Community Highlights: Meet Deborah Wiggins of The Clothes Tree

Today we’d like to introduce you to Deborah Wiggins.

Hi Deborah, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
All I have ever known is The Clothes Tree. My grandmother started the store 60 years ago. I grew up with The Clothes Tree, and it’s been my greatest passion. She began selling clothes for working women and mother of the brides, and when I took over we added in pageant and prom. The store evolved into formal wear for all of life’s occasions. The original store is in Birmingham, AL but as we continued to grow, we expanded our second location in Brentwood. I have always worked with young women competing in the TN pageant systems and they would always ask me when I am coming to TN. The location we are in now in Brentwood was previously J.S. Fields and Co. owned by Steven Fields. When Steven passed away in 2022, a friend said to go look at his store. This was an opportunity to continue his legacy, as Steven also worked with pageant clothing. I went to look at the store, unsure if this was the right move, and on the back wall there was a picture of a tree. It was the original tree logo that my grandmother started The Clothes Tree with 60 years ago. It became evident in that moment that God wanted The Clothes Tree to serve the Greater Nashville community. Some of Steven’s previous employees and customers actually work for us now. It is the most rewarding feeling to know that I am carrying out both Steven and my grandmother’s legacy here in Brentwood.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Anything worth having presents challenges, especially with a business. We’ve been through 9/11 when no one shopped for a while. Covid was obviously challenging. But what makes those hard times worth it is the customers that become lifelong friends. We are always willing to stick it out through hard times so that we can be there for our customers when they need us.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about The Clothes Tree?
We are a formal wear boutique that caters to all ages and events–pageant, prom, mother-of, gala, homecoming, and more. The Clothes Tree is there to help you dress for all of life’s special events. We carry cocktails, jumpsuits, pantsuits, but our greatest specialty is formal gowns. We are the only store in TN to exclusively carry Jovani Couture. We have designed custom looks for singers like Reba McEntire and Pia Toscano. We recently did Miss Alabama’s entire wardrobe for Miss America and watched her win the title of Miss America 2025 in Jovani Couture from The Clothes Tree. The last 2 years we have been able to design couture gowns for several Brentwood and Franklin women for the Williamson County Heritage Ball. One of our very own consultants designed her wedding gown through us, and we dressed her mother for the wedding as well. We can truly create any look for any special occasion. We primarily work with Julie from Jovani to design our looks, and she is exceptional at working with different price points and timelines. The future of The Clothes Tree is bright, and we are excited that this year we will be a signature store in TN for Rene Ruiz, a brand that specializes in luxury mother-of and gala formal wear. We find so much joy in being able to cater to this community. When you visit our store, you will be met with the kindest staff. The biggest compliment I continually receive from customers is how warm and inviting our store is. We hope you will choose us to dress you for all of your special occasions!

How do you define success?
Success to me is creating a store that feels like family and continues on for generations. There have been countless times that a family comes in and I dress the granddaughter, the mother, and the grandmother. To create a space where generations of women can come into The Clothes Tree, make memories with each other, and walk away with a wardrobe that makes them feel beautiful…that is success.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.theclothestreebydeborahtn.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theclothestreenashville/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.instagram.com/theclothestreenashville/?hl=en
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@theclothestreenashville?lang=en