BATAVIA – Fun and affordable fashion are watchwords at the newly opened Batavia boutique called Six + Cypress, which opened its doors in mid-June, also offering gift items at 239 W. Wilson St., just east of Route 31.

It's the brainchild of two savvy fashionistas whose disparate tastes help them cover a broad range of style trends.

The goal is to help women find something unique that won't break the bank and will keep them coming back to see the latest designs, co-owner Kasey Hoag said.

Six + Cypress was founded two years ago by former St. Louis, Missouri, friends Hoag and Abby Lang, who have six children between them and were neighbors on Cypress Meadows Drive, which helped them coin their business name. Hoag now lives in Mill Creek and her children attend Batavia schools.

When Hoag's husband was transferred to Illinois last year, the women saw the potential in downtown Batavia. Hoag said she couldn't resist the large windows of the former dentist's office, and their husbands teamed up to carry out the extreme makeover, transforming it into a chic space in a vintage building.

"It's an unbelievable transformation from what it was [when rooms were] all separated," Hoag said. "They took down walls, and [there's] new flooring and paint."

Hoag said they started the original business two years ago primarily as a social media company selling mostly on Facebook and Instagram. The two continue to operate the online portion of their enterprise together.

"We have over 14,000 followers on a private page, asking specific questions about how something may fit," Hoag said, noting a secret to their success is their honest advice to customers. "We're not models, but we take pictures of ourselves so you can see what it will look like on a real everyday person. That's how it all began for us."

Hoag said Lang is 6-foot-2, making it hard for her to find cute clothes that fit properly.

"I'm 5-foot-7, and we're two different body types," she said. "Everything in the store is a good mix of the two of us. … Her style and my style mix."

They hand pick everything they sell, Hoag said, noting they will be shopping together at fashion markets held in Dallas, Las Vegas and elsewhere, selecting apparel in sizes small through 3X for all body types.

"We will always carry a few pairs of shoes to pair with an outfit – not more than five different options," Hoag said, adding they try to keep them pretty versatile.

While neither woman had previous retail experience, Hoag said launching the business was something she always wanted to do.

"I don't personally love to shop for myself, [but] I love shopping for other people," she said.

To highlight the gift items they also carry, the duo came up with a dual tagline: trends for your closet and home. They carry whimsical signs created by the women behind The Honey Drip, a local company that plans to host painting parties in the new shop paired with a private shopping experience.

"I love women empowering women and supporting local [businesses]," Hoag said, noting they will be adding more wares from Batavia area producers.

One vendor featured at the shop is an earring designer local to St. Louis. Hoag said she laser hand cuts earrings from wood in incredibly light-weight designs.

"You don't even know they're in your ears," Hoag said. "We sell them for a very reasonable. price – a unique pair of earrings you can't get anywhere else."

Hoag said Six + Cypress has planned a private shopping event for Batavia Mothers' Club members, with the store giving a percentage of proceeds back to the organization.

"If somebody is looking to have a private shopping or girls night out, we'd be happy to work with them," Hoag said, adding they want to reach out in ways that help.

Among the items on display are candles, necklaces, bracelets, beach towels and notecards. Six + Cypress is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For more information, visit sixpluscypress.com or call 630-488-8270.