Store Snapshot

Just got word from our Roseville, CA store that their designer counter is bursting with great items.  They sent me these two photos to show you:

How many designers can you see represented here?  I spot Coach, Jimmy Choo, L.A.M.B., Betsey Johnson…

Relaxing In Front Of Your TV Is Good For You

My cable went out for two days this week, and admittedly, so did part of my soul.

I’m not ashamed to say it: I love to relax in front of the TV.  It magically takes you to places where people can design an avant garde evening gown in 24 hours (Project Runway), cater a celebrity event for $200 (Top Chef), and make you remember how non-glamourous your high school was (90210).

When the cable was re-connected last night, the little gray cloud that had been hovering over my head was replaced instantly with abundant sunshine.  With my little TV tray stocked with snacks, I watched 30 Rock reruns with even more glee than the first time I’d seen them.  I will never take this joy for granted again.

My DVR is already set up for the new season of Project Runway and Mad Men.  Nothing goes better with your cozy couch and some freshly baked chocolate chip cookies than looking at fashion!

As for my Netflix queue, I’m getting that stocked up too.  I may have to wait a few months, but I want these as soon as they hit DVD: The September Issue (I’ll need a whole dozen cookies for this much Anna Wintour!) and Coco Before Chanel (I can never get too much Audrey Tautou).

I’m just so happy thinking about watching all of this!

A Traveler’s Fashion Tale

I’ve mentioned before that I count on Crossroads to fill my suitcase with a new wardrobe for each vacation I make.  This summer was no different as I packed for a three-week journey through Western Europe.  Armed with only an orange carry-on bag, I faced the challenge of packing very few pieces that could take me from the beaches of the French and Italian Riviera to the city streets of Paris and London.  I opted for bright summer colors (to hide those inevitable marinara stains) and very light pieces that wouldn’t wrinkle along the way.

I think I did a good job!  Below I have featured 9 of the 15 Crossroads pieces that accompanied me on my travels.

Villa d'Este, Cernobbio, Italy: Odille Skirt with Ruffled H&M Cardigan and Gold Sandals. Thank goodness for the wardrobe savings; a glass of prosecco here set me back $24.

St. Tropez: Lu Lu Lame Dress. I paired this dress over denim Capris on cooler days.

Luxembourg Gardens, Paris: Free People Dress with American Apparel V-Neck Tee & Vibi Cardigan. The perfect morning stroll.

The Cinque Terre: Hat by San Diego Hat Company. People chase me down to find out where I got this hat.

Lake Como, Italy: People's Liberation Jeans. You gotta pack a pair of jeans. Always.

Summer Trends Spotted in Europe

The joys of travel in Europe are many: French pastries, good wine that’s cheaper than water, and acres and acres of beautiful parks.  One of my favorite joys, however, is simply people watching.  I’ll park myself at an outdoor cafe to observe, with spotting fashion trends as the ultimate goal!

After three weeks of traveling through the U.K., Italy and France, I am excited to report back on some of the hottest trends seen out there.  They’re so simple and so perfect for summer.

You have to start with the must-have aviator sunglasses, which every girl and boy in the French Riviera holds close to their heart. Add a pair of Chuck Taylors to the look; my favorite are in gray.  With this foundation, the look can go anywhere, but my favorite for women was the summer romper (see below).  The best additions I saw on a man were bright orange jeans and a basic button up.  The accompanying yacht was an added bonus.

Other looks I observed:

• Rolled up jeans everywhere in the boyfriend and skinnier straight-leg styles.
• Very casual harem pants and shorts with subtle cuts; nothing exaggerated.
• High-ankle gladiator sandals swapped out for a more basic Roman-style sandal, like the one below.
• Jeans cut and folded right above the knee.  Yes, just like Jennifer Grey in Dirty Dancing! The 13-year old girl in me is really hoping this look catches on.
• A super strange look for men that I can’t determine is a real look or a series of coincidental mistakes.  On three separate occasions I saw fashion-conscious men wearing button-fly jeans with only the top button buttoned.  Is this really a look?

