The House That Confidence Built: Inside Balliets’ 90-Year Reign as Oklahoma’s Fashion Epicenter

In the fast-moving world of fashion, trends come and go with the seasons. Yet, nestled in Oklahoma City, a legendary style institution has done something truly remarkable: it has stood the test of time for nine decades. As Balliets approaches its monumental 90th anniversary, the luxury retail store isn’t just celebrating its rich past—it’s stepping boldly into the future.

We sat down with owner Jessica to chat about the weight of carrying a legacy, the rules she’s ready to break, and the magic of finding that perfect piece.

A Full-Circle Legacy

When Jessica officially took the reins of Balliets in 2023, the moment felt entirely surreal. “I felt so honored and incredibly grateful,” she shares, reflecting on the gravity of inheriting a business founded by matriarch Edna Balliet back in 1936.

Stepping into ownership meant stepping into history. Launching a high-end luxury fashion establishment in the Skirvin Hotel Tower during the height of the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression required a profound economic resilience. Balliets didn’t just survive; it thrived, outlasting everything from economic shifts to a global pandemic.

If Edna were to walk into the retail store today, Jessica is certain she would instantly recognize the business’s enduring soul: confidence. “Our goal is still to make each customer feel valued, beautiful, and better than when they walked in,” Jessica says. And in a beautiful historic twist, out of the five owners in the company’s history, Edna and Jessica are the only two women to hold the keys—bringing the store’s leadership full-circle 90 years later.

From Paris to the Digital Frontier

While Balliets honors its roots, Jessica is firmly focused on the horizon. The retail store holds a fierce pride in being the only fashion enterprise in Oklahoma that travels directly to Paris Fashion Week, maintaining a strong, curation-driven matrix of designers that wouldn’t otherwise be available in the state.

But staying relevant means knowing when to evolve. To bring Balliets seamlessly into the 21st century, Jessica is leaning into the digital space. The team is expanding their e-commerce platform, preparing to take their curated luxury from a local treasure to a national and global brand.

And the curation keeps growing. For the upcoming season, Jessica reveals an exciting new addition: “We are currently bringing in Burberry. We’re very excited to bring that for the fall—it will be wonderful for the gifting season.”

Buying with Heart and Spotting the “Magic”

For Jessica and her team, going to market isn’t just about looking at clothes; it’s about looking for a spark. They love tracking emerging trends that pop up across multiple designers, observing how each brand adds its own unique twist to a look.

But their secret weapon? Shopping with their actual community in mind. “We have a lot of fun when we’re buying, thinking about specific people,” Jessica smiles. “We think about specific customers almost every time.”

When asked to look at the current style landscape through a fun, quick-fire lens, Jessica gave us a peek into her personal fashion philosophy:

• Stilettos or High-End Sneakers? Neither. “I love a good flat.”
• The Ultimate Style Trick: A classic collared shirt. “You can dress it up and dress it down so easily.”
• The 100-Year Time Capsule Pick: A woman’s necktie. It perfectly encapsulates the sharp, androgynous, collared trend that has taken center stage lately.
• The Trend That Should Never Return: Ultra-low-rise jeans. Specifically, the ones with the tiny one-inch zippers. “They don’t look good on anyone!”
• What’s Unexpectedly in Her Purse Right Now? Leftover market candy from a month ago.

The Next Chapter

If you ask Jessica to summarize the future of Balliets in just three words, she doesn’t hesitate: Focused, growing, and on-trend.

With a brilliant nod to its heritage and a clear vision for the digital age, Balliets is proof that true style never goes out of fashion. Here’s to the next 90 years of dressing Oklahoma City in pure confidence.