Countdown of Lori's Favorite Outfits of the Class of 2023

What outfits stood out to me for the Class of 2023? I did a fun countdown again this year, and gifted the winner a photoshoot. I hope this gives my 2024s some inspiration.

Honorable Mention - Ladies in Red!

Many of my girls wore it and every time, I am so in love with the images. Here is Avery of DeSoto High School, Laney of Mill Valley, and Randa of Shawnee Mission West, showing off the red dresses.

Honorable Mention - Hot Pink

I call this the Color of the Year because so many chose to wear this color in clothing and accessories, and I really hope the trend continues. This color is everything! It is worn here by Sidney, Lucy, Olivia, Dylan, Taylor and Gracie; all of Mill Valley High School.

Honorable Mention - Vibrant Violet

Wow, does this color pop in senior portraits. Do you see a trend? Colorful clothing is an excellent choice for your senior portrait wardrobe. Showing it off is Torri of Mill Valley, Katie Olathe North and Alexis of Saint Thomas Aquinas.

#15 - Gracie in black "leather" pants and white corset top

Photographed in the mid-day sun at a Kansas City parking garage, Gracie’s leather pants, white corset top and strappy heals looked sophisticated, yet also a bit edgy. The combo paired perfectly with Gracie’s dark hair and stays true to her personal style. This is a great example of what senior portrait wardrobe choices should be - take your own style and move it up a level - or five!

#14 - Paige's White pants and green bandeau top

Paige’s wide leg white pants and botanical, green top take #14 in my Lori’s Favorite Outfit countdown. Why I love it? It matches the season of her photoshoot, which I think is super important. The fashionable cut of the pants takes this up a notch; and can we please talk about fit? Everyone! Please pay attention to fit. This is extremely important and really affects the final product of your portraits so much. Too tight, too loose, too long, too short, not well matched to your body’s contours, gapping, pulling, cutting in - that all can just wreck things. Fit is just as important as color and style. And this combo fit Paige (of Staley High School) to perfection.

#13 - Brooke's cyan 2-piece dress

Next is Brooke of Blue Springs South High School in her cyan two-piece. These two-piece dresses are a very current style and look so young and cute on you girls; and I love how this cyan version pairs so well with the sunshiney summer day and Brooke’s blonde, beachy waves. Can you tell that I really, really love when you all go with vivid color?

#12 - Emery's red satin

I think specialty fabrics like satin and velvet are so beautiful in portraits, but I don’t see them nearly as much as I would like to. Emery, of Gardner Edgerton, chose red satin for one of her senior outfits and wow wow wow - unforgettable! ♥️ My senior portrait wardrobe advice? Find your style and elevate it to a higher level, and specialty fabrics can help you do that.

#11 - Hayden's denim jumpsuit and hat

Hayden dressed from head to toe, adding a hat and wood soled shoes to set off her blue denim jumpsuit. The very best senior portrait outfits include well thought out accessories, as you can really see in these portraits of gorgeous Hayden, of Mill Valley.

#10 - Taylor's straw hat

Hats are the perfect senior portrait wardrobe accessory. You can take it on and off as you like, as Taylor of Mill Valley did, in the park portion of her senior photoshoot. Accessories are so important and can raise any look to a new level. I love that Taylor wore it briefly with three different outfits. It's the perfect prop and frame for our face.

#9 - Sophie's black jumpsuit and red lipstick

Sophie, Mill Valley High School, looked outstanding in this black cut-out jumpsuit worn at an amazing city location. She accessorized this to perfection. I love that Sophie wasn't afraid of lipstick! I know you girls love natural lips, but a sophisticated outfit demands a sophisticated lipstick. This look would not be the same without it.

#8 - Arissa's green shorts and black top

Arissa in her green tailored shorts, short black top, and strappy heals came in at #8. It is a really well put together outfit, and so striking in portraits. Arissa, Shawnee Mission West, wore so many wonderful outfits for her split Platinum shoot (morning in the city and evening in the park) and what I really loved is that this redhead knows exactly what colors to wear to match her hair and skin tone.

#7 - Sidney in fuchsia

I call Sidney of Mill Valley my fuchsia queen, because she wore many hot pink outfits and accessories, and I loved every single bit of it. I especially this long, white skirt and short, strappy top next to the silver trains. I also loved her your bouncy curls, and matching lips. She is another senior who senior who put a lot of thought into her senior portrait wardrobe.

#6 - Amaiya's black dress

Senior portraits are your time to shine! And boy did Amaiya (Mill Valley) shine. This modern, two-piece dress with mixed fabrics complimented her skin tone, hair, and the location (Nelson Atkins) just perfectly. All of Amaiya’s outfits were so well thought out, fit her perfectly, and were so varied, from sophisticated to casual; and colors from black to brown to green to gold, and more. All were just right 🖤

#5 - Gracie's peachy pink dress

Breaking the top 5 is this lovely peachy-pink dress worn by Gracie during her June portrait session. The cut of this dress takes it up a level - the ruffles, the sleeves, the waist seams, the high high slit that shows off her soccer legs. The color! The fabric texture. Wow. Everything is perfection, including Gracie. This is how you dress for senior portraits! I have been obsessed with this combo since I photographed Gracie as one of my very first 2023s back in June.

#4 - Katie's icy pink suit

This pink suit with Katie’s icy hair, tan, and megawatt smile was everything! I love when you girls dress UP for your portraits, and Katie really did. I was so happy when I saw her walk up wearing this and looking like a million dollars.

#3 - Caroline's dress with collar and bow

Caroline’s school girl dress, chunky Mary Janes, and ankle socks come in at #3! No one else wore anything even remotely like this, which is so appropriate for a creative, unique girl. This is what I am talking about! Senior portraits are your time to bring out your inner fashionista and have fun and do something truly memorable. Caroline, of Notre Dame de Sion, could have had several of her outfits place in my countdown. Don't be afraid of fashion!

#2 - Shayla's bohemian lace dress

Shayla takes the #2 spot in my countdown in this outstanding bohemian lace dress and brown suede hat. I love boho dresses and they photograph so beautifully on the prairie. I had waited all year for someone to wear a dress like this, and when I saw Shayla, deep into my senior season, in this dress, looking this perfectly beautiful, I actually got tears in my eyes! For taking second place, Shayla, of Mill Valley, won a styled shoot with me - I dressed her and a 70s roller skate girl. I will share those in a different blog post.

#1 - Bridget's chiffon babydoll dress

Blue chiffon babydoll dress for the win! Bridget, of Saint James Academy), did a beautiful job choosing her senior portrait wardrobe, and this dress in this location made an unforgettable combination. She looks like a princess! Senior portraits are your time to shine and shine Bridget did. I gifted Bridget a photoshoot for winning my countdown, and I will be putting those in a blog post of their own.

I hope this gave you all some ideas for your senior portrait wardrobe. I can't wait for my 2024 countdown!

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