Courtney Wetzel
Courtney Wetzel is…well…long. Gracefully long, to be sure, but when she enters a room, you are immediately impressed by clean lines and a flowing, graceful figure. It’s a descriptive she immediately shrugs off in favor of a bit of history. “My dad worked in Oil and Gas,” she says. “I am not a fancy girl.” Growing up in Natchitoches as a young girl and, eventually, graduating from high school in Meridian, MS, Courtney has seen her fair share of the South. She holds degrees in graphic communication, with dual master’s degrees in studio art and special education. Married to the dapper Zeke Wetzel, Courtney laughs about her husband’s reputation. “He spends more on his clothes than I spend on mine,” she says. “And his beauty products are…well, you just wouldn’t believe.” A certain agelessness defines Courtney’s signature look. She doesn’t wear much makeup, instead allowing her skin to do the work. Beauty is inner, not something you put on, and Courtney has that in spades. “It’s knowing yourself and not comparing yourself to others,” she says. “Once we start comparing, we start to see ourselves in a different light. It’s important to know yourself, your likes and dislikes.” She does have one beauty product that she suggests no woman live without. “Vasoline,” she says flatly. “Since I was 10 years old, I have put it underneath my eyes, because I once met an 80-year-old woman with beautiful, wrinkle free eyes and no crow’s feet. Her secret: Vasoline.” She’s also followed the advice of her orthodontist who, 25 years ago, told her to wear her retainers every night. Courtney is the mother of two children, a girl (7) and boy (6). Between the busy days filled parenting and myriad activities that go with being a professional artist, wife of a doctor, and supporter of all things community, she leads a busy life. Perhaps that’s why she gravitates to the simplicity of Coco Chanel’s look and designs. She dispenses Chanel’s advice about accessories. “Put on all your jewelry and accessories you want to wear, then take one piece off, just to make sure you don’t overdo it,” Courtney says. She also has some practical advice for girls on a budget. “You don’t have to be a fashion prisoner due to a modest budget. There are always great finds out there, from second hand stores to eBay. And don’t put this in there, but,” she says, leaning over to share a big secret. “Dirt Cheap is the best thing going in Monroe, Louisiana.”