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 entirely new wardrobe. And of course, I’ve had people give a session or two with me to a 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 ill-fitting, 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 headscarf 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 high-waisted 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 Lauren has been a heavy influence on me; I’ve admired him since I was a little girl, and the strength and class of his women’s designs evoke an elegance I’ve always found simply captivating.

JC: Where and when did this all begin?

SC : When I was 12 years old and going into 7th grade, friends would ask me to go school clothes shopping with them because when I went with them, they always felt like they got more. From then on, I was the one everyone relied on for what to wear, from a first date to prom or spring break. I was voted best-dressed in high school and was always experimenting with my clothing. Through the years the requests continued, even when I went abroad. After college, I worked in Ireland for several years in a high-end boutique, and the clients were over the moon with "the American girl.” Actually, I think that shop owner had the best fiscal year of her entire career when I was with her. After Europe, I came back to Indianapolis and worked as a personal stylist at J. Crew. When I was there, clients would say to me, "I wish I could just take you home," and so nine years ago, I started The Closet Therapist, bringing my perspective and artistic talents into clients’ homes to help them reinvent their existing wardrobes. Through the years, it has grown into so much more – it’s just amazing how many wonderful people have come into my life via this work.

JC: How is what you do different than, say, one of those “fill out a form and get a wardrobe in a box” services?

SC : When I make an appointment with a client, we first just talk – and not just about size, weight, or what colors they like. It’s so much more personal than filling out a generic check-the-box form – we converse. What do you do for a living? What do you do Monday through Friday, and what do you do Friday through Sunday? When we actually meet, I really look at my clients – what is their body language saying? What characteristics do they exhibit? Do they have a dog? How do they keep their house – hot or cold? Do they have lots of natural light or keep it very dark? I look at the way their home is decorated, their yard, meet their family and walk through the most intimate parts of their home.... there is absolutely no comparison. Everyone is different, but with each appointment, it becomes more and more personal, more and more trusting. My clients feel at ease with me...there really is an amount of emotional/personal therapy that goes into a lot of these sessions. It’s a baring of the soul in some aspects, and it’s such a rewarding feeling to get to that place.

JC: Can we find you in any other places (other than The Closet Therapist)?

SF: Yes! I am a professionally-educated artist (BSU - BFA in drawing, painting, and writing) and I do commission fine art work for clients. I also have a t-shirt business called No See Tee. I love to cook and eat and travel – if I’m not in Indy, I’m in a surrounding state or in Europe. I moonlight with some of my culinary friends when they are in need at local eateries – I co-host in-home curated dinners with a chef friend of mine as a group known as "Floyd & Frank.” I take part in as much of the arts scene as possible; I like to keep busy and I love learning. I love exploration in life – through travel, work, meeting new clients and friends. My purpose in life is to keep moving and live!

JC: If you had to sum up what you do as The Closet Therapist in one sentence, what would you say?

SF: As a trained artist, I come to you and together we create a self portrait of your life that is so much more than just what you are wearing – it truly is like creating art.