Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Gustafson.
Hi Emily, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I have always loved fashion and styling outfits, as well as makeup and skincare, and began following several fashion bloggers on Instagram about five years ago. Watching them share style ideas motivated me to start taking pictures of my own OOTD’s (outfit of the day) and sharing them on my personal Instagram page.
My sister encouraged me to start my own blog as well, so after googling “how to start a blog,” I launched my fashion and beauty blog, Fabulously Overdressed, in April 2017. My personal IG page, @emily.noel.g, became my business page and I started sharing clothes, makeup, and beauty products daily. In the beginning, I took all my pictures on my Samsung Galaxy. I eventually upgraded to a DSLR Canon camera and my boyfriend and sister take almost all of the pictures. As a midsize woman (sizes 12-16), I noticed that most of the more popular fashion bloggers on IG were petite or a smaller size. This motivated me to share as much as possible about dressing for the body you have and making clothes work for you. Every woman deserves to feel beautiful and fashionable, no matter her size!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I was self-taught in the beginning and really had nothing but the internet to learn from. My first blog site was a bit rough, although I was very proud of it! After a year, I hired someone to revamp my website to what it is today and I love it! Also, it takes a lot of effort to grow an audience on Instagram and the blog. There are so many bloggers out there so you have to be unique and offer something special so people want to follow along. A lot of people do not realize how much work goes into a blog post or creating photos and captions for Instagram. The photos alone can take hours, from styling outfits to editing. It’s my other full-time job!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I work a regular 9-to-5 job in social work and then am a fashion blogger/influencer when not working my full-time job. I share daily outfits, skincare, makeup and beauty favorites with my audience on Instagram, TikTok, and my blog. I’m most proud of the amazing community of women I’ve influenced and learned from on this space on the internet. Since I saw that the fashion blogging and influencing world was lacking diversity in body types, I have been able to share “midsize” fashion, which includes sizes 12-16. The average American woman is a size 14 or 16, so I am so happy I can inspire and influence woman to dress for the body they have, regardless of size!
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
When I first started blogging, I joined an organization for women bloggers and influencers, and I was able to connect with other local bloggers. This was invaluable! I am still friends with several of these women and it really opened the door for me to get to know a large majority of bloggers in Orlando. I highly recommend seeking out local groups or organizations that focus on your industry when first starting out.
Contact Info:
- Email: fabulouslyoverdressed@gmail.com
- Website: https://fabulouslyoverdressed.com
- Instagram: www.Instagram.com/Emily.Noel.g
- Facebook: www.Facebook.com/fabulouslyoverdressed
- Other: www.TikTok.com/Emily.Noel.g
