Harper College

Ten Questions with Alyssa Weisgerber

alyssa weisgerber

When Alyssa Weisgerber saw her best friend and 3-year-old cousin walking down the runway wearing her creations at a high school fashion show, applause erupted from the audience and one thing became immediately clear: This is what she wanted to do with the rest of her life.

Student Fashion Show: TERRA: Stories of Belonging

When: 7 p.m. Thursday, May 18; reception at 6 p.m.

Where: Performing Arts Center, Harper College, 1200 W. Algonquin Road, Palatine

Tickets: $25, $20 for students with ID, $50 for V.I.P. 

Click here for more information.

With a natural gift for sketching and sewing, her interest in fashion design took flight at a young age when she began noticing the costumes in her favorite movies and TV shows. “You can understand the character’s personality just from looking at what they’re wearing,” Alyssa said.

Eager to get started, she came to Harper College where she’s the Fashion Club president and will soon be graduating with an Associate in Applied Science degree in Fashion Studies. But when she’s not making magic in the fashion lab, you can find her sleeping in and catching up on her favorite bingeable TV shows.

1. What is one thing you are deeply grateful for right now?

Honestly? Coffee. I definitely need it because sometimes I’m on campus all day!

2. Describe your perfect day.

Sleeping in and binge-watching a TV show while knitting and embroidering.

3. You could be best friends with any fictional character, who do you choose and why?

Alex Russo from Wizards of Waverly Place. My personality is a mix between her and her best friend Harper, who was also big into fashion. I feel like we would have a lot of fun with magic.

4. What's a color you gravitate towards?

Green, mostly because the coolest characters’ theme colors are green. Green and black, especially. Maleficent, Loki, Oogie Boogie from The Nightmare Before Christmas. They’re all so memorable because of it!

5. What songs are essential to the Alyssa Weisgerber-curated playlist?

  • "Flowers" by Miley Cyrus
  • "Battery Acid" by ZAND
  • "What It Means to Be a Girl" by EMELINE
  • "The 30th" and "Hostage" by Billie Eilish
  • Most things by Panic! at the Disco

6. Last show you binged and loved?

I was completely obsessed with Wednesday on Netflix! I’ve always loved The Addams Family, especially Wednesday Addams. I just really related to her character in this show and felt seen and represented. And speaking of costume design, the dress for her now iconic dance sequence was perfect for her. Tim Burton’s costume designer Colleen Atwood is my hero.

7. If you could make a documentary on any topic, what would it be?

I would love to make a documentary about superhero movies. The origins of Marvel and DC, the differences between them and how the film industry has changed so much because of them. I am obsessed with Marvel; I want to work for them one day.

8. What do you wonder about?

Dreams – why science doesn’t know that much about them, why we have them, what they mean. I personally don’t usually dream that much at night, so I find that weird. My sister has the wildest dreams and I’m like, “I don’t get it, I don’t do that!”

9. What are you hopeful for?

On a personal level, I’m hopeful that we’ll continue to see more love and acceptance for the LGBTQIA+ community; that one day it will just be the norm and you won’t have to think twice about it. And professionally, I’m eager to finish my degree and get that dream job with Marvel!

10. What do you love most about Harper College?

The supportive environment for students. A lot of fashion programs can be competitive and pit students against one another, but it’s not like that here. Students are encouraged to give feedback and work together in a way that helps everyone succeed. And that environment is all thanks to the instructors. I also love all of the extracurricular opportunities for students. I am the Fashion Club president as well as a student aide in the Fashion Studies department, so I basically live here. Contact me or Nupur Sharma (program coordinator for Fashion Studies) if you want to get involved!

Last Updated: 3/14/24