Ten Days of Prizes Starts Today!

We’re giving away 25 prizes in the next 10 days to our Facebook fans:

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Personal Style

Our stores will be receiving a large shipment of coats and jackets next week.*  All by the brand Wednesday, the assortment should meet the needs of many different style types.  My favorite is the rose-colored jacket.  How about you?

All jackets and pants by Wednesday.  Jackets, $22.50; Pants, $18.50.

*Except for our outlet store in Stockton.

The Neo-Hippie

In celebration of the 40th anniversary of Woodstock, Style.com has posted a slideshow of what it calls today’s “neo-hippies.”  These people exemplify a bohemian lifestyle in many different ways:  repurposed fashion, environmental advocacy, organic production.  The photos are really lovely, and I find their styles inspiring.

It was merely a coincidence this morning that one of our buyers was preparing the jewelry pieces below for shipment to our stores.  She explained that the feather pieces are all one-of-a-kind and created by a California designer who works with recycled materials.  These pieces have the soft, natural beauty that a free spirit would truly appreciate.

All pieces by Otterbody. Necklace, $10; Earrings, $9.50

And I couldn’t help but admire these large enamel rings as well.  I think the earthy colors and tribal-like markings make them perfect adornments for a connoisseur of earthly delights.

Rings, $10.50 each

All jewelry is shipping out to our stores next week, with delivery expected for the week of August 24th.

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!

Congrats to Our July Winner!

Congratulations to Christine Matsunaga, the July winner of our Best Fashion Find contest.  Christine has just won a $50 Crossroads gift certificate!  Here are her winning photos and comments:

Winner

“My best find at Crossroads you ask? More like, ‘My best finds are always at Crossroads!’

I can’t walk into a Crossroads and NOT find something! I saw this lovely Trina Turk, black cracked leather ‘Big Cypress’ shoulder bag (originally retailed at $535) at the Wicker Park location and just had to have it. Just look at it! You know you’re jealous it was me and not you who found it! “

Honorable Mention

This month, we had to give an honorable mention to Lil Miss Hot Mess.   We loved this glamorous city shot and accompanying comments:

“I needed a dress for the opening night of Frameline33, the SF International LGBT Film Festival.   And you know, a drag queen’s got to look fierce, but since it was a nice affair I wanted to go a little extra classy.  When I saw this dress, I knew it was the one; it has this classic, vaguely Hepburn feel, and better yet, it was exactly the same color as all the festival posters.  So, I paired it with green tights and a marigold bow to get the color combo just right.  It’s an Isaac Mizrahi for Target.”

The New Plaid Shirt

I was playing Rock Band with my friends last night, and while “drumming” to Pearl Jam found myself lost in my thoughts.  You know how a certain song can take you back to an exact moment in your past?  Well, that Pearl Jam song took me right back to my first trip to Seattle, the summer after I graduated high school.  Seattle was the place to be, and I was wearing faded jeans, industrial-style boots, and (of course!) a plaid flannel shirt.

Although my heart strings are pulled by the memory of that plaid flannel shirt, I find the modern plaid shirt 100x more flattering.  Look how great Sandra Bullock makes it look on the cover of Glamour Magazine.

Photo: Glamour Magazine

Now for the lucky coincidence: the Crossroads buyers notified me this morning about the great plaid tops we recently sent out to all of our stores.* We even sent out a bracelet that’s eerily similar to the one Sandra is wearing. Count me in with this updated look!

Plaid top by Cielo, $10.50; Charm Necklace, $9.50; Adjustable Bead Bracelet, $7.50

*Plaid top not available at our outlet store in Stockton.

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!

What’s your inspiration?

Have you ever noticed that sometimes all it takes to spark the fashion imagination is a single accessory?

This week our jewelry department sent me photos of some cute new necklaces headed out to our stores.  I took one look at the double wishbone necklace and immediately knew what I’d wear it with: boyfriend jeans, white tank, gold studded gladiator sandals and my favorite blue scarf. Just the thing for a sunny afternoon in wine country or eating oysters on Tomales Bay.

Tell me: what accessories have been inspiring your style this summer?

All necklaces available in silver and gold and come with matching earrings, $9.50.

Now On Consignment At Our Irving Street Store

There are some great new pieces available on consignment at our Irving Street store in San Francisco.  Stop in today to see them for yourself!

Diane Von Furstenberg silk dress, size small, $115

Lamb heels, size 9, $150

Marc Jacobs silk dress, size 0, $145

Marc Jacobs, size 10.5, $120

Prada boots, size 36, $175

Frye leather boots, size 6, $250