Alyssa Kahle loves to shop, so choosing a wedding dress should have been a joy. Instead, it was a tedious task. “I easily tried on over 150 dresses, but I was frustrated with the selection,” says Kahle. “There’s a fine line between dresses that are too simple or too over the top.”
Kahle wanted something that was chic yet timeless, with a dash of understated drama. It was with this look in mind that she decided to make her own wedding dress. Now, the Alessandra dress she made for her July 2013 wedding at Milwaukee’s Villa Terrace, along with several other designs, are available in her Alyssa Kristin bridal line.
Kahle’s dream of dressmaking began in middle school, when she included “Make my own wedding dress” on her bucket list. “It was really an exciting moment when I made a dream from way back when a reality,” she says.
A corporate auditor by day, Kahle, who grew up in Lake Geneva, enrolled in the Chicago Fashion Incubator design program last spring. Her premiere collection includes eight dresses; plans for an expanded second collection are underway. Kahle also offers custom gowns, bridesmaid dresses and bridal accessories.
Kahle draws inspiration for her dresses by considering what the modern bride wants to wear and will be comfortable in, then mixes in luxurious fabrics, often in muted shades like blush, ivory and gray. Her dresses also have a statement element, like a deep back, interesting neckline or elaborate train.
“I want to create aesthetically appealing dresses for the modern woman,” says Kahle. “No feeling matches the pride I get when someone chooses one of my designs.”
Alyssa Kristin is available at Mignonette Bridal in Chicago and at alyssakristin.com. Kahle also hopes to soon sell in boutiques in Wisconsin.