What’s hot at Long Island thrift stores: Affordable style, decor

With fall weather settling in, Long Islanders are turning to thrift and vintage shops for seasonal staples.

Shoppers are browsing secondhand racks for sweaters, boots and home accessories that often cost less than buying new. At some stores, sales also help fund local nonprofits.

Here’s what’s catching shoppers’ eyes this season:

FourLeaf Thrift Store

1146 Sunrise Hwy., Copiague; 634 Wellwood Ave., Lindenhurst

WHAT’S HOT: Holiday decor 

Fall and winter are busy seasons at FourLeaf Thrift, where shoppers are picking up festive decor and cold-weather staples. Co-owner Jayme White says demand this time of year ranges from inflatables and scarecrows to sweaters, boots and other cozy essentials.

“There’s no reason to go anywhere else,” White says. “I’m really all about reusing, and we have so many quality items you can get for fall.”

White and her husband,  Lenny LaPolla , opened their first location in Copiague two years ago. Their Lindenhurst shop, now celebrating its first anniversary, has quickly built a loyal following. Both stores stock an eclectic mix of goods: electronics, furniture, clothing and seasonal items, making them popular destinations for bargain hunters and browsers alike.

“We’re kind of a newer thrift, but we’ve definitely made a good footprint here already,” White says. “We love our customer base, and basically we sell a little bit of everything.”

For White, thrifting is about more than affordability. She sees it as a way to give new life to quality items while keeping them out of landfills.

“Instead of going to a big box store where everybody’s getting the same decorations or clothing, at least you go to a thrift store and you could get something vintage, from the ’70s, ’80s, ’90s, even Y2K,” she says.

One of her favorite recent finds was a set of hand-painted mice dressed as scarecrows that sold for $1.50 each. “You’re not going to find that at Target,” she says.

MORE INFO Lindenhurst: 631-450-2120; Copiague: 631-810-1177; fourleafthriftstore.com

Junior League of Long Island Thrift Shop

1395 Old Northern Blvd., Roslyn

WHAT’S HOT: Vintage ’90s, early 2000s clothing

At the Junior League of Long Island Thrift Shop, fall shoppers are gravitating toward vintage pieces that bring back the look of the Gen-X era.

“People are looking for mostly vintage: ’90s, early 2000s is really in right now,” manager Samantha Curtis says. “So you got a lot of tweed, wool sweaters, a lot of cardigans and jewelry.”

Curtis believes the trend reflects fashion’s cycles.

“One man’s trash is another man’s treasure,” she says. “History has a way of repeating itself, and so does fashion. A while ago it was the ’80s, now it’s the ’90s and 2000s. People think certain periods are more iconic, and they can find those pieces at a thrift store in a way they can’t at a retail store where everything is brand new.”

The shop also operates with a community mission. All merchandise is donated, and every sale supports charitable programs.

MORE INFO 516-621-4890, longisland.jl.org

RFI Charity Gift Shoppe

983 Lewiston St., Franklin Square

WHAT’S HOT: Collectibles and sports memorabilia

For Gina and Vincent Centauro, RFI Charity Gift Shoppe in Franklin Square is an extension of their nonprofit, Rescuing Families Inc., which renovates homes for families with disabilities.

“Our mission is to keep families out of nursing homes and be able to live in their home comfortably with the necessary renovations they require — like a handicapped bathroom, handicapped kitchen, ramp and a deck,” Vincent says.

The store is volunteer-run with all merchandise donated. “All of the proceeds from our shop go directly toward helping the families and the renovations that we’re doing,” Gina says. “It goes for building supplies, specialty trades, things like that. So our shop is 100% volunteer based. Nobody gets a salary.”

In the fall, shoppers are drawn to vintage holiday décor and seasonal clothing, along with sports collectibles.

“We sell a lot of holiday stuff,” Gina says. “Especially because the season is changing, we’ve been selling a lot of clothing and a lot of jewelry, and then … a lot of sports memorabilia. With baseball season winding down and football and hockey being very active now, those are the main things we see selling in this time of year.”

The shop’s donated inventory means prices are lower than at most thrift stores, while the curated selection keeps people coming back. Vincent noted that items range anywhere from the 1800s to the present day, such as vintage clothing, jewelry, albums, comic books, Disney collectibles, tools, even sewing patterns.

“Some of this stuff is just so incredibly unique, and it’s really nice to be able to cherish items that belonged to other generations while keeping them out of landfills,” he says.

MORE INFO 516-697-9403, rescuingfamilies.org

The Retreat Boutique

2102 Montauk Hwy., Bridgehampton

WHAT’S HOT: Outerwear 

Shoppers at The Retreat Boutique in Bridgehampton are leaning toward deep autumn tones like burgundy, green and brown, with cashmere emerging as a bestseller. Director of development and marketing Elise Trucks says the biggest draw this season has been outerwear.

“We’re seeing a lot of trench coats flying off the racks,” she says.

The store serves as a funding stream for The Retreat, a nonprofit that provides shelter, counseling, legal advocacy and prevention services for survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking. Donations from the Hamptons community keep the shop’s inventory varied, ranging from everyday clothing and accessories to the occasional designer label.

“People like that they can come in and find Balenciaga, find really cool stuff that you can’t even tell is used, and they know that it’s going to support the organization,” Trucks says.

While sales have been strong, Trucks stressed that the store’s role in supporting The Retreat is especially crucial during the government shutdown, which has delayed reimbursements for already allocated expenses.

“Any ways to support The Retreat are super-needed and appreciated,” she says. “Shopping at the boutique is one fashionable way to do that.”

MORE INFO 631-537-3845, allagainstabuse.org