STYLE PROFILE Alison Kelly Alison Kelly graduated from Barnstable High School in 1999, and went on to study jewelry design at an affiliate institute of Parsons abroad, and then fashion design in Florence, Italy. She ultimately graduated with a BFA in Fashion Design from Mass College of Art and Design. Since college she has had a clothing line in some form, and in 2006 she was a contestant on Project Runway. Here’s what she has been up to since. CQ: You rebranded Dahl in 2012, can you tell me how that came about? AK: I was married in 2011 and designed my wedding gown and seven mismatched bridesmaids dresses in blush pink. This mini-collection literally became the catalyst for a new bridal and party dress line for Dahl. I hadn't wanted to touch the bridal industry before that, because I found it stale and full of clichÊs. I asked myself: why shouldn't the fabrics and silhouettes used in bridal be comparable to ready-to-wear or high-end fashion? Then all of a sudden, weddings were becoming much cooler, and people seemed to be having a lot of fun with them. Not all women fit into the traditional bridal molds of style and aesthetic, and I felt that I may have something valuable to offer them. CQ: Who/what would you say influences your work? How do you get inspiration for your designs?
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