a “sell your clothes app” and you’ll mostly come across marketplace apps where you upload and sell your clothes piece-by-piece.
But the Crossroads Trading waitlist app offers something completely different: the ability to arrange your visit to any of our stores to sell you clothes.
If you’ve ever sold clothes at Crossroads, you know you can drop into a store and sell your clothes on the spot. No appointment is necessary, and the buying hours run all day.
You do need to add your name to the selling waitlist, though, and wait for your turn to sell. So, here is where the Crossroads waitlist app comes in.
With the app, you can check your local store’s status and see how many people are in line to sell. You can then add your name to the waitlist before you even leave home! By the time you arrive, you’ll be closer to your selling time, and you’ll even receive a text to notify you when it’s your turn.
Watch how easy it is:
We’re probably biased, but we think it’s the most helpful “sell your clothes app” out there. It’s time to give it a try!
