March 8, 2022 International Women’s Day: Employee Spotlight
In honor of International Women’s Day, we have a special Employee Spotlight featuring our Chief Retail Officer, Melissa Laubstein, and Chief Operating Officer, Aruna Busacca. Having both worked at Crossroads since the year we opened, Melissa & Aruna have played an extensive role in shaping Crossroads into the store you know and love today. Keep reading to learn more about Melissa and Aruna, including their proudest career accomplishments and advice for women in business.
Melissa
What are you most proud of during your journey with Crossroads?
I would say I am most proud of my ability to hire great people. The amazing collaboration and exchange of ideas of all the talented and inspiring people I get to work with every day is the greatest achievement.
What advice would you give to women looking to grow professionally in business or fashion?
Connect your career with your values, stay open to growth opportunities when they present themselves, push yourself out of your comfort zone, and say yes to challenges as often as possible. I said yes even when I wasn’t totally sure I was ready. Believe in yourself and the process. Any failures proved to be some of the most important components of my future success.
Tell us something that might surprise us about you.
I was the first employee hired 30 years ago to open and manage the first Crossroads. It was a real leap of faith, and I can honestly say it was the best decision I have ever made. I don’t know a lot of people that can say “I love my job,” especially after 30 years!
Aruna
What are you most proud of during your journey with Crossroads?
My greatest achievement has been my ongoing role in helping Crossroads adapt to our constantly changing business environment.
What advice would you give to women looking to grow professionally in business or fashion?
I’ll tell you what worked for me. Find a mentor who shares your values, lean into what interests you, work hard until you master a new skill, and then move on to the next interesting thing.
Tell us something that might surprise us about you.
I started as a buyer at our first store in San Francisco, and I just had my 30-year anniversary last October. My journey at Crossroads is a testament to the company’s values and our commitment to growing from within.
Thank you, Melissa and Aruna, for being a part of our International Women’s Day Employee Spotlight! We have more Employee Spotlights lined up through the rest of spring. Be on the lookout to see more of the Crossroads team on our blog!
March 7, 2022 Staff Style Spotlight: Jennie
As part of our Staff Style Spotlight series, meet Jennie, an Assistant Manager at Crossroads. We asked employees at our Sunset Blvd store to bring their style and star in our latest Crossroads photoshoot wearing their Crossroads finds. Read about Jennie’s personal style, favorite spring trend and favorite thing about working at Crossroads.
What is your favorite Spring trend?
My favorite spring trend would have to be any floral dress with a pair of Dr. Martens.
What are you excited to see come into your Crossroads store?
I’m looking forward to seeing my dream vintage Dior bag come through.
Tell us about your favorite Crossroads find.
My favorite Crossroads find would have to be a Modelo X Diamond collab. Favorite streetwear piece by far.
Tell us about the fashion piece that “got away”.
An incredible piece came into our store, which was quickly picked up by a customer. Their excitement was worth the loss.
What is your favorite thing about working at Crossroads?
I love seeing my team thrive in their element and interacting with our customers.
Top tips for selling at Crossroads?
Bring in pieces you love and are ready to share with the next finder!
Thanks for the Staff Style Spotlight, Jennie! As an Assistant Manager, Jennie not only assists customers on the sales floor, but also trains and supervises staff and processes the amazing secondhand fashions that come into their Crossroads. Visit our Careers page to learn more about working at Crossroads.
March 3, 2022 Q & A with Jazmine of @thatcurlytop
If you’ve been following along with our fashion influencer series, you’ll be excited to meet the incomparable Jazmine of @thatcurlytop. We love her commitment to secondhand fashion and are crazy about the vibrant signature style she’s created. Who else can pull off a stunning snowy day look like the one below?
We adore your style, Jazmine, and are excited to hear from you! When did sustainable fashion first enter your life?
Because I grew up in a low-income community, I had practices that were unintentionally sustainable, like thrifting and mending clothes, consuming less, and reusing containers. However, it wasn’t until I went to college to study Fashion Merchandising that I began to learn about the impact the fashion industry has on people and the planet. After a year of learning this, I switched out of my major and transformed my fashion blog into a sustainable fashion one where I document my journey in that space.
What is the best secondhand fashion piece in your closet? Where did you find it?
It has to be a pair of gold hoops I found a few years back at a local thrift store. They don’t appear to be anything special; however, they’re one of my most-worn thrift finds. They go with almost everything I wear and make my curls pop. When you begin to wear something a lot, it feels like you truly begin to bond.
Are there any secondhand pieces you passed on that you still regret?
