Fashion Blogger Friday: Meet ATL Blogger, Gess of GessFlyy

We hope you enjoyed meeting up with the lovely Rhonda of Life by Rhonda last week! Wasn’t she great? This week, we are staying in Atlanta to get to know more about Gess of GessFlyy! Through her blog, Gess shares her personal style, love of fashion, friends, beauty, and traveling, She is a plus size blogger YOU NEED TO KNOW!!!

Meet Gess of GessFlyy!!

Blog: GessFlyy
Age: 25
Height: 5’6″
Location: Atlanta, GA

How long have you been blogging?
5 years

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What or who inspired you to become a fashion blogger? What led you to it?
In college my friends always came to me for fashion advice & encouraged me to start my own blog. After toying with the idea for a while, I finally took the plunge. At the time, my main goal was to document my outfits and have fun doing it. After graduation I took a pause on blogging to pursue other endeavors but came back to it about a year ago. I realized I missed having a creative outlet & wanted to get back to doing something I loved.

Do you blog full-time, for fun, as a hobby? Share your evolution!
I blog for fun! There is nothing quite like putting outfits together & being creative in what I come create. I also enjoy writing so the fact that I get to share my crazy thoughts on life, fashion trends & travel is exciting to me.

What is your favorite asset? Your legs, arms, waist? How do you play that up?
My go to asset to show off is my waist! I love wearing crop tops and belted dresses/tops to accentuate my natural waist line. Crop tops are fun, flirty, & my way of rebelling against fashion “rules” for plus size women.

What are the challenges, if any, you face regarding being plus size?
I think what’s hardest for me is finding clothes that I really like. A lot of brands are extending their collections to include plus sizes but even then they are not giving us the “wow pieces” that the straight sizes are getting.

I totally understand there are design constraints & the fit of plus size pieces is different from straight size, but I still want to wear the trendy, cutesy jumpsuit or top that’s on available in straight sizes. I have a few brands that I am super loyal to because I know they are pushing the envelope of what it means to be fashionable & plus size, but I would love more variety.

What’s your favorite thing about being plus size?
I am one of the only plus size women in my group of friends so it’s encouraging to me that I get to show straight size people that fashion is not limited to size. A lot of friends & colleagues have gained or lost weight over the last few years, & as a result have been confused on how to dress for their body type.

It’s an honor when they come to me & ask for advice.

I also love working to change negative outlooks on body image. There are so many misconceptions on what it’s like to be plus-size & so many ways we bring ourselves down when we don’t “look perfect”. So when I hear my friends engaging in negative self talk around their bodies, I take it as a time to educate & uplift.

What’s your favorite thing about being a blogger?
I love the connections that I’ve made so far! Granted I’m still new to the blogging world & I have a ton to learn, but fellow bloggers & brands have been so encouraging/welcoming. It’s funny because back in the early 2000’s they warned us about meeting people off the internet but I have met so many wonderful ladies from Instagram & various blogger events.

It really has been a game changer for me to have support from people who could be super competitive.

Who/what are your favorite designers/brands?
I seriously ride for Premme, they are bae…like for real. They are one of the brands that I am SUPER loyal to. Gabi & Nicolette are super thoughtful in the design & execution of their items & to me, that means A LOT. They also are plus size so they know what works for plus size bodies & they know the struggle of not having enough variety. Their clothes are fashionable & high quality. I stan for Premme.

I’m also a lover of Eloquii, ASOS Curve & The Who What Wear Collection at Target!

Describe your personal style.
That’s hard because my style is ever evolving. I will say that I am more trendy & probably a little conservative in the grand scheme of things. I think my style derives from things that I’m inspired by in the world, which changes moment by moment.
Which bloggers inspire you? Plus or straight size! Any bloggers currently on your radar?
Of course GabiFresh & Nicolette Mason! Also Rochelle of @iambeauticurve! I am also a HUGEEEE fan of Shiona Turini & Kahlana Barfield-Brown, I know they aren’t bloggers but their style & eye for fashion is just out of this world. Lastly, a few of my friends just started blogging & I’m really excited to see how they take off, especially my sorority sister @brittanibarnes. I’ve looked up to her & her style for YEARS, so I was pumped when she launched her blog Cloth + Crwn, recently.

What do you think about where plus size fashion is today versus a few years back?
I think there is definitely an improvement but we still have a long ways to go! It’s super encouraging to see designers & brands come around to include plus-size women but I think the conversation needs to be continued; specifically around fit and what we actually want to buy.

I think a lot of times brands assume to know what we want without asking our input. Ultimately this leads to lower sales & then the assumption that there is no money in the plus size market, which couldn’t be further than true! I am super encouraged that we are not in frumpy tees & dresses anymore, but I would love more fashion forward pieces.

I’m excited to see how the fashion industry changes to keep up with the ever changing plus-size customer!
What do you think or hear from readers, is one of the biggest myths about plus size fashion?
That we only want cheap, low quality pieces. That couldn’t be further from he truth! I would jump at the opportunity to buy high-end, quality pieces. In fact, I have! I recently purchased a beautiful Mara Hoffman dress from 11 Honore. I’m impressed that they have gotten so many designers on board with creating pieces for the plus size community.

I hope more luxury designers extend into the plus-size world!

Lastly, what does Curvy.Confident.Chic mean to you?
To take up space in the world & be unapologetic for doing so; to hold your head high & stand firm with grace & elegance, while letting everyone know you are a force to be reckoned with.