How the reuniting of two best friends brought the Lake area a cute new boutique
Many of us wish we could make a living while hanging out with our best friend. For Ally and Nicole, they made that dream a reality when they opened Urban Sunflower Boutique.
It all started when Ally moved to the Lake. Nicole, who grew up at the Lake, was attending Camdenton Elementary where the two met in second grade. The two were immediately drawn to one another.
As life went on, Ally moved towns, states and even ended up in Canada for a while — but the duo’s friendship remained solid.
Eventually, Ally moved back to the Lake where the two graduated high school together.
“In our early 20s, we decided to do something wild and a little dramatic: sold everything we had, crammed our lives into two tiny cars and drove to Houston, Texas, with no plans,” Ally said.
Nicole ended up planting roots in Texas, meeting her husband there, and Ally hit the road again — this time to upstate New York.
But as fate would have it, the Lake called them both back home a couple years later, at the same time, in what Ally says felt like “the universe staging a rom-com reunion.”
“We were older, probably wiser, definitely more tired and ready to do something big together,” Ally said.
The idea for Urban Sunflower Boutique began when the two moved back to the Lake and struggled to find clothes that fit their vibrant personalities.
“We could not find them anywhere nearby so we were like, okay, if we can’t find it, let’s provide it ourselves and to girls around here just like us,” Ally said.
After years of travel and exploration, Ally and Nicole mixed their city era with their Lake roots to bring Urban Sunflower Boutique to life in July 2022. The boutique offers clothing racks full of fun colors and designs.
“We’re not trying to be your average boutique and we think people can see and feel that,” Nicole said. “We’re just two best friends infusing our weird little souls into everything we do. We love color, a cheeky graphic tee and pieces that make you feel like the best version of yourself… Think of it like your coolest friend’s closet, the one who always hypes you up, lends you her best outfit and says ‘yes’ to every plan. We want it to feel fun and totally approachable, like you can stroll in wearing sweats and still leave feeling like that girl. Our vibe is for the ones who love to stand out but still want to keep it comfy and real. You don’t have to change who you are… just maybe discover a bolder side of your style.”
The unique vibe the two created has been a reward-winning success. Urban Sunflower has won Best Place for Women’s Fashion two years in a row in the Missouri’s Best contest and was voted runner-up for Best Boutique in Lake Lifestyles’ Best of the Lake contest.
The two said they are still shocked by the amount of love and support they’ve received.
When asked what their favorite part of owning and operating Urban Sunflower Boutique was, there wasn’t much that didn’t bring them joy.
“Honestly? It’s the people. We love getting to connect with everyone… like really connect with the girls who come in. Watching someone walk out with something that makes them feel amazing gets us every time. Also, we get to express ourselves creatively every day together. Whether it's designing tees that make you laugh, making our popular jelly candles that look like cocktails or just chatting with whoever wandered in, it feels like home — a chaotic, sparkly home. And we hope to be able to do it for many more years because we feel like we're just getting started,” Nicole said.
As summer rolls in and the tourist season kicks off, the duo hopes to continue meeting new people, making connections and offering a fun wardrobe.
“We just want to say a giant, heartfelt thank you,” Ally said. “Every like, share, comment and purchase — it matters. You’re helping two best friends chase something they built from nothing — no loans, no family handouts, no grants — just two lifelong BFFs with a vision, a lot of hustle and a dream. We see you. We love you. We literally couldn’t do this without you, and come check us out if you haven't yet!”
To keep up on Urban Sunflower Boutique’s latest deals and events, make sure to follow the boutique on Instagram, Facebook or TikTok.
