It exists in most women: the little-girl desire to be a princess, a damsel, a beautiful maiden.  Lately designers have catered to this desire with rows and rows of ruffles, shining fabrics, laces, and jewels.  Often, however, these designs fall into the category of "fancy wear"- things that belong to a Friday Night Date or a Black-Tie Affair.  Rarely has a designer fashioned clothes that appeal to the delicate maiden within and can still be worn to work, to the store, to a coffee shop with friends...until now. 

Meet Alicia Bell.  According to her website, Alicia Bell creates not clothes, but stories.  These stories are "full of magic and whimsy, romance and sophistication."  And yet, these "stories" can be worn by real women, with non-fairy-tale lives.  Her crisp shirts and delicate dresses are well-made and elegant, yet sturdy enough for a full day of work and dinner afterwards.  Her fabrics are Victorian, but the cut and style of her clothes is nothing but modern.  As an added bonus,  her designs are made with a real woman's body in mind, with few items suited only to the rail-thin model type.  This designer is the ultimate for the girly-girl at heart, and symbolizes the perfect marriage of romance and real-life design.