Blog: Crossroads Style

We’re so happy when you tag us on Instagram and show us your Crossroads finds! After a while, we feel like we get to know you and your style very well. That’s exactly the case with Kaitlin from @windycitythrifter. We feel like old friends, having seen her amazing secondhand finds for years. We were way overdue for this little Q&A.

Read on to learn about life as an eco-stylist, Kaitlin’s IGTV series, and the elopement dress she found in our store.

Hi Kaitlin! Please share a little bit about yourself. 

I’m a millennial Chicago transplant, originally hailing from Upstate NY. Style and performing are my lifelong passions, and I’ve been able to grow upon them in the beautiful Windy City. I’m married to my best friend, Mr. Windy City Thrifter, and we enjoy going on hikes with our rescue pittie and exploring how we can do our part to combat climate change.

We know you’re a long-time Crossroads customer. Thank you for that! When did you first find us, and are there any favorite #crossroadsfinds that stand out in your mind? 

I first found Crossroads when I moved to Chicago in 2012. In fact, my first two Instagram posts were taken in a Crossroads dressing room! Hands down, my favorite Crossroads find was a cream button-down Free People dress that I found in June 2019, the month after my partner and I got engaged. I originally had plans to wear it for my wedding shower (which I eventually did in 2021). However, when we had to postpone our 2020 wedding and decided to elope, donning this dress made me feel so beautiful as I married my best friend!

You’re an eco-stylist. That sounds amazing. What is that role like? 
As an eco-stylist, I help folks cultivate a more sustainable and budget-friendly wardrobe by styling them with secondhand pieces and helping create “new-to-them” looks from their existing closet. We connect on their wardrobe needs and goals prior to the session so we can pull and buy pieces with clear intentions. This way my clients feel confident about their purchases and how they’ll integrate them into their existing closets.

We noticed you’re creating content over on IGTV too. Please tell us more.
I love utilizing video to spread secondhand love, so over on my IGTV you can find some of my “Thrifty Wedding” content and “Intention-haul” series. I created my “Intention-haul” series in 2020 as a way to encourage others to join me on a journey of conscious and mindful consumerism. It’s a way to hold myself accountable for my own secondhand consumption. It has sparked incredible conversations in the community, and I believe the more we communicate in these spaces, the better we all do moving forward!

What’s your best advice for shopping in a secondhand store? 
My absolute best advice is to go into the store with a solid idea of what you already own and a clear list of what you need to fill the gaps in your wardrobe. Patience is also key. When we consume slowly, we’re able to make the most mindful and long-lasting purchases!

Thank you, Kaitlin, for spreading the word about sustainable secondhand fashion!