Bargain shoppers of all ages make their way around the perimeter of Rodeo Thrift. At the register, an excited squeal breaks out over thrifted conquests. 

“I’m really into Y2K,” a young shopper said. The sanctioned signal for “Year 2000” fashion, Y2K is only the beginning of the vintage offering here in Roanoke. 

With over a dozen listed secondhand businesses, Roanoke is a destination for sourcing quality vintage fashion. Seasoned sellers offered their trend predictions and seasonal sourcing advice. 

“Right now we’re seeing a big interest in ‘90s and early 2000s pieces – things like oversized denim, vintage pearl snaps and fun statement jackets,” Caroline Dodson, co-owner of Rodeo Thrift (7210 Williamson Road), said in a message over social media. “At Rodeo Thrift, especially vintage cowboy attire, beaded / fringe bags have been huge hits. Shoppers love pieces that feel timeless but still make a statement.”

With the rise of resale outpacing traditional retail three-fold, brick-and-mortar stores are polishing up their vintage sourcing prowess. 

Rescue Mission of Roanoke

For about 15 years, the Rescue Mission of Roanoke has maintained a brick-and-mortar retail presence – with two locations under 2nd Helpings Thrift (1502 Williamson Road NE and 3425 Orange Ave NE). With all donated merchandise, 100-percent of purchases fuel the Mission’s services, such as crisis intervention and sheltering. 

Last year alone, the Mission’s donation and recycling center and retail stores received 27,181 separate donations, processing nearly a million pounds of clothing and other goods. 

Online has been a channel focus for the nonprofit since the pandemic, according to Lisa Thompson, director of development and communication. Aptly named “Roanoke Rescue Mission," the eBay storefront has seen 20,000 sales. 

“It'll be Barbour jackets and just different things that would maybe not sell as well inside the stores, but people who are looking for those types of items would find it online, and then we ship to them, and that's the same as our thrift stores,” she said. 

Along with Barbour, Orvis and prom are at the front of the eBay shop’s current offerings, per Thompson. 

But shoppers should not be deterred by the premium sorting method. Across the 2nd Helpings locations, this reporter has found gently-used Gucci heels, Hunter boots, a Tory Burch blouse, a vintage Lord & Taylor blazer, in recent thrifting visits. 

Roanoke Mountain Adventures

Given the region’s focus on outdoor sports, vintage adventure also awaits at Roanoke Mountain Adventures this winter.

And nearly all of the clothes and shoes are consignment, with RMA generally offering 50 to 60 percent cash value for seasonal items. 

“The stuff that was made 20-plus years ago is just so much better quality,” said Charity Hall, manager of Roanoke Mountain Adventures. “So the old Patagonia, the Low Alpine stuff, even the older Carhartt – it holds up so well. We have no problem selling that. It's cool when we get a lot of vintage ski shell jackets. The only thing I would recommend is if you're going to use it to ski, you should probably re-waterproof it.” 

On a quick tour through the jam-packed store, Hall pulled out some one-off seasonal pieces like a sleek, near-new $500 Arc’Teryx ski suit (a size XS) and a ‘80s vintage ski suit from brand Descente. As far as other vintage pieces in demand, she showcased a rolling rack of Pendleton flannels in varying conditions and colorways. 

As for the life-saving gear — bike helmets, climbing ropes and personal flotation devices — she said it’s best to skip vintage. 

“Pretty much any life-saving equipment, we cannot take and resell,” she said. “If someone brings us a helmet and it's new in the box, and it was manufactured last year, we'll consider it on consignment.” 

Fabrications are becoming a selling point. 

“We'll get a wool sweater handmade in the Scottish Highlands, and we'll take it,” said Hall. “It's not a brand that we sell, but we'll take it and it will sell right away. People are very much back into cotton, silk and wool.” 

Golden Shoestring

Premium consignment stores like Golden Shoestring (621-E Townside Road SW) are strict with intake and authentication. Items go through two rounds of inspection, with the store tapping a mobile software solution called Entrupy to authenticate designer goods.  

“We've gone more designer or luxury, because that's really what the customer wants,” owner Lee Robison said. “They want things that have been around, that are classic – and that last.”

In the shop, accessories run floor to ceiling, with circular center garment racks providing focal points for unique displays, color pops and the inevitable Chanel or Louis Vuitton logo. Even limited collaborations like the blazing orange, monogrammed boots from The North Face x Gucci drop in 2024 are on display.   

“As far as Roanoke, we want them to have their athleisure wear but rev it up a bit," Robison said. “We can take just a basic outfit and rev it up with your handbag or a wallet or sunglasses or jewelry.” 

This season, Robison called out fringe, elevated denim, pops of white and scarves. She lifted a gleaming pair of patent leather Prada loafers as a demonstration of workwear needs still persisting despite Roanoke’s athleisure bend.

Golden Shoestring’s staff checks in 500 pieces per week, not including peak season, per Robison. Meticulous staff research, impeccable condition and seasonal trends guide the store’s consignment process. Items range from $5 on the discount rack to thousands. The consignment policy card alone dictates over 70 brands in demand — everything from AG to Zimmermann — while also specifying items should, ideally, be no more than two years old. 

Flanked by a Chanel runway blouse from the brand’s 1992 fall collection identified by a photograph of Claudia Schiffer pinned to the sleeve, Robison defended her vintage choice. 

“We don't take a lot of vintage, but if a Neiman Marcus cashmere sweater comes in, I don't care how old it is, because that quality you cannot match today or five years ago,” Robison said. “So there are definitely vintage pieces we take, they just need to look current. That's what we mean when we say vintage – it just needs to be wearable now.”