Where to Shop for Senior Picture Outfits in the 417
Before you buy anything for your senior session, it helps to know where to shop for senior picture outfits around here. Your own closet, family, local shops, and secondhand sites all give you places to start. Borrowing can help you use what is already around you.
This post is about where to get the clothes. If you are still working out what the outfits should actually be, senior picture outfit ideas covers that side of it.
Here are six places to look, with time built in to try things on.
Start with your own closet
Give yourself twenty minutes with what you already own before you open a single tab.
Pull the jacket you reach for each week. Add the dress you love and the tee you keep picking on Saturdays.
Try each piece on before you make a shopping list. Check the fit, move around, and see what you want to pair with it. You may already own more of your session outfit than you thought.
While you are in there, pull shoes too. Try them on with your clothes and check that you can walk in them. If you are shooting somewhere with uneven ground, check the senior photo locations you are considering and pick accordingly.
Ask your mom or grandma
A family closet can give you a place to look for older pieces.
Go ask your mom what is in her closet. Then ask your grandma. You can ask an aunt or another family member, too.
Look for pieces you like and would enjoy wearing. Ask about the item before you borrow it, especially if it needs extra care.
What to ask about:
Denim jackets from the 80s and 90s.
Flowy dresses and skirts, any era.
Band tees and graphic tees with some history on them.
Leather jackets.
Flannels.
Boots.
Jewelry, especially jewelry with a story behind it. A locket, a ring, a necklace that belonged to someone.
If a piece has a family story, ask about it. You can share that story during your session if you want to.
You could pair one older piece with clothes you wear now.
Local boutiques in the 417
You can browse clothing shops in Bolivar and Springfield in person. Check each shop's current hours and stock before you plan the trip.
Browse in person when you can. You will pick up things you would not have thought to search for, and you can try them on that same afternoon instead of waiting on a shipping window.
It also helps to say what you are shopping for when you walk in. "I have senior photos in three weeks and I want something I would wear again" gives the person helping you a clear place to start.
Thrift and consignment
Thrift and consignment shops give you a way to look for secondhand clothes in person.
Stock changes, so leave time for more than one visit. Check local thrift shops and consignment stores. For an online purchase or local pickup, review the listing, seller, and pickup plan first.
A few things to check before you commit:
Fit through the shoulders, waist, and length. If a piece needs changes, ask a tailor about cost and timing before you buy.
Seams and hems, turned inside out.
Stains under the arms and along the hem. Check in daylight by the door, not under store light.
Check care labels, too, so you have time to clean the piece before your session.
Online secondhand
Depop, Poshmark, ThredUp, and Etsy vintage sellers are worth browsing when you have a specific look in mind and you cannot find it locally.
The catch is timing. Before you order, check the delivery estimate and return rules. Some secondhand items cannot be returned. Leave time to try the piece on, and keep another outfit ready.
Measurements beat listed sizes on secondhand. Vintage sizing runs its own way, so if a seller lists a flat-lay chest and length, compare it against something in your closet that fits.
Borrow from a friend
A friend may have a jacket, belt, or pair of shoes you would like to borrow.
Ask a few days ahead so you can try it on with the rest of the outfit rather than the morning of.
Leave time to try things on
A few weeks gives you room to browse and try things on.
Thrifting can take a few trips. Shipping and returns vary by seller. Family members may need time to find a stored piece.
About a month before your session, check what you own and list what you want to find.
Bring your finds to your planning chat
Once you have your pieces, try the full outfits on together.
We go through outfits with every senior session we book, so if you want a second opinion on what you have pulled, bring it to your planning conversation. You can ask us about the pieces you are considering.
