CrossRoads-FNKTASTIC

Over the last few years, Pakistani fashion has undergone a 360 degree transformation from the more traditional Shalwar Kameez to the more casual Street Wear and the pioneer of this changing trend is CrossRoads; the ultimate shopping place for the trend setters.

The Interior
From the outside, CrossRoads seems like the shopping place for the hip and cool and what is on the outside is just a forerunner for the things to come inside. The stainless glass doors and the orange logo of CrossRoads are what impress the customers who, in the hopes of exploring further, step into the store without a moment`s hesitation. The inside is bright and cheerful and as soon as you enter the store, you’re awestruck by a spectrum of colors that charms you to your very bones. There is a subtle division of the men and women`s section which makes it convenient for the customers to search for their desired product without compromising on the design and setting of the interior. Wooden racks and shelves are filled with accessories while the apparel is hung on rods that have been polished to the extent that they gleam. Excessive use of wood has been made as far as the furnishing of the interior is concerned which helps in creating a comfortable yet funky environment. An impressive feature of all the outlets of CrossRoads is their attention to cleanliness. You will never find a speck of dust on, behind, below or anywhere near the products. Certainly, CrossRoads get full marks as far as maintenance is concerned.

Product Range
As far as the pretty young ladies are concerned, cardigans, sweaters, uppers and ponchos are all the rage during winters and keeping in mind the demands of its customers, CrossRoads comes up with new and innovative designs for the winter wear each year. These clothes are for the modern girls who aim to defy all traditions and opt for a look that is funky yet casual. In summers, casual tunics and tops with unusual designs and colors are what CrossRoads has to offer to the ladies. You can find a pair of Khaki trousers, white cotton capris, long skirts or a pair of good old jeans to go with the tops.

Whether its funky tee-shirts, casual shirts, cargoes, or jeans, the guys will definitely find it inside CrossRoads. You might have to look a bit deeper but rest assured, what you’re looking for IS present there. In this extremely trendy shop for the young guns, you will also find some dress shirts and pants in some corner but that is only available in a small variety and frankly speaking, you`d find much better formal clothing at other stores. So you can safely skip this section of clothing at CrossRoads. The most widely sold piece of clothing at CrossRoads is its signature tee that has a shiny logo of CrossRoads Cult in the front in silver, gold and various other colors.

It is unfair to don such cool clothes and not accessories them with the ultra cool scarves, bags, slippers or caps. Beautifully knitted scarves are just what you need to accentuate your outfit and with the right shoes and the perfect bag, you`d be source of envy for every man and women that sets his/her eyes on you.

Price Range
The price of this funktastic store may seem a bit too much to some people with cardigans, uppers and sweaters priced at Rs.1300 and above. The bags, especially clutches, though extremely beautiful and delicate, are a bit over priced at Rs.1500 and above. The tee shirts however are reasonably priced at Rs.600 and above and sometimes, even lower than that.

Outlets
Crossroads has innumerable outlets all over Pakistan and an interesting fact is that majority of its outlets are right next to Outfitters; its archrival. So whether you are in Lahore, Islamabad or Karachi, you can go to your nearest CrossRoads outlet and shop till you drop!

Summary

The Good: The innovative designs and funky clothes are just what you need for that casual yet charming look.

The Bad: Some products especially accessories have unreasonably high prices, which is a huge problem for some customers who cannot afford to spend thousands just to get a clutch or a scarf.

The Bottom Line: If funk is what you’re looking for and if you’re ready to pay the price for it, then CrossRoads is the place for you.

By Mehroz Sajjad