While operating ASH Boutique for the last seven years, owner Ashley Carson noticed a lot of young girls coming in with their moms who really wanted the more grown-up styles, but they were too young for them. When her own daughters, Lilly and Grace, became tweens, she found that she was having the same problem finding the right styles, quality and price points. So, in November of 2020, on Small Business Saturday, she opened Lilly Grace, a girls’ boutique, in Topeka.
“My daughters are the inspiration behind the store,” she says. “We’re in that tween/teen age and I wanted to provide a place where they could get high-quality clothes that weren’t going to break the bank.” The boutique carries clothing from size 3 to the more junior sizes.
Since Lilly, age 12, and Grace, age 9, have very different styles, there is an eclectic mix of clothing to be found. Some are a little dressier and fashion forward and others are sporty and casual. “For the fall, we’re seeing a huge 90s throwback, so there’s a lot of plaid skirts and flannels, crop tops, oversized jeans and sweatshirts.” Denim skirts are also back.
Lilly Grace isn’t just about clothes though. “I also wanted to provide an atmosphere for our girls,” says Ashley. “One of the things we’ve done really well at ASH Boutique is to create a community, and I really wanted to extend that community down to our younger girls.”
She does this by offering workshops and private events in the store. There have been do-it-yourself succulent parties, make-your-own pillow workshops, and tie-dye parties.
“We do things to bring girls together, and not in a way that just involves shopping,” she says. “Instead, this is a place where you can be you, celebrate you as you are."
“As we look back on our adolescence, it’s always an interesting period. I think that if we can help our young girls go through it with grace and fun, that’s what the store is here to do.” With these events, she partners with and promotes other female-owned small businesses as well, which is very important to her."
In addition to clothing and parties, Lilly Grace offers accessories and items meant to foster creativity. “Half of our store is just all fun stuff that little girls, and actually little boys, really love,” says Ashley. “Not only do I have daughters, but I also have three young sons [Matthew is 6, Noah is 4, and Jacob is 2]. When they come in they want all the markers, the art kits, the DIY kits and the stuffed animals.”
She and her staff are also proud to offer the best in personalized service. “We know a lot of our customers’ names and we want you and your girls to feel special.”
To see all that Lilly Grace offers, scroll through its Facebook page, stop into the store at 3123 SW Huntoon Street, or go to the ASH website, and click on the Girls tab.
Model's are Ashley's daughters, Lilly and Grace Carson.