Next week, I’ll post some photos of the great Crossroads finds that I packed my suitcase with.

Ciao!

Street Fashion

Fashion blogger, JT Paradox, crossed paths with one of our fashionable team members last week in San Francisco.  Take a look here at the outfit that inspired him.

A Travel Wardrobe

I was a Crossroads enthusiast long before I came to work here.  I discovered my first store when I lived in Oakland, California, and was excited to find another one nearby when I moved to Santa Monica.  As an avid travleler with a slim budget, I have found Crossroads an important staple in my travel planning.  How else would I manage to pack a handbag full of pretty travel wear and still have cash left over for my morning tartines in Paris?

With a new European vacation on the horizon, I am busy finding ideal travel pieces for afternoons in Provence and long evenings in the Cinque Terre.  I’ll keep you posted on the search, but until then, here are some favorite Crossroads finds from my past travels.

Rome, 2006:  I loved the detail on this simple top and found that this skirt never wrinkled, no matter how tiny I rolled it into my carry-on bag.

Mazatlan, 2004.  It was July and so humid!  This flowy skirt I’d found at the Santa Monica Crossroads store was perfect.

Turkey, 2006.  I loved the floral print on this crisp cotton skirt and still miss it (I sold it back to the Oakland store).  Whoever bought it after me is one lucky shopper!

Significant Stylists

It seemed harmless enough. Over lunch, the usual gang was debating the pros and cons of Drew Barrymore’s recent Golden Globes look. What was she thinking with that hair? Who was her stylist?  “I wonder what would happen if my husband was my stylist,” I mused. And there we had it.

Jesika, Gina, Stacy and I recruited our surprisingly willing significant others to be our stylists for the day. My husband promised to craft a look he described as “Blossom-meets-Britney” and Gina’s husband wanted to see “a lot of color,” as in, the entire rainbow. Was this challenge about to take a turn for the Barrymore?

In the end, each of our significant stylists made an honest effort to keep us looking like ourselves. Gina’s husband gets top points for dressing her almost exactly as she would have dressed herself but adding Jack Purcell’s for a little Audrey Hepburn flair. My husband panicked when faced with pattern and color and opted for classic black & white. Personally, I would have swapped the boots for my new sparkly Frye t-straps, but he was adamant. Stacy’s fiancé was certain about the skirt and gets kudos for layering on a short-sleeved sweater when he decided he didn’t like the top he’d picked out. Jesika is in the process of moving so her fiancé was disgruntled about not having total access to her wardrobe but he was clear about her needing to wear her black glasses, which we all think is a cute touch. 

Enjoy our best Top-Model poses & tell us: What do you think your significant stylist would dress you in?

 

 

Top row: Gina & Erin. Bottom row: Jesika & Stacy

Things We Love

 

I was recently struck by something I read in the book Entre Nous: A Woman’s Guide to Finding Her Inner French Girl.  In it, the author, Debra Ollivier, writes that French women only wear clothing that they love.This got me thinking: If I took a hard look at my closet, what percent of its contents would pass this tres chic test? What if I took the plunge and sold everything I didn’t love, whittling my wardrobe down to my most treasured pieces?  What would make the cut? 

It didn’t take long for me to round out the top three: my brown riding boots, my little black blazer, and (of course!) my aquamarine-set engagement ring.     

But I’m curious to hear from you:  Which clothing pieces would make your cut?

The Crossroads Lunch Table Debate

 

From the moment I started working at Crossroads headquarters, I realized I would always have great fashion advice at my fingertips.  How could I not be on top of the “latest and greatest” when this pile of glossy fashion mags awaits me at the lunch table each day?  It’s become a great big green magazine-exchange, with everyone donating their earmarked Harper’s & Vogues to the cause.  Note to self: Must start cookie exchange… 

And with our lunch table conveniently located next to our always-fashionable corporate buyers’ offices (some might even say that the lunch table is located in the corporate buyers’ offices), there are plenty of people talking trends and weighing in on hot topics.  

Want to join in the discussion? Tell us: Is Angelina Jolie’s style classic or just plain boring?