Happy Tuesday everyone! Things are pretty crazy with me these days and I am trying hard to keep up. I still can’t believe all the amazing things that have happened recently and I am still soaking it all in. But today is a very important milestone for Mustangsallytwo.com. If you haven’t noticed the site got a makeover from head to toe complete with a new logo. I have been working on this for 9 long months, had some challenges with web designers and had to start over from scratch. So I have to give a huge shout out to my gal Ama Scriver for introducing me to the über talented Emily Gillis, the mastermind behind this redesign. Thank you Emily for rescuing me and bringing my vision to life!
Today also happens to me by birthday so you know I had to celebrate with an extra fabulous post! Of course that meant featuring this gorgeous look featuring a custom piece from one of my other favourite indie designers – Courtney Noelle.
I discovered Courtney’s brand through my Instagram feed and I instantly fell in love with her pieces. They were statement makers and she wasn’t afraid to bring the drama. At FFF Week 2016 I had the opportunity to meet Courtney in person at the Celebrate My Size expo and I instantly fell in love with her take no prisoners attitude and passion for design.
I also really appreciated that her designs are accessible to us all as it is available in sizes S-4X. As noted on her website, “Courtney Noelle isn’t made for any one size in particular; rather, Courtney designs for an attitude. The Courtney Noelle woman dresses for herself and wears what she pleases. With a strong focus on sophistication mixed with spunk, Courtney Noelle designs communicate a strong message of self-empowerment and confidence.”
Another interesting thing to note is that all pieces are shot on plus size women of color, including Courtney herself, in order to highlight the beauty of women that are seen less often in fashion and advertising. Courtney has made appearances on Good Morning America and Nightline and she has been featured in People, Vibe, Jezebel, E! Online and more. Most recently, Courtney was showcased at Macy’s!
When I saw this quote on her website it really resonated with me personally: “I want women to be their most beautiful selves, there are so many negative messages: You’re not thin enough, you’re not young enough, you’re not light enough…I was inspired to create Courtney Noelle to send a different message: You, woman, are enough.”
So one of my favourite signature pieces is the Maya skirt. It’s a classic full circle maxi skirt with a thick fitted waist band that is made out of luxurious rich satin. When I met Courtney in person I mentioned that I would love to have it in a rich regal purple as that was my favourite colour and she said she could probably make that happen. And let’s just say she made it happen and surpassed all my expectations.
I don’t know where she found this fabric but the shade of purple is to die for and she surprised me with this hot pink lining. I was beyond excited when I took it out of the package. I am wearing the 4x and the fit is amazing. I could twirl for days. Now since this was such a special piece I couldn’t just pair it with anything so it took me awhile to find the right top.
And as luck would have it, one day I walked into SexyPlus Clothing and this beauty started calling my name from the rack of new arrivals that were being steamed. The floral print was exactly what I had envisioned. I do admit that the off the shoulder look, especially with long sleeves is something that I would normally choose but it had such a romantic feel to it that I couldn’t say no to. The fit on this top is very generous, I am wearing the size 22/24. And I love the extra long tie at the waist that helps to emphasize my waist and add drama and flare to the overall look.
To accessorize this look I decided to play on the pale pink in the top and added a variety of blush hued pieces. And yep I went a little over the top but I love it. This skirt deserved the extra glam factor. Thank you Courtney for doing what you do and for taking a chance when you decided to launch your brand. We need more fabulous women like you that are willing to push the boundaries of what plus size fashion is and can be. Here’s to continuing to break the glass ceiling. At 42 I know the possibilities are endless and damn I look good! Here’s to another year filled with more self love and endless possibilities.
Photos, hair and makeup by the wonderful Katie of Katiuska Idrovo Photography.
Skirt by COURTNEY NOELLE | Top by SEXYPLUS CLOTHING | Shoes by ZAPPOS (alternative here) | Clutch by ALDO (alternative here) | Necklace by LANE BRYANT (alternative here) | Bracelets by LANE BRYANT | Earrings by H&M (alternative here) |
