‘Make them feel amazing’: New Johnson County boutique caters to all shapes and sizes
.jpg "Tonya Winston, owner of B. Royal Boutique, started her business after noticing it was difficult to find plus-size clothing.")
When Tonya Winston was living in Chicago, she and her friends would go shopping at the posh boutiques on the city’s north side. She loved it. But something bothered her.
Her friends could find no plus-size clothes in the area’s hottest shops.
That’s when her dream began.
“I wanted a store where everybody felt like they could find something that would make them feel amazing,” she said.
B. Royal Boutique, now open at Oak Park Mall, is Winston’s vision come to life.
The size-inclusive boutique with bright clothes and patterns is meant to make shoppers feel like queens.
“We want you to feel amazing,” Winston said. “We are all about empowering women.”
The store features statement accessories and dressy work wear for women sizes XS to 3X. Colorful rompers and vacation-style dresses have hit the store just in time for summer.
Most of B. Royal’s jewelry is also curated from women-owned brands, another way Winston’s store aims to uplift.
Before opening the store, Winston sold clothes online, at pop-ups and community markets. In November, she opened a storefront in Manhattan, Kansas.
Then on March 11, the doors to her Overland Park brick and mortar finally opened. Winston said the store’s first weeks have been a whirlwind, but the community’s interest has been encouraging.
After moving to the Kansas City area in August, Winston jokes that the customer base is different than in Chicago, or her more recent home of Boston. She now carries a few pairs of cowboy boots.
“I’m hoping Kansas likes our style and vibe,” she said. “It’s different from the stores next door, but it seems to be well-received.”
Winston hopes to open several more boutiques, but for now she’s enjoying getting to know her Overland Park customers and providing one-on-one style assistance. She aims to see their faces light up when they find something that fits — and feels — just right.
“You see people come alive because they feel royal in our garments,” she said. “That’s the goal.”
B. Royal is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays, and noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays. It’s closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
The store, which continues to ship worldwide, is on Oak Park Mall’s second floor, across from Sephora.
This story was originally published May 10, 2023 at 11:16 AM.