Today we’d like to introduce you to Quincy L Johnson.
Hi Quincy L, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I can truly say that I’ve been interested in fashion and style since I was a little kid. I feel like I have always had an eye for patterns and the details of clothing. I remember as a young boy getting in the car with my grandmother, mom and aunt early every Saturday morning to go shopping. Every Saturday. We would stay out at the mall from open to almost close every weekend without fail. Sometimes they would purchase items but more often than not we’d come back home with nothing more than hours of window shopping and laughter. The one thing I remember about those Saturdays is that even as a little boy I never got tired of going to the stores to see the clothes on all of the mannequins. When I was younger growing up in Oak Cliff, Texas any place that was longer than 15 minutes seemed like it was out of town. We would go to NorthPark on Saturdays and it seemed so far away driving up Central Expressway but I enjoyed every minute of it because I could not wait to see the outfits on the mannequins as my folks were window shopping. I couldn’t wait to walk the stores, which at the time, felt so far fetched and out of reach in regard to what my family could afford. Now that I reflect back on it, I will say that if I ever really really wanted something, my grandmother would somehow pull money out of her purse so that I could have it. Some may say that my grandmother spoiled me rotten but favor ain’t fair LOL. My grandmother was awesome and somewhat of a homebody but for any occasion that came up she always had the perfect outfit. I’ll never forget her closet being full of clothes all under the long plastic bags and the floor having boxes of shoes. I always wondered why she had so much when she never really went anywhere but she had such great taste in fashion. I remember people constantly complimenting her on her outfits whether we we at church or out at the stores. She also had a sewing machine in her bedroom and earned money by tailoring for family and friends. My grandmother was a huge influence on my fashion sense and how you presented yourself anytime you left the house. My mom also played a huge part in how myself and my brothers looked growing up because she believed that we did not need to look “dirty” even though we were young boys. And that’s how I got into clothes and fashion and always looking well put together so to speak.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I would say that the road has been a journey simply because I did not know how to follow my passion of fashion when I was coming out of high school. Obviously coming from the inner city my taste of clothes were definitely bigger than what I owned or could even afford so I had no clue of where my “style” could take me. I remember telling my dad that I wanted to go to college so I could major in something to do with fashion or even acting and needless to say he did not buy into the vision. Looking back on it, I do not fault him because he wanted me to do something that was more stable. Being a first generation college student, he just wanted the best for me. To make things more cloudy, the college department that I was majoring in transitioned from fashion merchandising to just merchandising on a broader scale which deterred my thoughts on what I envisioned when I dreamed about style and clothes. So for the longest, even into my adulthood, I didn’t view the styling and fashion industry as reputable or a path to be financially successful. Long story short, that’s how I ended up in education after a short stint in the corporate world.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I like to tell people that I specialize in the details of fashion. The color combinations, the patterns, mixing, matching and then balling it all up in one big ball of confidence. I truly believe the mantra of what the great prophet Deion Sanders once said that “If you look good, you feel good!”. I live by that, I try to instill that in the students that I teach currently and I am looking into opening up a boutique of sorts soon to house my styling services for the “everyday regular guy” along with some retail and consignment items. I am most proud of the fact that life’s experiences have created in me a confidence and consistency in which I can stand in any room without fear or hesitation. I am able to not only adapt, but also to stand out in any environment or situation. I can dress accordingly for any and all occasions.
How do you think about luck?
I can’t say that I believe in luck one way or the other but what I do believe is the timing of God. I can truly look back over the course of my life and I wholeheartedly realize that everything that has happened and is happening is for my good. The journey has not always felt good, of course there’s been rough times as well as great times, but at the end of it all I’m still able to say God has kept me. I believe that everyone has a gift and I believe that fashion is one of mine. We all can’t be 7 foot tall and play in the NBA or have a wonderful voice and sing like Beyonce but we all have something that sets us apart. There’s a misconception that a gift has to be grand and over the top but if what you have is a blessing to others then it’s a gift. I’d like to send out the challenge for more people to find out who they truly are. Accept what makes them an individual. And when all else fails…Dress For Who or What You Want To Be!!
Q
Pricing:
- Price varies depending on service provided.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: dressclubuniversity
- Facebook: DressClubUniversity
Image Credits
Mattie Mae Cooper
Mary Johnson
Korey and Justin Johnson
Khafre Linwood
All my family and friends
