Oh Bella in Roosevelt packs a plethora of well-priced high fashion into a dainty footprint

It's not easy to tell the difference between Oh Bella women's clothing resale boutique in Seattle's Roosevelt neighborhood and a pastry shop in Paris. A glance in the window reveals mouth-watering confections, like a three-layer cake of high-heeled shoes, a pair of dark chocolate Ferragamo riding boots, a caramel suede skirt and a burnt-sugar, 100-percent silk pashmina.

The pint-sized shop is a mecca for upscale urban wear and timeless vintage classics that sell for a fraction of their high-end retail cost. Still, it's not just the seriously affordable prices that bring in a steady stream of regular customers. "I love to come here," says shopper Chiung-I Hwang. "It's like playing in a big closet with beautiful clothes."

Oh Bella owner Ronnie Day laughs about the size of the store -- a mere 200 square feet. But don't be fooled, she says. "People come in and think it will take a few minutes to go through, but then they say, 'Oh, there's a lot of great stuff in here,' and they end up staying."

Day affectionately dishes out crisp assessments on fit and style, along with flawless suggestions for complementing her customers' selections. "Oh, try this on," she says to Hwang, as she pulls out a pale, mint-green Tahari wool coat and olive-green '60s pill box hat, which partners perfectly with the peaches-and-cream, spaghetti-strap sequined top Hwang is modeling before the mirror.

"I don't want anyone to buy something that isn't right for them," Day says. "I want my customers to find something here that will complement their figure and other pieces in their wardrobe, and for a price they don't feel guilty about."

Day also prompts shoppers to slip on pieces they might not have considered. "I encourage them to try on clothes outside their comfort zones, so they can expand their style and see how good they look," she says. Hwang, for one, has benefited from Day's influence: "I've gotten much more adventuresome in my fashion choices since I've started shopping here," she says.

In addition to clothes, Oh Bella has a smart selection of bags, vintage clutch purses, wallets, belts, scarves, jewelry and of course, shoes -- but not a lot of wiggle room. Given Oh Bella's one dressing room and cozy environs, fashion-forward moms might want leave the wee ones and strollers at home.

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