Where Western Flair Meets Everyday Style | Opal Out West

For Lakyn Roehrich, the idea of opening a boutique started with a trailer.

She had no business plan, no years of experience in retail and no lifelong dream of owning a clothing store. She just happened to see a boutique trailer for sale.

“I have one of those personalities that, once you really set your mind to it and you lock in, you’re like, ‘I’m just going to get it done,’” Lakyn said.

Coming from a restaurant background, she initially saw the trailer as a way to get a small business up and running quickly. The sale included the trailer, social media accounts and existing inventory, which got her wheels turning about what might be possible.

As she considered the shopping options available in Topeka, she saw an opportunity for something a little different: a boutique with Western roots that wasn’t exclusively Western.

Opal Out West opened in June in the Seabrook Shopping Center, just a few months after the idea first entered Lakyn’s mind.

FROM THE RODEO TO THE OFFICE

Today, the boutique offers what Lakyn calls “elevated basics with a Western flair,” which she views as clothing that can work for a woman who loves boots and rodeo just as easily as it can for someone who simply wants a great pair of jeans or a versatile top.

“I don’t really like to shop at Western boutiques because they’re too niche-y for me,” Lakyn said.

Rather than filling the racks exclusively with overtly Western pieces, Lakyn looks for clothing that can move between styles and occasions.

A pair of jeans might be worn with boots and a Western top for a concert or rodeo, then paired with kitten heels or a more delicate top for an entirely different look. A sweater can work with slacks in the office or be styled with jeans and Western jewelry for a night out.

“That’s my goal when I go for the elevated basics,” she said. “When you put on some turquoise and boots, it would look one way, but it would also pair really well with slacks and a dainty necklace.”

That versatility is intentional. Lakyn pictures her ideal customer less by age than by lifestyle: a busy woman who wants to look put together without spending hours figuring out what to wear.

Maybe she’s a young professional. Maybe she’s a busy mom running errands. Maybe she wants to elevate her everyday T-shirt-and-leggings routine. Maybe she needs something that works for the office but can also transition into the evening.

For Lakyn, looking good on the rack matters less than whether a customer will actually wear it.

The same philosophy extends to jeans, one of Lakyn’s favorite wardrobe staples.

After hearing from customers who struggled to find boutique jeans with the right fit, quality or inseam length, she began looking for another option. That led to the addition of Ariat jeans, an international brand she hopes will appeal not only to Western customers but also to Topekans who have never considered themselves part of the Western fashion world.

“You might have never heard of Ariat before, but once you put them on, you will realize that they feel good and they look good,” she said. “You just haven’t been exposed to that brand yet.”

That idea of exposure is an important part of Lakyn’s approach.

A GOOD FIT

A customer doesn’t have to walk through the door already knowing her personal style. In fact, Lakyn would rather help customers discover it.

Her first question when someone tries something on is, “How does it make you feel?”

“Certain things bother people differently, the way things fit and feel,” she said. “I really encourage people to try something on because I want you to be happy with it.”

That approach makes a visit feel more like a conversation than a sales transaction.

She is also willing to be honest. If a customer has reservations about something, Lakyn won’t simply tell her she looks great to make a sale. Instead, she’ll ask what isn’t working and help find something that addresses the concern.

“If you ask for my genuine opinion, I’ll give it to you,” she said. “If you have a hesitation, I’m not going to lie to you.”

That personal connection is one reason Lakyn wanted a storefront in the first place.

She initially envisioned Opal Out West as an online and pop-up business. But after a Canva class at another local boutique, Curly Top Customs, connected her with other local entrepreneurs, the possibility of a physical location became real.

The storefront gives her something an online-only business can’t: the opportunity to meet customers face-to-face.

While Opal Out West has an online shop, Lakyn says most of her business still happens in person. She likes the interaction, the chance to help someone find the right piece and the relationships that develop when customers return.

She’s had customers come back for each new clothing drop. One woman regularly visits about a week after a new collection arrives and is glad the boutique is open on weekends. Another customer first visited because her daughter needed outfits for senior pictures. After searching elsewhere without success, she and her daughter found several pieces at Opal Out West.

Those moments matter to Lakyn.

“They found something,” she said. “It made me feel good because I was like, ‘OK, people like it. Thank God.’”

ROOTED IN TOPEKA

Lakyn is quick to point out that Topeka has been welcoming to her as a new business owner. She credits other local entrepreneurs and organizations with offering advice, encouragement and connections as she learned how to navigate business ownership.

She has also taken Opal Out West beyond the storefront, participating in pop-up markets, the Topeka Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) Rodeo and other community events.

Her own connection to the Western and agricultural community runs deep. Lakyn serves on the Topeka PRCA Rodeo Board and Douglas County Trail Riders Board, is a captain for a drill team and enjoys riding horses.

But she also considers herself a blend of worlds.

She grew up in the city, works a nonagricultural full-time job and enjoys the convenience of living near coffee shops and other amenities. At the same time, horses, rodeo and the Western lifestyle are an important part of her identity.

That perspective, she says, is reflected in Opal Out West itself.

“It’s Western without requiring customers to be Western,” Lakyn said. “And it’s fashionable without asking customers to chase every trend.”