Walking into Dear Society is like a breath of fresh air. An oasis in the midst of the downtown hustle and bustle, this women’s clothing store along Southwest Boulevard in Kansas City provides a sense of calm and belonging like no other.
This kind of guest experience is not only important to owner and founder Chanel Jezek, but it is central to the way she operates as the store’s creative director. While pretty things draw people in, it is the experience that keeps them satisfied.
“It's all of us creating a space that feels so welcoming and loving. I always say it's something you can feel. It's the community. It's the people. It's the energy. It's the environment. The welcoming environment is a crucial part of Dear Society,” she said.
With a name like “Chanel,” Jezek knew she was destined to work in fashion. In a career that has been full of both risk and reward, she admits that her proudest moment so far was earlier this year, when The New York Times recognized Dear Society as one of the 50 best clothing stores in America.
“I can't even handle it,” she exclaimed. “It's very cool to see how far we’ve come–from this little idea and little shop, to ten years later reaching people around the world. I love what I do.”
Drawing much inspiration from her visits to New York City, Jezek has been developing a guest-centric model for many years, adding amenities to Dear Society like a matcha bar, lounge seating, Saturday morning pilates under the skylight and a soon-to-open spa. The criteria for being nominated for this list was simple: "If you walk in, could you have an incredible experience and walk out with nothing?”
“I feel that deeply here,” she said. “I don't think you necessarily have to buy something to feel like you're a part of this, and to feel like you've got something out of it. I think that's what makes Dear Society so special.”
Receiving the validation that she is doing something right, Jezek has never been more inspired to keep going and growing, all the while, doing what she loves.
“We appreciate it so much. This is for my team of 10 years–every single person, every model and every creative that has brought us to this point,” she said. “It's so fulfilling to have a woman come in and leave feeling more confident, more beautiful, more secure in something that they're wearing, or maybe just uplifting their energy. It means I’ve done my job.”
It's cool to see how far we’ve come–from this little idea to ten years later reaching people around the world.