Bonbons and bling

2 luxe Dallas stores court Fort Worth shoppers with chocolate and jewelry

Kate Weiser is bringing all the bonbons to Fort Worth.

Photo courtesy of Kate Weiser

Two favorite little luxuries from Dallas — one to savor and one to show off — soon will be enticing Fort Worth shoppers at the upscale Shops at Clearfork. Kate Weiser Chocolate will open for decadent sweets in late summer, and Bachendorf's will bring custom jewelry to dazzle Fort Worth in the fall.

It's the first Fort Worth location for Kate Weiser, Dallas' top chocolatier. Weiser, who attended California Culinary Academy in San Francisco, and worked at Stephan Pyles, Nobu, and Chocolate Secrets, is known for her especially artistic chocolates with hand-painted colors.

In March 2016, Condé Nast Traveler named her one of the best chocolatiers in the world. She was one of only three Americans to make the list.

She's known for outrageous flavors — think mango habañero, strawberry basil, sweet potato, and lavender apricot — and eye-catching designs, with brilliantly colored bonbons and seasonal chocolate sculptures that resemble art more than food. Weiser's Carl the Snowman (meant to be melted in a pot of milk for sweet hot chocolate) and her chocolate Halloween monsters often inspire huge wait lists.

At the 536-square-foot Fort Worth store, guests will be able to build a box to their liking.

Bachendorf’s is an iconic name among Dallas jewelers, offering the finest hand-selected diamonds, designer jewelry, and timepieces since the family opened its first retail store opened in Dallas in 1977.

The 2,300-square-foot Bachendorf’s at The Shops at Clearfork — which marks the luxury retailer's Fort Worth debut — will be an authorized dealer of Rolex timepieces and will offer a comprehensive collection that includes Penny Preville, Phillips House, Lisa Nik, Mikimoto, Forevermark, Breitling, Omega, and Tag Heuer.

“I am very excited for the growth of Bachendorf’s and to expand our family legacy in Fort Worth," says Lawrence Bock, president and the third generation of Bachendorf’s, in a release. "We have many established clients in Fort Worth and its surrounding areas. It was only natural for us to open our Fort Worth location at The Shops at Clearfork.”

Clearfork has unveiled six other boutiques and restaurants that will join the lineup in coming months, as the upscale center approaches its first anniversary. Many are also familiar names to Dallas shoppers and diners.

Doc B’s Fresh Kitchen is a “fresh casual” restaurant that offers burgers and sandwiches, salads, pizza, and more — all made from scratch daily. Doc B’s also has an extensive craft beer, win, and spirits selection, as well as specialty cocktails. It will open in August.

Ylang 23 is a jewelry store committed to original designers including Jennifer Meyer, Cathy Waterman, Irene Neuwirth, and newer, up and coming designers including Raphaele Canot, Yannis Sergakis, Selim Mouzannar, Jade Trau, RedLine, and Retrouvai. It is slated to open in September.

UNTUCKit, one of the fastest-growing retail brands in the U.S., is slated to open an 1,838-square-foot space in August. The brand sells a unique style of men's shirts designed specifically to be worn untucked. There are also lines lines for women and children.

Boardroom Salon for Men is opening a 1,515-square-foot space this fall. The luxury salon combines the community and nostalgia of an old-time barbershop in a masculine, 1920s country club environment. It will offer haircuts, shaves, and spa services.

Kalos Medical Spa, opening late summer, offers advanced nonsurgical treatments headed by board certified plastic surgeon and chief of plastic surgery at Harris Methodist Hospital, Dr. Emily Kirby. She'll offer Coolsculpting, BOTOX, fillers, laser treatments, medical grade skincare, specialty facials, and more.

Milk + Honey is a favorite Austin spa making its North Texas debut at Clearfork in early 2019. The 7,800-square-foot Fort Worth location will feature 14 treatment rooms, eight salon chairs, and four manicure and pedicure stations. It will offer "the brand’s full range of signature spa treatments and salon services in a comfortable yet luxurious environment," the company says. They organic, non-toxic ingredients whenever possible and sell their own line of hyperclean bath, body, and skincare products.

desserts luxury jewelry openings

Designer News

Legendary Dallas designer debuts sleek new women’s collection

Thomas Garza

Geoffrey Henning

You may not know his name, but Geoffrey Henning likely had a hand in shaping your wardrobe.

The designer’s 20-plus years at Dallas-based JCPenney, culminating as Vice President of Design across men’s, women’s, and children’s categories, put him in the unique position of dressing a substantial percentage of the population.

His unique eye, first honed at the studio of the legendary Alfred Sung in Canada, and later in New York, went on to help inform the look of an era for middle America through one the biggest retailers of its time. If you’re envisioning the “Cerulean Sweater” scene from The Devil Wears Prada right now, you’re on the right track.

In February 2025, Henning entered his post-JCP era — but a retirement, it’s certainly not. He recently debuted an all-new collection called GRACITY/tx that reflects the whole of his experiences thus far.

"I have been very fortunate over my career to journey through the different aspects of design," Henning says. "From starting with a purity of ethos at a designer level, to inspiring style at an accessible price point, which allowed for a broader expression of my craft."

This combination of influences is at the heart of GRACITY/tx, named for “gray, the space between extremes.”

"When I look at the women who have influenced me over the years, there is a common theme: vulnerability and strength," he says.

Leading with subtle sophistication, the line includes dresses, outerwear, and separates that are sleek, versatile, and impeccably styled. Above all, they project the wearer’s own self-confidence.

Attendees at the recent debut show included Dallas fashion insider Rhonda Sargent Chambers, who recalled that "when Geoffrey and I first met, I was struck by his deep knowledge of fashion design, fabric origins and history."

"His creative designs have graced our presence for over twenty years, and he is now creating pieces that no one has seen elsewhere," Chambers said.

Nikki Solomon, founder of Inwood Village designer boutique Rich Hippie, echoed the sentiment succinctly: “No one does it like Geoffrey," she said.

Henning, not one for the spotlight, observed quietly while stying a model in alternating looks: a stunning chemise to dress up or down, a halter in black and white, an impeccably constructed strapless mini to wear through all four seasons. Details like leather belts and exposed hook-and-eye closures bring a touch of Dallas-specific drama.

The collection can be found at Elements in Dallas, Sloan/Hall in Houston, and private trunk shows that they market on social media. Prices range from $200 for shell tops to $2,000 for long dresses, and they're also planning to add a shop button to their website.

Ultimately, the occasion represented a new tick on a timeline that has proved, throughout the years, this designer’s deep understanding of the people he dresses and the city they love, another balance of contrasts.

“My work brought me here, but Dallas has kept me because it’s bold, it’s proud, it’s authentic, it loves the arts, and it remains grounded in the spirit of the Wild West," Henning says.

Thomas Garza

Geoffrey Henning

reviews designer clothes