Southern women are known for many notable attributes: their thick accent, tasty cooking and charming beauty. They are also known for their taste in fashion! Ladies from the South (especially within Lexington County) know how to acquire trendy pieces of clothing and accessories.

What’s their secret to a fabulous wardrobe, locals say? Boutiques!

Boutiques and other small local women’s retail stores are very popular within Southern towns big and small. Why do some Southern ladies prefer shopping at a boutique rather than a retail store? According to theboutique308.com, many women prefer a more personalized shopping experience.

“Unlike regular retail stores, boutiques can offer a more personal touch, like hosting community-building events like private shopping parties,” the website states. “For customers that prefer one-on-one assistance as they shop, a boutique gives the opportunity to interact with the owner and staff.”

Rather than getting lost in a department store, boutiques aim to offer a more intimate shopping experience. Boutique owners also say they select merchandise that is up-to-date with current and local trends. The goal is for shoppers to be more likely to find exclusive statement pieces that would make one stand out among the crowd.

According to Forbes.com, independent fashion retails are on the rise. “Independent fashion boutiques are building multimillion-dollar companies and doing it with e-commerce and fewer than three physical locations across the country,” the website states. Locally curated looks are not the only things that keeps boutique customers coming back to shop.

The heart and soul that has been poured into the store from its owners is what makes a boutique so special to its patrons. Fashion lovers and best friend duo, Angie Osteen-Shealy and Lucy Hendrix, fell in love with the boutique business model and its popularity among Southern customers. Taking their previous retail experiences, Angie and Lucy started their own boutique within the town of Batesburg-Leesville.

La Canvas opened its doors to the Lexington County community in May 2024.

“I love fashion,” Angie told the Chronicle. “We had helped a friend with her boutique for a while. Once that specific store closed, we wanted to partner together and open something of our own that was true to our friendship and fashion taste.”

Fashion, however, is not the only thing that inspired the pair to start La Canvas. Aside from being small business owners, they are also both dedicated to their families and wanted to maintain a good work-life balance.

“I love being a mom and also having the boutique,” Angie said. “I really have only worked to buy clothes anyway, so opening La Canvas was the perfect opportunity to have the best of both worlds.”

Located on West Columbia Avenue, La Canvas aims to bring a pop of fashion and flare to the community. The boutique prides itself on offering a wide variety of sizing and pricing.

“We wanted to cater to all different types of body types and different budgets,” Angie said. From curvy, slim and everything in between, La Canvas will have something special for every lady that walks through its doors. Like La Canvas, Lexington County is sprinkled with a variety of boutiques. Some popular boutiques among locals to note include Tera’s Merle Norman and Boutique, The Kindred Boutique, Nifty Gifty, Charley's Clothing, Blush Boutique, Poshture Boutique and many others.

Want to dress like the Lexington locals? Just pop into a local boutique!