Page 90 - South Mississippi Living - February, 2026

THE BOOK
story by Cherie Ward
photos by Katherine Sowers
For Brandy Bryan and Dawn Mears, style has always been about more than what’s on the rack. It’s about how women feel when they walk out the door—confident, comfortable, and fully themselves. That philosophy is stitched into every corner of Flourish Boutique, the women’s clothing and gift shop the duo opened last June in Gulfport.
“We wanted to create a space where people didn’t just come to shop,” Bryan said. “We wanted a place where women could come hang out, build friendships, and leave feeling better than when they walked in.”
The boutique is size inclusive with women’s clothing ranging from XS to 3X, along with shoes, jewelry, and gifts, but what sets Flourish apart is its carefully curated mix of brands not commonly found along the Gulf Coast. Bryan and Mears intentionally look beyond the usual lines.
“We carry brands that I don’t think anybody else on the Coast has,” she said. “That was really important to us.” Among those brands are Market of Stars, Jaded Gypsy, Paper Lace, and ARATTA, Bryan’s personal favorite.
“If I had to make an outfit that was my personality, it would be with ARATTA,” she said. “I love the boldness, the colors, and all the tiny details—the embellished buttons, the things you don’t always notice at first glance.”
That balance of bold and classic comes naturally to the
90 | February 2026
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