Jessica Galfo of Dressed by Jess is definitely not your average fashion blogger. The blog isn’t just about her outfits, it’s an “everyday style guide to empower others to dress easy, glamorous, and chic through style tips and tricks.” Living by the principle, “life is a celebration so we should dress for the occasion,” her blog uniquely encourages readers to find harmony between clothes and their personality. I’ve had the pleasure of watching Jess’ blog grow over the past year and working with her many times, so I’m super excited to share her blogging journey with you today!
What inspired you to start Dressed by Jess?
My desire to start a blog began in college, but my love and fascination with fashion has always been deeply rooted in me. Throughout college I studied Communications, which focused on marketing, public relations, and advertising. Although this major allowed me to explore my creative side and develop ideas and concepts for new products and campaigns, I always felt like something was missing. After taking a photography class and being tasked with “go shoot and find your passion.” I quickly learned that I was most interested in shooting fashion concepts. I really enjoyed styling my friends and taking editorial-like photos for them. After discussing this passion with my colleagues and professors, I decided to start my first blog. It was called Jessica Emm. I treated this platform as a learning experience. I was still in college, and honestly I had no clue what I was doing. I was still learning how to work my DSLR, and it was hard to juggle posts on top of internships and all of my school work. The blog didn’t really have a rhyme or rhythm. I posted about what inspired me at that moment and occasionally, I would take photos of sorority sisters or friends and showcase them on my blog (this is what I loved the most). I thought about taking a deep dive into photography, and perhaps doing it professionally, but my drive for a career in New York City always took priority. After settling into my first job after college, I still felt the urge to share my love for styling, outfit coordinating, and trend discovery. I did a lot of research on blogs, read many books on style, and after much consideration I took a stab at starting the blog journey again. And this time I knew my focus, to inspire others to develop a harmony between clothes and their personality.
On average, how much time do you spend working on your blog each week?
It varies every week depending on how much I post. There’s a lot more ‘behind the scenes’ work that goes into a blog that many people do not think about (i.e. learning how to use new software and analytics to optimize the blog’s performance, shooting each look, editing and resizing photos…etc). I would say on average about 2 hours a day.
What social media platform has helped you grow your blog the most and why?
Surprisingly, I see the most traffic from Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. This of course, directly relates to the fact that all these platforms allow clickable links in each post. However, I do believe Instagram allowed my blog to grow the most. I’ve met new people, designers, brands, and bloggers all on this platform. I feel like I’m able to develop a real social connection with others.
What’s the best way to build a loyal blog following?
Join in on conversations, discover new bloggers, attend networking events, be consistent, stay true to yourself, and show the world your passion.
What bloggers do you admire and why?
I’ve always looked up to Anna James from Fash Boulevard. She started her blog years ago after being let go from a huge brand. She didn’t let that experience discourage her, and I watched her grow from a small blogger to a very successful entrepreneur. She now writes for Lauren Conrad & Vanity Fair. She took her talents beyond the blog and she worked so hard for it.
How would you define your style?
I would describe my style as feminine. I really love full skirts, dresses with volume, chic prints, and anything that screams Parisian.
What’s your go-to outfit?
It depends on the season, but right now my go-to is fit and flare dresses, slouchy trousers paired with high-neck crops, and billowy maxi skirts.
What’s your top fashion pet peeve?
Hmmm. This question stumped me because I try to keep an open-mind when it comes to trends and unique style choices. What works for one person, might not work for others. However, if I have to name one pet peeve I think it would be socks with sandals…
Favorite timeless fashion trend?
Ahhh the word timeless makes my soul happy. You can never go wrong with ladylike skirts, a tucked in blouse, and vintagey jewelry. This look has been around for decades, and I truly don’t ever think it will go out of style. As a side note, animal prints are timeless fashion trends as well. You can treat them like a neutral to pull an outfit together, and since the prints are usually made of beige, browns, and blacks- you can wear them for any season. Just remember to take animal prints in small doses. Don’t over do it. Have fun with your looks!
