THE (WARDROBE) DOCTOR IS IN
An Interview with Shannon Floyd of The Closet Therapist Written by Jeffrey Cohen
You may remember Shannon Floyd from her days as a stylist at J. Crew – my wife Jen tells me she was legendary for her unerring advice and sense of what would suit each customer the best. These days, Shannon is working on a much larger sartorial stage; as The Closet Therapist, she has clients throughout the country. I sat down with her one recent afternoon to learn more about why so many people won’t get dressed without her. JC: So, what can someone expect from a session with you? SF: A wardrobe reinvention – to have 100% of what they wear look and feel great; to have 100% functionality in the closet for work, daytime, nighttime, working out, holiday, special occasion; to have fewer items that create more; but most importantly, to find the self they have always wanted to see. JC: Who are your clients? SF: I have clients ranging in age from five to 91 and every single case is unique! For example, I work with parents who want to get the most value out of their growing children’s clothing, so we determine what items to buy at what quality, depending on how long the items will fit, and then categorize all of the looks on an iPad so the children can dress themselves. Another client is a middle-aged widower who finally reached a time where he was ready to date again and wanted to know how to dress, as it had been years since he’d set foot in that world. I have men and women who travel 20 plus times a year for work or holidays and I pack their suitcases to take them through a week or two, allowing them to be able to dress for any occasion in less than ten minutes and just enjoy their time away. I’ve had former NFL players who are struggling with how to dress a 6’4”, 340-pound body, or clients who’ve had a major weight loss and need an entire new wardrobe. And of course, I’ve had people give a session or two with me to a 22 slmag.net
loved one as a birthday or Mother’s Day or Father’s Day gift. The list is really infinite, but I have never had anyone not just absolutely love the experience. JC: Do you travel to clients? SF: Yes! These are some of my favorite appointments – I love when I meet a client in Chicago for a shopping trip, and while they leisurely stroll around, I’m filing through the garments like a computer, finding the clothes that work for them and filling the fitting room. I had a group of women who were going to Washington to visit a friend, so we did a group session in DC. I also currently have clients in Kentucky, Chicago, North Carolina, and even California. I don’t charge for my travel time, only the time actually spent with clients. I also do virtual appointments for out-of-state clients. JC: What do people do with all of the items that they need to get rid of after you’ve gone through their wardrobes? SF: I have two fabulous gals who run their own shops on Poshmark, and I refer my clients to them so they can get something back from the items that no longer work or are illfitting, but perhaps might work for someone else. JC: Who or what influences your style? SF: I’m a chameleon – one day I’m in a beat-up pair of oversized men’s overalls that my grandfather bought me from Farm and Fleet back in 1994, with a polka dotted head scarf and a bun, and the next, I’m wearing stick-straight hair, a black turtleneck and dark jeans with knee-high cable socks and lace-up boots. My looks range from highwaisted vintage Jordache jeans and a butterfly collar shirt, to starched white button downs and heels, or maybe a tweed hacking jacket paired with a wool cap and knee-high boots. My very favorite style is that of the 70s – anything vintage and classic is my true love. Ralph