Honestly, I can’t think of a single piece. I tend to err on the side of getting something I kinda like because it always ends up growing on me. However, I do regret avoiding pricier vintage spots and pieces. I know I advocate for investing in higher-quality pieces, but when it comes to getting things secondhand, I’ve mainly looked at thrift stores and haven’t allowed myself to get true vintage pieces. But that’s recently changed, and I’ve found a few things I know I’ll adore and will last me a long time. Now I can only imagine the dream pieces I’ve never let myself see.
Any advice for people who are just starting to consider the idea of shopping for secondhand clothing?
Patience is key! When approaching slow fashion, finding the right pieces will take time, and that’s all part of the beautiful process. Whether it’s looking for your dream secondhand designer brand or that specific style you want to experiment with, the process will differ from buying something new. And honestly, I find it such a thrill to find the exact thing I’ve been looking for.
You made a BIG move from the West Coast to NY– so exciting! Which secondhand pieces in your life made the trip with you?
Ugh, one of the hardest things while moving was cleaning out my closet because we could only take about 10% of the items in my house. Unfortunately, my clothes couldn’t be that entire 10%. I ABSOLUTELY made room for my one-of-a-kind butterfly dress by @janellerabbott, which is basically a low-waste, wearable art piece. Also, my secondhand butterfly clogs, which I’ll be wearing every day as soon as it’s warm enough.
Thank you, Jazmine, for telling us more about yourself. You’ll find us continuing to follow your style!
If you enjoyed learning about Jazmine from @thatcurlytop, you might also enjoy our other Q&As with Kaitlin from @windycitythrifter, Barbara from @barbara.goes.wear, and Piera from @hipiera.
Photos Via
March 1, 2022 Black-Owned Fashion Labels to Shop
Every Friday on our Instagram feed, we highlight Black-owned fashion labels to shop. If you didn’t see them all on our feed last month, then here’s a recap of the 4 we shared.
1. RE ONA
@reona is a label that aims for “elevated simplicity” and truly hits the mark. Soft fabrics in muted neutrals are the basis for their bodysuits, dresses, joggers, trousers, and blazers. Visit their online shop to see all the goodness here.
2. THEOPHILIO
Brooklyn-based and CDFA-recognized @theophilio is a Black-owned fashion label that deserves the spotlight, hands down. Their Spring/Summer 2022 “Air Jamaica” collection alone is a prime example of the label’s ability to turn a piece of inspiration into high fashion. Shop the site here.
3. Adore Adorn Jewelry
Meet @adore.adorn, whose pieces you’ve likely seen in the pages of major fashion magazines and on camera in Insecure. Just one glance at this eye-catching ring and you get what all the attention is about. See all their eye-catching pieces on their website here.
4. Jeblanc
We had to share handmade jewelry label, @jeblancisalive. The label’s pieces are truly eclectic in design, and we personally cannot take our eyes off these dipped hoops. Design perfection! Shop the line here.
This post includes only a few of the Black-owned fashion labels to shop. You’ll find even more featured on our Instagram feed. You can also join us back here on our website next month when we’ll feature our March picks!
February 24, 2022 Where to Buy the Best Secondhand Clothes
You may be wondering where to buy the best secondhand clothes. We’d like to say it’s us, Crossroads!
We encourage everyone to try buying, selling, and trading their clothes. It’s good for the environment and your wallet. And, we have some great and friendly competition out there that’s helping us spread the word about resale fashion.
But we also have 3 great things that not all of them have!
1. Physical Store Locations
We have 34 store locations across the U.S. These are physical stores where you can actually try on clothing before you buy it! Yep, that’s right: no need to buy clothing online and wait with crossed fingers that they’ll fit when they arrive.
2. Current & Designer Clothing
Sure, you’ll find some great vintage pieces on our racks, but we mostly carry popular current brands. In addition, the clothing and accessories on our sales floors aren’t donations. They’re pieces that our in-store buyers have hand-selected and bought in from the public. It’s curated thrifting at its best!
3. We Pay More
When you sell your clothes to us, you’ll earn more money than selling to our competition. We offer clear and transparent pricing and give you 30% cash or 50% store credit based on what we price each item for. We offer even higher payouts when you consign designer pieces. We’re talking up to 70%.
Did we answer the question of where to buy the best secondhand clothes? HINT: it’s Crossroads!
Stop into any of our store locations to see for yourself, or follow us on Instagram to see what’s in our stores.
You can also find more secondhand clothing store resources and learn about the benefits of sustainable fashion over here on Sustainable Jungle.
