‘Tis the season of back-to-school shopping, so I can only imagine that you and your teen have been wracking your brains for what to buy for senior year outfits—for the classroom and senior portraits.
Sound like you? I thought as much!
Whether you’re gearing up for the first month of school or a high school senior photoshoot, you want to feel confident and comfortable. And you’ve heard me say it before, and I’ll say it again, you want to make sure your outfit reflects who you are and your unique personal style.
Here at Stacy Kennedy Photography, we aren’t about pretending to be something we aren’t or just doing what everyone else does. Where’s the fun in that!?
Wait, have we met before?
Let me introduce myself. I’m Stacy, a high school senior portrait photographer in Fargo, North Dakota, and Moorhead, Minnesota! My job is to capture your natural beauty and unique personality. My process is always to make you feel as confident and comfortable as possible in front of my camera.
If you haven’t booked your senior photo session yet, this might be the perfect time to do so! You can book your senior session with me now while it’s on your mind.
Okay, back to what we were talking about: shopping for high school senior year outfits in Fargo, North Dakota. This blog will walk you through the importance of emphasizing your unique style, feeling comfortable, and, of course, my suggestions for stores to shop at in Fargo, ND and Moorhead, MN, for high school senior girls.
Alright, now let’s get into it!
How to Shop for Senior Year Outfits
Before you run, you have to learn how to walk.
What I mean by that is you should get a game plan together before hitting the mall.
But shopping can also be considered cardio, at least for me, so there you go!
When trying on outfits in stores or at home in front of the mirror in your room, ask yourself these questions. They’ll help you get a better sense of how you’re feeling before you buy an item or walk out the door!
Does it align with your unique style and personality?
Part of how we dress and what we choose to wear changes with trends. It’s human nature and honestly unavoidable! But at the end of the day, you want to look like you and not someone else. Make sure there are elements of your style that are always present—like wearing your favorite necklace or the dress you continue to wear year after year.
Want to make sure you reflect your unique style and personality? Get some inspo for high school senior picture ideas from my past clients.
Do you feel comfortable wearing it?
We want you to always feel like YOU! When you’re putting your outfits together, use that as a metric to check yourself. It’ll help you assess your feelings before heading out the door in the morning. And it’ll let you know what to bring to your senior photoshoot and what to leave at home.
My number one tip for looking good in your senior portraits? Feeling good (and comfortable)! Here are my tips to boost your confidence.
Have you picked any accessories?
Accessories either enhance an outfit, steal the show as the main focus, or blend right in naturally. If you wear minimal jewelry and accessories daily, consider wearing the items you constantly reach for at your high school senior portrait session! Feel free to bring your accessories collection to our shoot, and I’ll help you pick the best pairings.
Have you considered the location of your photoshoot?
The stores in your area will reflect the season you’re in for everyday looks. So, this question is more about senior portrait outfits. You should consider where your pictures are taken to be comfortable and look natural with your surroundings.
If you haven’t been able to pick your senior portrait location yet, here are my top 5 fave spots in Fargo.
Have you made a vision board?
Vision boarding is my number one hot tip before shopping for high school senior year outfits for the classroom and senior pictures. Planning ahead sets you up for success—whether you’re about to go shopping in an overwhelming and crowded mall or prepping for your senior portrait session.
Don’t know where to start? I’ve got some tips and tricks to organize your senior picture board ideas.
Senior Year Outfit Dos for Portraits:
- Have fun and try out your personal style and outfit ideas at school!
- Keep it simple with solid, neutral, and dark colors
- Wear items that fit and flatter your shape
- Don’t be afraid to mix and match from different stores and price points
- Natural makeup to compliment your features
- Hair should frame your face
- Organize your outfit color palette to match the environment you’re in and the vibes you’re going for
- Bring options to change things up
- Be YOU!
If you tick off most items on this list, you should be more than set up for success!
Where to Shop for Senior Year Outfits and Senior Portraits
Now that we’ve run through some key questions to ask yourself and takeaways to stick with, let’s get into the stores to go to! Being in the senior portrait biz for a while has given me LOTS of insight into the best stores to grab senior year outfits—for school days and your senior portraits.
Here are the stores in Fargo, North Dakota and Moorhead, Minnesota, that my past and present clients can’t stop talking about!
Kindred People
Kindred People is a women-owned and mother-daughter-owned apparel shop founded in 2015. It features high-quality denim, small-batch jewelry, custom scent design, handbags, shoes, and trendy lifestyle items—selected by hand in markets across the country or crafted by creatives.
leela & lavender
Started in 2017 by driven entrepreneurs and loving moms Jill and Laura. leela & lavender is a one-stop-shop women’s clothing boutique that offers denim, dresses, tanks, tees, and more.
kittsona
kittsona is a specialty retail brand inspired by a modern lifestyle; encouraged by empowerment, a sense of purpose, and a community culture. Think dresses, jumpsuits, cute matching sets, and more.
Proper
Founded in 2010 and is owned by sisters Teresa and Ashlie O’Day. Proper is a clothing and accessories boutique focused on modern, unique, and feminine pieces at accessible prices.
Dry Goods
It began as an old-fashioned dry goods store. Now, Dry Goods has an ever-changing selection of today’s newest fashions—from clothing to jewelry to accessories.
Ragstock
Since 1954, Ragstock has been one of America’s longest-running vintage and recycled clothing retailers.
francesca’s
Known for offering carefully curated fashion, accessories, jewelry, and lifestyle products that celebrate individuality. francesca’s mission is to deliver unique, free-spirited fashion and lifestyle products and create a space to amplify the voices of everyone seeking self-expression.
American Eagle
Well known for its variety of denim, American Eagle also sells trendy casualwear, shoes, accessories, and loungewear.
Senior Year Outfits For Your Senior Portraits
I hope you feel more confident about how to plan out and where to shop for your senior year outfits! Like I always say, the best tip to follow is to always feel like you, specifically your most confident and true self.
If this blog has inspired you to book your senior portrait session, that’s incredible! I’d be honored to be your photographer and to capture some memorable moments with you. If you’re in Fargo, ND, or Moorhead, MN, let’s book a time to talk about making your dream senior session come to life!
If you’re curious about my past work, check out my portfolio for girls and guys and my Instagram. If you haven’t already done so, I’d love it if you could give me a follow while you’re there!
