Float. The word suggests a sense of leisure and contentment, The fittingly named boutique on Whitehead Street, FLOAT, offers a similarly refreshing respite — the unhurried indulgence often equated with Key West and island life.
Informal and effortlessly elegant, FLOAT celebrates its first year in business on July 14.
Owners Debbie Castillo and Sheryl Steinmeyer decided to mark their first year by offering 50% off everything — yes, everything — from July 11-15.
For Castillo and Steinmeyer, the sale serves as a thank-you to their loyal customers who embraced the shop immediately, and as an opportunity to introduce themselves to new customers.
Located at 624 Whitehead St., in convenient proximity to the Green Parrot Bar, FLOAT invites locals and visitors to explore rack after colorful rack of classy, island-inspired clothing, accessories, jewelry, hats and handbags.
The store began as a simple conversation between two close friends over dinner.
Debbie Castillo and Sheryl Steinmeyer both had harbored thoughts about opening an upscale shopping space in Key West. Then one night in 2023, they decided to bring their ideas for FLOAT to fruition.
The women leaned into their complimentary business backgrounds to build a strong foundation for the boutique. Both have successful careers, Castillo in commercial strategy and asset management, and Steinmeyer in artist and event management for the country music scene.
With the decision to move forward finalized, the pair turned their attention to the fun part – design, curation, aesthetics and display. They wanted to offer women a shopping experience unlike any other in Key West.
Steinmeyer and Castillo were committed to offering brands that were unavailable anywhere else on the island. They started with some of their own favorites, like Farm Rio, that would carry the brand name recognition needed to initially draw shoppers to the store. From there, they branched out, seeking smaller businesses that were creating beautiful designs. Their finds came from connections with designers and artisans, but also from their travels. A trip last fall to Athens and Mykonos yielded some Mediterranean-tinged treasures, Castillo said.
The consistency among the pieces comes from their commitment to quality, and their eye for colors and prints. Castillo, wearing a rich-hued royal blue and white printed linen dress, noted that each piece in the shop is something she or Steinmeyer would have in their personal closets.
The clothing may take center stage, but an overall cohesive aesthetic is also important to the owners. The shop is pulled together with a bright palette of tropical hues offset by natural fiber rugs, fresh flowers, white walls and soft lighting. The store is housed in a 101-year-old home, which despite its many incarnations over the century, seems to have been waiting the whole time for FLOAT to fill it. The building carries a sense of that history, but feels decidedly contemporary. One aspect that specifically appealed to the owners was the fact that the space contains multiple small rooms. Each room showcases a different color collection – walls of hot pink in one room, subtle denim blues across the hall. The delineation makes it easy for shoppers to find what they are drawn to, but also creates an aesthetic reminiscent of a gallery. The walk from room to room is an engaging exploration of textiles, hats, jewelry and handbags, all meticulously displayed.
After a year in business, the women recognize the unique challenges in owning a small business, but give massive credit to the Key West community. Since the opening, they’ve experienced an outpouring of support and interest and were honored to be nominated for a Bubba Award after less than a year in business, a nod that solidifies the space they’ve created in the Key West community. Go ahead. Float into 624 Whitehead St., and indulge.
Find them online as well as shopfloatkeywest.com and #floatkeywest on Instagram.
