Ashley Bailey
Berks County native Janine Kline never pictured herself back in Pennsylvania after moving to New York City to attend the Fashion Institute of Technology. On top of that, she never imagined herself working at a bridal shop, let alone owning one.
But when her dad got sick years ago and she decided to come home to help take care of him, Kline began working at a bridal boutique. Two years ago, she opened her own, Unveiled Bridal and Formal, in Linglestown.
“If 15-year-old me met 30-year-old me, I’d be like, ‘what are you doing?’” she said. “But it doesn’t surprise me I’m here playing with clothes.”
Unveiled Bridal offers customers a personalized experience to shop for wedding gowns, mother of the bride dresses and bridesmaid dresses. When a bride books an appointment, she can try on dresses from the shop’s collection in a private suite. Kline is always busy, working with hundreds of brides each year, as Unveiled is one of the few bridal boutiques in the area.
“I love the customers,” she said. “I love making them happy and making them feel pretty. It’s like Disney princesses every day.”
Unveiled Bridal is one of several women-owned businesses located in Linglestown that have recently opened. Small businesses line Linglestown Road, some having become establishments in the community and others still making a name for themselves. But take a short stroll down the street, and you’ll find plenty of places to shop.
Last year, Kline opened her second business, The Edit HBG, this time with a special partner—her mom, Debbie Kline.
While running Unveiled Bridal, Kline realized the need for a local boutique where people could buy wedding guest dresses, bridal and baby shower gifts and gifts for other occasions. She also wanted to find a way to involve her mom, who was ready to retire from her long career in insurance.
Debbie now manages The Edit HBG, which is attached to Unveiled Bridal, with Kline. The shop offers women’s and children’s clothing, accessories and home items. They specialize in unique items that can’t be found at big box stores, Kline explained.
“Sometimes, I can’t believe she opened a boutique for me,” Debbie said. “I had no doubt that we would work well together.”
Community Space
Just down the road at Heart & Soul Books, owner Ashley Bailey is selling good reads in her homey storefront.
The cozy shop opened in February on the second floor of the building, but she has since moved downstairs. The space, which used to be a house, has several rooms filled with couches, chairs and, of course, shelves of books for children, teens and adults.
Bailey sells new and used books, with a focus on representation. She strives to offer a collection of literature that is relatable for a diverse customer base. One wall features a Black history display with children’s books on the topic.
“I try to showcase all stories,” she said. “There are people of color in the area that need to be represented.”
As a kid, Bailey read to help her get through her time spent in a juvenile detention center. It was therapeutic for her, she said. She rediscovered that love for reading as an adult and began selling books online in 2020, before opening her brick-and-mortar shop.
In the past few months, Bailey has added a new experience to her store, hosting bookstore dates for couples looking for a unique way to spend an evening. She has also held a poetry event and an author meet and greet with Harrisburg novelist Steven Williams.
All of this is part of Bailey’s desire to make Heart & Soul a community space.
“I want it to be more than selling books,” she said. “I want it to be a place where people can come and feel safe.”
Unique & Authentic
This past summer, Heart & Soul got an upstairs neighbor, as a new boutique focused on sustainability moved in.
Just a quick walk up to the second floor and you’ll find Rhyme & Prose, which opened in June.
When you walk into the small, one-room shop, you won’t see rows of clothing in various styles, colors and sizes. The room holds just a few racks carrying a very limited selection of handmade pieces—flowy blouses, floral dresses, soft linen shirts.
While the in-store collection is small, the options are endless, as Orth custom makes women’s and children’s dresses, tops, pants and skirts. The items on the racks are meant to serve as an example of what she can make, but are also available for purchase.
When Orth was pregnant with her first child 12 years ago, she took up sewing to pass the time and to make baby clothes for her daughter.
Over the years, the hobby stuck and Orth would make clothes and cloth diapers for her kids, including a special birthday dress for her daughter each year. Making clothes, she realized, was economical and eco-friendly.
At her shop, Orth offers others the chance to learn the craft with beginner sewing classes for children and adults.
All of the pieces at Rhyme & Prose are made with natural fiber fabric, which contains no plastic, is biodegradable and, ultimately, more sustainable. She’s passionate about providing an alternative to the “fast fashion” industry, which constantly churns out new trendy looks and consequently sends more clothing to landfills, she said. Orth encourages more intentional and minimalist purchasing practices instead and views her shop as a great place for those interested in exploring sustainable fashion to start.
At Rhyme & Prose, clothing items are meant to last and become wardrobe staple pieces.
“You can leave with something unique and authentic to you,” she said.
Unveiled Bridal and Formal and The Edit HBG are located at 5913 Linglestown Rd., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.unveiled-bridal.com and www.theedithbg.com.
Heart & Soul Books is located at 5970 Linglestown Rd., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.heartandsoulbooks.com or their Facebook page.
Rhyme & Prose is located at 5970 Linglestown Rd., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.rhymeandprose.com.
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