Introducing Courtney Carter, from Houston, Texas; my cousin and Alexis Co.'s August Muse!
"I think how you dress is always a non-verbal expression of who you are. Feeling confident throughout the day starts with what you decide to leave the house in."
Courtney has been by my side for every creative endeavor, from my early days of crafting jewelry, to the grand opening of Lex & Lynne, and re-birth of Alexis Co. Her belief in my work has always been a source of strength and inspiration for me. I'll always remember Courtney and my sister, Lindsay, scouring my shop, loving the original, textile-driven pieces that set my style apart from the rest: burlap, beads, chunky knits, leather, kilim handbags and shoes.
Courtney has always been dedicated to Alexis Co., she fondly recalls being my very first customer and cherishes my early wooden, beaded jewelry. Her collection continues to grow with each season, recently adding a knit mini skirt and custom duster.
As a Broadway actress, Courtney's career began in New York City, where she made her Broadway debut. She continues to follow her dreams in Houston while balancing life as a wonderful mother to two little girls. Her passion for the arts extends beyond the stage as she actively supports her local communities. In recent years, she's co-founded an all-female networking group for women-owned businesses, which has flourished and helped so many. Courtney’s innovative styling ideas, like transforming a knit mini skirt into a top, and her vibrant stories of Alexis Co. make her a huge part of our community. I'm thrilled to share her story and celebrate her unwavering support, creativity, and love.
Tell us about the first time you walked in to Lex & Lynne...
I was just so proud of her. Lex has always had ideas exploding out of her - and to see the culmination of those ideas in a physical space was so special. It was the perfect representation of her and her creativity.
Tell us about meeting Lex...
Lex has always been like a sister to me. We are two weeks apart in age, so she and Lindsay were the siblings I just happened to live in a different house from. We’ve experienced so much together. Learning together as kids, traveling to different countries, and now - becoming moms together. Lex has been with me for every milestone of life.
How long have you been following and shopping at Alexis Co.?
I consider myself to be the very first customer of Lex & Lynne and I won’t let anyone else claim that title! Ha. Lex started with making jewelry on her living room floor that I would wear proudly to school. I still wear all of her pieces with such pride. From ‘my cousin made it’ to ‘it’s from my cousin's store’ to ‘my cousin is a designer.’ I’ve been her number one fan from the beginning.
What is the oldest piece in your collection?
I still have the wooden jewelry that Lex first started making. It’s in a bag that I pull from all the time to complete an outfit. My daughter loves pulling those bracelets, too.
What is the newest piece in your collection?
My newest piece is a knit mini skirt that I wore for a shoot we did in Vero. I get so many compliments on it!
What is your favorite piece in your collection and why?
I haven’t even seen it in person yet, but the duster I helped design is a favorite. I’ve always been telling Lex she needs to add a red, white, and blue piece to her collection. Items like that are always ones I tend to pull year after year. They become part of the tradition of the holiday - so having an item from Lex to wear year after year will be so special. I knew the colors I wanted to incorporate, so seeing it come to life has been so fun!
Is there a memory you have made that is tied to your favorite piece?
I wore a knit maxi skirt to The Rolling Stones concert a few years ago and just loved that look. When I look back on photos from that concert - it will be such a timeless look associated with such a once in a lifetime experience!
How does your collection show off your personal style?
I tend to go neutral with pieces so I can get as much wear out of them as possible. I live in Houston where it is VERY hot - so knitwear doesn’t always feel accessible to me, but Lex’s pieces are lightweight and perfect to pair with tees and tanks - great for warm weather.
Do you have a hack for how you wear your pieces? Maybe something we've never seen before?
My claim to fame! Lex and I were planning a quick photo shoot with my two daughters in Vero Beach and we knew we wanted whites for the beach. We tried a few different tops with the knit maxi that were fine but just not what we wanted. Then - I had the idea to grab the knit mini skirt and try it as a top and it was amazing! The mini skirt and the maxi skirt combination created a gorgeous layered look that almost felt ombré with a fading of ivory to white. I’m very proud of that one :)
What about Alexis Co. has you coming back each season?
Mostly, I love supporting my cousin. I love to see the way her brand has evolved and I’m so excited where she takes it from year to year.
Do you travel in your Alexis Co.? If so we would love to hear about it, or a short story!
I’ve been so lucky to travel the world with Alexis, and her pieces have always been a part of that. I was in her wedding in Italy - and that whole trip was basically an Alexis Co. catalogue. She helped to put together so many great looks for all of us that were so perfect for the gorgeous backdrop of Italy.
What are you passionate about?
I’m a Broadway actress, so expressing myself creatively has always been important to me. I think how you dress is always a non-verbal expression of who you are. Feeling confident throughout the day starts with what you decide to leave the house in, so I always try to make sure both me and my daughters are somewhat put-together!
I’m passionate about sharing my love for the arts with my daughters. I’m turning both of them into little theater nerds, and I love it.
We don’t always have the means to travel as much as we would like to, so exposing them to as much culture in Houston as possible is important to me. We are constantly visiting theaters, museums, and small towns around Houston. I want my girls to be surrounded by people who are nothing like them - and Houston is fantastic for that. We are one of the most diverse cities in America and with that comes so much amazing culture - and food!
How do you give back to your community?
I wear a lot of hats. I’m a Broadway actress - so contributing to the artistic community is very important to me. I’m very passionate about supporting small businesses, especially any that support women or the LGBTQ+ community.
I also started an all-female networking group for Women-owned businesses in Houston, TX. I’m so proud of that group and the business that so many women directly thank our networking group for.
