last minute back to school thrifting in Minden, Louisiana
We Went Back to School Thrift Shopping in Minden, Louisiana, and Here’s What Happened
If you’re doing back to school thrift shopping in Minden, Louisiana this weekend because school TECHNICALLY started today, but we’re going to pretend it really starts Monday and you have not so much as looked at a shopping list yet, I want you to know: you are not behind, you are right on time. My Senior Creator Team and I spent a full day doing exactly that, thrifting our whole back to school wardrobe instead of fighting the crowds at the Targé, and it turned into one of my favorite creative days of the year. Most of Webster Parish are already back in session today. If yours starts Monday, this weekend might be your last window, and I promise it does not have to feel rushed.
Getting Ready at The Vanity Loft
We started the day at The Vanity Loft in Springhill, where Callie Coe did our hair and makeup. I asked for something light and easy, not the full glam you’d expect for a shoot, because the whole point of the day was that our thrifted pieces could stand on their own. Callie kept everything soft: natural and fun styles for the hair, a barely-there glow on the skin, nothing that would compete with a thrifted graphic tee or a great pair of vintage jeans. That’s actually a good rule for back to school photos in general. Let the outfit be the star. Save the heavy glam for homecoming.
Where We Went: Purvey in Minden
From The Vanity Loft, we headed to Purvey, the vintage and reloved clothing shop tucked into a beautifully restored 1932 building in downtown Minden. Sara McDaniel has built something special there: racks of upscale vintage pieces, real denim, real texture, nothing that looks like it came off a fast fashion conveyor built. Each of them picked their own outfit first, then the twist: I gave them all a piece of paper with a size on it that would fit one of the other team members, sight unseen until the reveal. It turned a shopping trip into a little bit of a game, and it changed how we shopped. Instead of “what do I usually wear,” it became “what is the raddest thing I can find in this size” which is a much more fun question. If you’re doing back to school thrift shopping in Minden, Louisiana with your high schooler, that same trick works. Let them pick a piece for you, or you pick one for them. It gets everyone out of autopilot and honestly, would be the funnest girls day ever!
The Reveal at The Villas at Spanish Court
We ended the day at The Villas at Spanish Court, the restored 1930s apartments in downtown Minden that Sara also owns and runs as an AirBnB. The funky design and style of Annie gave us the perfect backdrop for the reveal: everyone finally seeing the outfit picked out for them, then some fun photo sessions around the property. Trying to transport these Gen-Alphas a few decades proved very entertaining 😆
Why Sustainable Shopping Matters for Your Family’s Back to School Season
Here’s the thing about back to school thrift shopping in Minden, Louisiana: it is not just a budget move, though it absolutely helps there too. It’s a chance to teach your senior or your younger kiddo that their style does NOT have to come from the same five stores every other classmate is shopping from. Thrifting means one-of-a-kind pieces, real quality construction you don’t always find in fast fashion, and money that stays in a small, locally-owned Minden business instead of leaving town. For the moms scrolling this at 11pm trying to figure out how you let the days creep up on you too fast: you still have this weekend, and it can still feel like an event instead of a chore.
How to Do Your Own Last-Minute Thrift Run This Weekend
If you’re heading to Purvey or another thrift shop around the Ark-La-Tex this weekend, go in with a loose plan and a flexible mind. Bring a list or two or three “need” items (jeans, a jacket, an every day tee) but leave room to be surprised. Try the buddy-pick game we played: have your senior pick something for you and you pick something for them (because Purvey also carries rad things for mom and dad, too!) Give yourself more time than you think you need, good thrift finds are worth a little digging. And if you want the day to feel like more than errands, do what we did: add a stop for hair and makeup, or just great lighting and a phone camera, and turn the last-minute scramble into a memory instead of a stress.
FAQ
Q: Where can I go back to school thrift shopping in Minden, Louisiana?
A: Purvéy, located at 726 Broadway in downtown Minden, is where we did all of our shopping. It's vintage and reloved clothing with a curated, upscale feel, not a bargain-bin free-for-all, but there’s so many other options throughout Webster Parish - check out their Facebook page for all the finds in our area https://www.facebook.com/VisitWebsterParish
Q: Is thrift shopping actually cheaper than buying new for back to school?
A: Almost always, and you tend to get better construction and more unique pieces for the price. It just takes a little more digging than a big-box store.
Q: What if I only have this weekend before school starts?
A: You have plenty of time. One focused afternoon at a shop like Purvéy can outfit an entire week of first-day-of-school looks, plus they’re open on Sundays after church!
Q: Can I book a styled shopping and photo day like this for my own family or senior?
A: Yes. I love building custom experience days like this one, whether it's a back to school shopping day, a friend group session, or a senior styled around a local small business. Reach out and we'll design one around you.
Q: Do you offer hair and makeup for sessions like this?
A: I actually include hair and makeup in my senior sessions and partner with local artists like Callie Coe at The Vanity Loft in Springhill to make sure you have the best, laid back experience so again, it doesn’t feel like a stress, but a fun memory.
Q: Where was the reveal and photo shoot filmed?
A: At The Villas at Spanish Court in downtown Minden, a beautifully restored historic property that also operates as a short-term rental Air BnB.
