.Best Place for a Last-Minute Party Dress

From the outside, Bella Vita looks like an upscale kids’ clothing and vintage boutique. And that’s partially true, but what may not be apparent if you’ve never stepped inside this teensy Rockridge shop is that it also has a surprisingly excellent selection of adorable — and relatively inexpensive — dresses for grown-ups, sure to make moms and non-moms alike feel all swingy and retro. We love the cotton floral summer dresses by Emily and Fin and the mod-ish frocks from LA-based Dear Creatures, whose aesthetics will appeal to those who want to look cute but not precious, youthful but not juvenile. While the kids’ clothes may stretch your bank account, the adult dresses thankfully won’t. A beautiful life, indeed.