Sweet Spot

You won’t spot this shop from its signage (there isn’t any), but if you’re on Ballard Avenue, look for the body-beautiful styles dressing up its wide windows. Opened in May, Dolce Vita is Ballard’s newest boutique and the first outside of fashion capitals New York City and Los Angeles for owners Nick Lucio and Van Lamprou. Mannequins pose in front of the spare room, which features white wood floors, a black Murano glass chandelier and a gilded Louis XIV mirror. On this sleek stage, forward fashion is the star with feminine dresses from Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent ($275–$300), urban-nomad-style sweaters from Mara Hoffman (about $450), house-brand Destroyer leather riding boots ($200–$350) and vintage-flavored gold vermeil rings by Japan’s Kaoru ($100–$400).


Photo by Victoria Lahti