About Us
how it all started…
Arlette and Sarah here! We are a mother and daughter duo and let us begin by saying- hello! We are so glad you found us! A little background about our Brand and why we are called; Dressed up: By Bella Mia.
In 2003 we first opened our tiny shop (no really, it was 500 sq. feet) with the goal of providing our hometown community a place where they could connect and be inspired by fashion. Our focus was on selling everyday bohemian apparel and accessories. Several years later, however, upon shopping for my own Prom dress (oh hi, daughter speaking) we could not believe how difficult and frustrating that journey was-and more importantly how seemingly different it felt from the one we were beginning to curate in our own boutique.
In that personal prom hunt, we realized place after place had one of two issues: Either we were either left completely alone without a salesperson in sight, fending for ourselves with an overwhelming amount of options and questions, or conversely; hovered upon and scorned for even looking at a gown without committing to buy it.
In the end, while I got the gown I had set my heart on, (A look-alike How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days yellow silk number by Faviana; a brand we actually carry to this day!) I couldn’t help but think that if someone had helped me along more with the stock and the choices, or encouraged me to try on different silhouettes or took time to review my feelings in each gown- perhaps I would have chosen something that suited my frame better and ultimately more authentically expressed ME!
We still cherish our mother-daugther shopping memories from that epic (albeit hard) hunt; Dressed up by Bella Mia- was born out of the idea that gown shopping does not need to be traumatic! By applying the same philosophy of customer care as our causal boutique, we ensure your formalwear shopping journey results in both a dress you love and an experience you remember for life. We know that having the opportunity to talk through your vision, try on various styles, and explore your options with the help of a trained consultant is critical to finding your dream dress. We look forward to working with you and having the opportunity to connect and be inspired with you.
