Stella Blu

Sisters Halle Ray and Emily Arnold can easily be mistaken for twins, but they are as different as ying and yang.

Ray, who describes herself as laid back, and Arnold, who energizes the room, have had a peas-in-a-pod relationship in fashion since they were young.

Growing up in Mountain Brook, the girls sketched figures and created their own fashion designs while on family road trips. Ray remembers when their mother, Tracy, an interior designer who helps them with the boutique, bought them a My Little Pony sewing machine to create their own outfits.

“We had fun; we loved it,” Ray said.

Ray and Arnold decided to join fashion forces in the South after being separated across the country at the start of their careers. 

Though both graduated from Auburn University in fashion design, Ray worked in retail management, wholesale and high-end buying in several Southeastern cities while Arnold worked in Los Angeles as a buyer for high-end Hollywood boutiques and as a celebrity stylist.

The duo ultimately chose to put all of their experience to the test back in their hometown in 2010.

Stella Blu, named after their favorite color and one of Arnold’s favorite girl’s names, blends their Bohemian style with the young and trendy styles their customers want. 

On the steel-pipe racks, customers find both neutrals and colorful prints.

“You could be the girl next door and find something here, or you could be a fashionista,” Arnold said. “You can’t sell exactly everything you wear because you’ll only attract that kind of customer.”

The sisters have the customer in mind at all times. When Ray and Arnold buy for the boutique, they look at something and know which customers would love a particular item.

Stella Blu carries lines including Rebecca Minkoff, Leyendecker, Tart, Isabel Lu, Blu Moon, Aaron Ashe, Rory Becca, Amanda Uprichard and Zoa.

As their own buyers and bosses, the sisters are not restricted in their interactions with the customers. Ray said Arnold is known for chatting with customers. Ray calls it “Therapy with Emily.”

“Our customers are like family; we get to hear about their children’s birthdays, marriages and people going through breakups,” Arnold said. “We want them to feel comfortable, like they’re walking into our living room.”

The girls know how to bring the chic, as well as comfort, in fashion. Ray and Arnold compare the shopping experience at Stella Blu to shopping at a SoHo or L.A. boutique but with Southern hospitality.

Grounded in style, these business partners hope to continue the boutique in Mountain Brook, with a possibility of a franchise or additional locations in the future.