We had the good fortune of connecting with Kelsey Fraley and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kelsey, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Our thought process starts like most people with an awesome idea. Think big, think outside the box, and actually be just crazy enough to follow through with it!

Our story begins with three sisters, who love to give each other fun fashion jewelry at Christmas each year. A great tradition they have done for a long time. Hannah, an actual Fine Jeweler by trade, found herself never having time to shop. Especially because of the demands around Christmas time. So, she relied on purchasing her sister’s gifts online. The problem was, the jewelry she received never looked like the picture and the quality was always poor.

That’s when, Christmas 2014, the idea was born. Find a solution for women who love fashion jewelry, don’t have time to shop, don’t have time to style their constantly changing wardrobes, and need something delivered to them so they can touch and feel the product before buying.

At the time, this innovative idea was unique because there weren’t many companies who actually brought the store to the client, especially with a personalized stylist. We first began as a niche company with small ideas, but we quickly realized that small wouldn’t cut it. We challenged and changed our strategy to give our clients a better everything. We evolved into a beautifully stylized business that is focused on elevating our clients fashion jewelry experience!

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
We are proud to be a female founded business started by myself and Hannah Brown. At Layerist we always try to give the customer an experience that feels like it’s Christmas morning every time they receive a box. We have professional stylists to help women look and feel beautiful, giving them the confidence that they deserve. As proud women, it’s good to be strong, confident, and always feel beautiful inside and out! We too are very proud of getting recognized as one of the best jewelry subscription services for 2021 by Byrdie.com! 

With Layerist, women can complete their layers in a couple of different ways! Through our Signature Box or our featured box: 

– Signature Subscription Box – It has the convenience of online shopping but the confidence of seeing the jewelry in person, all while being styled by a pro! – Featured Box – We have beautifully curated box options that fit all needs. We have a Layerist Essentials Box where you’ll find great basics to add to your collection or help get you started. We also have rotating collaborations with your favorite Instagram Influencers! 

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Having moved from Austin and only been in Dallas for almost 12 years, I can say I absolutely love it here! I love the big city feel and the people are great. When people visit, I always give the following recommendations:

Food:
– Terilli’s – love the atmosphere and great food
– Old Monk – cozy atmosphere for a pint
– Henk’s European Deli & Bakery – best spot for German/Dutch food
– Fearing’s – favorite splurge dinner
– Rustic – great outdoor patio to hang all day and listen to live music

Visit:
– Arboretum – beautiful and fun for a picnic
– Nasher Sculpture Center
– Day trip to Ft. Worth for the stockyards and art museums – and Joe. T’s for Mexican food
– Thanksgiving Square Chapel – unique and beautiful to see!

Hang Out:
– Adair’s in Deep Ellum – always a good time with live music!
– Bishop Arts – love walking around to the shops and popping in and out for food and bites at the different restaurants
– Dragon Street art studios

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Our friends, family, and our original customers deserve a huge shoutout! We have been so blessed with amazing support and can’t thank everyone enough who has been with us since the beginning. Most importantly, we are thankful to our original investors / supporters Eliot Kerlin, Pierre Koshjakji, and Tad Perryman who have continued to be our biggest fans and business advisors through TM25 LLC which includes Patrick James, Bryan Pregler, and David Thompson.

Website: layerist.co

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelayerist/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/75155802/admin/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheLayerist/

Image Credits
David Loi – Image and Hannah Brown and Kelsey Fraley standing together Madison David – image of jewelry with flowers and her in the white dress

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutDFW is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.