For many women, shopping isn't always fun. Finding clothes that fit well, feel flattering, and reflect your personal style can quickly become frustrating, especially when you walk into a boutique and feel like you don't belong before you've even looked at the first rack.
That's exactly the experience Kayla Barlow set out to change.
When Barlow launched Kae & Co. in 2019, she wasn't chasing a lifelong dream of owning a boutique. At the time, she was working as a respiratory therapist at Children's Hospital and fully expected healthcare to be her lifelong career. But becoming a mother changed more than her schedule; it changed her perspective. She wanted more time with her family, but she also wanted to build something meaningful. After a disappointing shopping experience where she struggled to find clothing that fit, she realized she wasn't alone. Many women had experienced the same frustration.
That moment became the foundation for what Kae & Co. is today: a boutique where women of every age, every size, and every stage of life feel welcomed the moment they walk through the door.
"We are very welcoming," Barlow says. "Stores can be scary to walk into, and this is supposed to be a place of comfort where a customer can take time and unwind."
Step inside Kae & Co., and it's easy to see that philosophy in action. Thoughtfully curated displays, friendly conversations, and styles designed for real women create an atmosphere that feels approachable rather than intimidating. It's a place where customers are encouraged to browse at their own pace, ask questions, and leave feeling better than when they arrived.
What began as an online side business with a booth inside Antique Treasures Flea Market has grown into two thriving storefronts serving women throughout the Parkland area. Kae & Co. opened its first brick-and-mortar location in Desloge in April 2020 before expanding into downtown Farmington in March 2026.
Growth, however, has never changed the boutique's purpose.
"I tell my employees when I hire them, we have three goals," Barlow says. "We want someone to come in and feel welcomed, whatever age or size they are. I want them to be able to find something. We want to be size inclusive. I also want women to just be able to walk in the doors and just forget."
Those goals influence every decision made inside the boutique. From thoughtfully selected inventory to approachable pricing, Barlow believes every woman deserves access to stylish clothing without feeling pressured to spend beyond her budget.
"We are breaking the stigma that you need to spend an arm and a leg when you go into a boutique."
Rather than focusing on a single trend or aesthetic, Kae & Co. embraces variety. Whether someone is shopping for a job interview, a weekend getaway, a special event, or simply refreshing her everyday wardrobe, Barlow wants every customer to find something that fits both her lifestyle and her personality.
Keeping the boutique fresh means staying connected to what women are actually wearing. Barlow follows emerging fashion trends through social media, online retailers, and conversations with her customers, always asking herself one simple question: Would my customers love this?
"I just try and put myself in my customers' position and think about what they are looking at, and it kind of just blossoms from there."
While carefully selected clothing fills the racks, Barlow says the boutique's greatest success has been built by the people around her. She credits her family, her husband, her manager Kirsten, and the loyal customers who have supported Kae & Co. since its earliest days. Many of those customers have become friends, returning season after season and bringing daughters, sisters, and friends along with them.
What started as a side project has become something far greater than she ever imagined.
"I didn't really have a good vision," Barlow says, "but it has surpassed everything that I have dreamed of."
Today, Kae & Co. continues to grow through its website, mobile app, and TikTok Shop, but Barlow's mission hasn't changed. She still wants every woman who walks through the door to feel seen, find something she loves, and leave with a little more confidence than when she arrived.
Because the best style isn't about chasing trends or filling your closet. It's about finding pieces that help you feel comfortable, confident, and completely yourself.
“I really did it for my kids; I couldn't have dreamed of the support system from the community.”