Pretty Things

Every October, Crossroads holds a management camp in the heart of Sonoma wine country. All store managers travel in to spend three days discussing upcoming trends and outlining ways to better assist our customers. On top of that, we eat lots of fabulous food and enjoy guilty pleasures like Confessions of a Shopaholic.

So what happens when you bring together a group of fashion-savvy retail store managers? Lots of great style. I anticipate I might see some of these fashionable twists on camping wear.

Pretty Plaid Shirts

Beautiful Floral Cardigans

Eternity Scarves

Nature Inspired Jewelry

Who knew that camping could require so much shopping?

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!

Now On Consignment At Our Irving Street Store

Stop into our San Francisco store at 555 Irving Street to get your hands on these fabulous consignment pieces!

Betsey Johnson dress, 100% silk, size 6, $145 

Gucci sunglasses, $95 

Prada sunglasses, $95 

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?

Please Hammer, Don’t Hurt ‘Em

Samantha, one of our globe-trotting fashionistas here at Crossroads HQ, just got back from a trip to Italy where she reports that everyone is wearing Hammer pants (now referred to as harem pants). Sure, the 80’s are back, but are we certain about this one?  I didn’t bat an eyelash when high-waisted jeans made their way back and I even think that when used judiciously, neon can be rather elegant. But really, people. Show me how this is something I need to wear. Or, even more terrifyingly, how it’s something my boyfriend needs to wear. 

So tell me: Are Hammer pants truly headed to our shores or best left out to sea?

 

Most Fashionable Pumpkin

Leave it to our fashion-crazy store managers to give makeovers to Halloween pumpkins!  Last week, our managers and corporate team spent three days in Sonoma at our annual “camp”, where we ate too many baked goods, competed in our own Project Runway, and shared every last store tip we could think of.  One of the highlights was our “Most Fashionable Pumpkin” contest. Check out three of the entries below–So creative!

She’s Mad For Plaid

We love to see what our customers make of the fashion pieces they find in our stores.  This week, the blog, The Vintage Society, highlighted how great one of our plaid dresses could look for fall. Check it out at: www.thevintagesociety.com/2008/08/18/mad-about-plaid/

Sex and the City As Fashion Research

Watching the Sex and the City movie was a perfect opportunity for our fashion-savvy team in Santa Cruz to critique the abundance of attire that was featured.  Here is a brief compilation of findings from their “research.”

What do you think inspired Carrie’s wardrobe?  Is there a particular designer, era or trend that stood out?  Carrie’s look is all about mixing high and low to make a one-of-a-kind ensemble.  She pairs Manolo Blahnik’s with a vintage dress, or a Chanel dress with costume jewelry.  Her style is an expression of her personality; she rocks the latest trends wile remaining true to herself.

What was your favorite Samantha outfit and why? My favorite was the rhinestone cocktail dress from the very last scene because it’s oh-so-glam!  I also loved the black and white striped dress she wore upon arrival in Mexico because it looks like something I’d wear.

What colors, prints and fabrics did you see Miranda wearing? Most of her colors were brown and dark pastels, and I noticed her wearing a classic chain print.  She wore sophisticated fabrics like silk and heavy wool.

Can you see any of Charlotte’s styles in a Crossroads store? Yes, definitely!  She wore a lot of soft colors like cream, yellow and soft pink, but she also mixed in some bold polka dot and floral prints. 

And what about Mr. Big’s style? His wardrobe definitely reflects a high class lifestyle.  He wears suits that are tailored to perfection.  His style is pretty dressy, but clean cut dress shirts like his can be found at Crossroads.

Any other fashion from the film that you can find at Crossroads? Lots of gem tone dresses and tops, 80’s influenced pieces, full skirts,  oversized accessories and lots of bright colors and patterns.

Thank You

We love stumbling across Crossroads fans in the fashion blogosphere.  Thank you to tristinstyling for spreading the word about us!