Shopping in Evanston lures cherubs

By Adine Mitrani

On the display window of Crossroads at 1730 Sherman Ave. is a mannequin donning a Diane von Furstenberg dress with ruffles and flared short sleeves.

“This dress is another Furstenberg classic,” said Tate Tuckman, 18, a cherub from Manhattan Beach, Calif.

Crossroads’ mission is to offer customers “top-quality recycled” fashions for reasonable prices, according to their Web site. Furstenberg dresses usually run for more than $300. But this peachy pink dress draped in black sheer is marked for $55.

Inside the store, the racks are color coordinated. Various hues of purple tops are lined up on the right. Different styles of blue jeans are folded in the middle.

The brands range all over the designer spectrum from Old Navy to BCBG. The store sells both used and new clothes, purses, belts, jewelry and rain boots.

Lynn Zukerman, 17, a cherub from Piedmont, Calif., said Crossroads is a favorite among cherub girls because of its wide variety. She bought a pair of 7 of All Mankind jeans for $30 — a brand usually selling for $200 in department stores. 

“I never had a pair of designer jeans before,” Zukerman said. “But when I found these, I knew they were right for me.”

Crossroads is not the only store where clothes come cheaper. Active Endeavors which “offers the latest trends for ladies,” according to their Web site, has frequent sales during the summer.

Cherub Ivana Dukanovic, 17, a cherub from Los Altos, Calif., bought a pair of James jeans there, marked down 50 percent.

Urban Outfitters also has summer sales with vintage T-shirts for $10.

“Evanston is expensive enough as it is,” said Zukerman who eats in Evanston restaurants several times a week. “When it comes to shopping, I don’t want to spend as much.”   

The information packet informed students that $25 a week would be sufficient spending money for the cherubs.

“It’s more like $25 a day,” said Zukerman.

Margaret Parsons examines a pair of shoes.