July 25, 2023 How to Thrift for Fashion Like a Pro
If you want to know how to thrift for fashion like a pro, you can count on our employees to provide loads of tips. After all, they’re busy filling our Crossroads stores with the best thrifted finds every single day.
Over the years, here are 3 things I’ve learned from them about making the most of your shopping experience.
1. Prep for Your Visit
Thrift stores have a lot of different clothing on their racks, which can feel overwhelming to some people. If that sounds like you, then you’ll benefit from prepping for your store visit before even leaving the house.
Check your closet for items you’re missing and look at our seasonal selling guide to determine which new trends you may want to try.
Then, make a list to bring along. With a few pieces to focus on, you’ll be prepared to skim the racks for exactly what you need.
2. Look for the Display Cases
I love designer pieces, so the first thing I’ve been trained to look for are the display cases. Sometimes these are free-standing cases, and sometimes these are enclosed shelves at the register.
Either way, this is where the designer or rare pieces are. If that’s your style, then look for them first!
3. Check Out the Staff Picks
The best fashion recommendations come from those who work in fashion, so look for a rack marked as Staff Picks. I find these are very common in thrift and resale stores, and it’s where you can find a mini-curation of the very best pieces in the store.
With just 3 best practices, you now know exactly how to thrift for fashion like an expert. Give them a try, and then tag us on Instagram at @crossroadstrading to show us what you find!
July 20, 2023 Get Started: How to Work in Fashion
If you love styling your looks each morning, you’ve probably wondered how to work in fashion. After all, wouldn’t it be amazing to bring your fashion skills to a job every day and work with people who share this passion?
How to Work in Fashion: Getting Started
Working in fashion retail is one of the best ways to get started. You’ll learn about fashion merchandising, seasonal trend forecasting, and client relations. You’ll see firsthand which styles and pieces are customer favorites. Best of all, you’ll start a network of fashion-loving teammates.
At Crossroads, we offer an even better retail education to our teams. Our fashion buyers learn how to buy clothing from the public, hand-picking the styles, labels, and trends that we stock on our store racks. This fashion-buying experience means they get to see how their curated pieces sell in-store.
Along with learning about fashion buying, our employees learn how to style our mannequins from our unique racks of secondhand gems, plan for seasonal transitions, and authenticate designer pieces for resale.
Sound like the career you’ve been looking for? Then check out our Careers page to learn more about our employee perks and current job openings.
July 18, 2023 Sheer Tops are Still Trending
Sheer tops continue to trend this summer, and we’ve been seeing them all over our social feeds recently.
In breathable, lightweight fabrics, they’re an easy way to add an extra layer to your look while giving it an ethereal feel.
We like a range of options too, from fitted mesh tops to blouses in Swiss dot fabric.
Below are 6 ways we’ve seen them worn this summer.
Over a Shorts Set
Complete a matching set with a loose-fitting sheer cover.
Under a Sundress
We’re raving about this perfect Swiss dot blouse under a pretty gingham-print sundress.
Under a Suit
A stand-out evening look.
Over a Tube Top
So simple to pull together, and we like this cropped daisy-print style.
Under a Corset Top
With a dramatic print on the sheer top too!
In a Gauzy Knit
A little less sheer in this soft knit, but a dream for summer.
Besides sheer tops, we love to style sheer dresses too. See our blog post specifically for that look. In fact, if you’re feeling the sheer vibe, read our general guide for how to wear sheer.
Then, visit your nearest Crossroads store to find pieces to add to your closet.
July 13, 2023 Have You Tried Metallic Shoes Yet?
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!
July 11, 2023 Summer Checklist: Sell Clothes at Crossroads
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!