Meet Sara Bell & Lisa White two savvy, smart and sensible stylists in the metro-detroit area.{SS} Can you tell us a bit about your background, prior career experience and what led you to starting Belle & White? How the two of you met and decided to start a styling business?
{Lisa White}: I graduated from MSU with a marketing degree and worked for several years in Marketing/Business as well as retail. I have always loved fashion, and enjoyed helping friends and family throughout the years pull their wardrobes together. After I had children, I reconnected with Sara, whom I have known throughout the years. I have always respected her sense of style, and many suggested to us that we would make a great partnership. Our business is to help those who do not have the time, confidence, or style “sense”, but want to feel good about their appearance in all the aspects of their lives. Sara and I want to offer our clients the best service, where our relationships are based on loyalty and honesty. Our job is to get to know each of our clients personally, and tailor their look in a unique, creative way.
{SS}: Who is your ideal client?{Lisa White}: My ideal client is someone who wants to look stylish, but doesn’t have the time, confidence or style sense to maximize the items they have in their own closets. Also, someone who is willing to step out of their comfort zone in order to add some great new looks!
{Sara Bell}: The ideal client is someone who does not have the time or likes to look good but doesn’t know how to pull it all together. {SS}: YOUR secret to work / life balance? (Do you have a go-to App?){Lisa White}: Organization is the key to life balance! With family and work, and all of our kids’ activities, I need to keep a great calendar. If I am organized in my personal life, everything else falls into place! {SS}: Do you have a favorite style or fashion App? If not, where do you both find your inspiration from? {Lisa White}: My favorite fashion style is “simple chic”. I think the best look is an effortless one! I don’t have a favorite fashion app, but prefer to watch current trends through magazines, or simply watching what’s in the stores. I think style is so very personal, and I love a timeless, elegant look with a modern flair.{SS}: Who inspires your style? Favorite Style Icon? {Lisa White}: My favorite style icon is Olivia Palermo! She always looks fabulous, and knows how to really mix fabrics and colors together. She looks very classy, but sexy and chic at the same time. I also like the look of Sienna Miller, because she is not afraid to add a great accessory to a pair of great jeans!
{Sara Bell}: My style icon for an everyday, well put together look is Olivia Palermo. For a more rocker, edgy but effortlessly chic look, no one compares to Kate Moss.
{SS}: In regards to your personal style, do you have a signature accessory? 
{Lisa White}: I love fitted shirts from Vince, Sugar Lips, and James Pierce. I have every color and style, long sleeve, turtleneck, tank, etc. They are great layering pieces or stand-alone pieces. I also love my Chanel handbags! They are so elegant, yet versatile.{Sara Bell}: Accessories are what make an outfit. They are also a way to update your look and not have to spend a lot of money. My signature accessory is a leather coat and great handbag.
{SS}: A few items in your own personal, "Styleshack" A.K.A closet that you can't live without?{Lisa White}: I can’t live without a great pair of jeans (one skinny and one long), a fitted white t-shirt, and an oversized leather handbag!{Sara Bell}: My go- to items are a leather coat, my boots from Italy, a beautiful scarf and a great bag. You can wear these items with jeans, a skirt, a dress, and dressy pants – day to night.{SS}: Style Archetype? {Lisa White}: Classic
{SS}: Your Styleshack Fall picks? Bell & White Fall Picks
- 1) Skin – Nina Ricci Python Tote found at Tender
- 2)Leather- Jason Wu Leather Pencil Skirt found at Tender, Illia Clean Longer Moto found at SHE
3) Standout jewelry - Stroli Oro Hammered Gold Tone Circle Ring found at Marlie’s by Tappers, OR SHE jewels – Snake Skin Leather and Diamond Cuff found at SHE
- 4)Fur (faux or real) BB Dakota Faux Fur Collar Knit Vest found at Guys N Gals SMYTHE Anorka with Faux Fur Hood found at SHE
- 5)Jeans – a pair of casual and dressy Genetic Riley Slim Boot found at SHE
{SS}: Must have item for Fall?
{Lisa White}: My must have fall item is a short, black leather jacket! Throw it on with jeans, maxi dresses, pencil skirts, leather leggings, etc!{Sara Bell}: Cape or Poncho!{SS}: Favorite Blog you love to read? {Lisa White}: My favorite blog is a travel blog called The Cultureur. I think travel is the best inspiration for Fashion! {Sara Bell}: Similar to Lisa, I like to read travel sites with a global perspective that influence my lifestyle. 
{SS}: Favorite local restaurants?{Lisa White}: I have many local restaurants that I love to eat at. My favorites though are Luxe for a good burger, Streetside for seafood, Elies for Mediterranean and Roma Café for Italian.{Sara Bell}: I enjoy Market (in Birmingham, MI) for easy night out. Ronin, in the lounge area, Phoencia is always consistently good and I love the authenticity of El Barzon. I like food as much as fashion! {SS}: Currently listening to…{Lisa White}: Anything my kids are listening to! Although I love Kings of Leon!{Sara Bell}: It depends on my mood, where I am going, what I am doing. But my go to artist is Ryan (not Bryan) Adams.{SS}: What would you tell your 23 year old self? What have you learned along the way as being a female in business – share your advice, please.{Lisa White}: I would tell my 23 year old self to not worry about what others think! All that matters is that I am happy with myself! Do not get caught up in others’ opinions of you, because it only matters what you think of yourself. If you can look at yourself in the mirror every night and feel good about the decisions you have made, then nothing else matters.
{Sara Bell}: I would tell myself do what you love, find that thing that makes you tick and go for it. Also it is important to stop and think. It is ok, to step back and assess a situation first before making a decision. Throughout life it is critical to be true to yourself, be honest and stay consistent. I believe if you do these things in all areas of your life, whether it is business, family or friends your life will be a success.
{SS}: Words to Live by? {Lisa White}: I have two favorite quotes. The first is, “You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” Mae West
{Sara Bell}: "Be true to yourself and don’t care what others think."
{SS}: Lastly, how do we make appointments or get in touch with you?
We want our clients to feel comfortable calling us or contacting us at any time. I can be reached on my cell at 248-229-3267, or by email at lisa@bellandwhite.com.Sara Bell 248-330-3323Lisa White 248-229-3267http://www.bellandwhite.com