Meet Towanda Parker | Stylist, Designer, Educator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Towanda Parker and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Towanda, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Some of my biggest breakthroughs have happened when I dared to take risks! Such as opening a design showroom for our interior design/fashion boutique that we actually rent out for intimate gatherings, photo shoots, business pop-ups, etc while we we’re on the heels of a pandemic. And then launching a coworking space that ended up being Mississippi’s first “by women, for women” coworking space! The word risk is defined as “a situation that possibly exposes someone or something to potential hazard, danger or loss.” And although scary, taking a risk is what puts us in a position to receive the reward! I was once at a point in business where I always tried to play it safe. I soon learned that if I wanted to elevate in my business then I would have to do some things I had never done. I knew that it was time to set bigger goals, step outside of my comfort zone even more, put a plan in place and just go for. And to assume some risks…even though the outcomes would be uncertain. That’s when a business mentor of mine actually introduced me to the “Risk-Reward Factor”. This factor basically says that “if you don’t take chances or risks then you’ll never reap the benefits or rewards.”
And finally, when the etymology and origin of the word entrepreneur is studied out, the French root word is “entreprende”. It means “to undertake”. So in essence, as entrepreneurs the essence of who we are is one who undertakes risks!

What should our readers know about your business?
I learned years ago that I had a particular call to help women. To help them be the very best versions of themselves. After I went through a split with my now ex-husband, I found myself in a women’s shelter with my children. We were there for six-weeks, and I was determined to not return to where I had come from. I was determined to start fresh and give my children a life of stability while doing something valuable and meaningful with my life. I remember meeting this particular women who I admired. I asked her if she would mentor me. I wanted my life to count and I knew that there was much more to life than what I was currently experiencing. She told me that she could not mentor me…I was disappointed.

From there, I did all I could to make me and my children’s lives better by praying, working, studying and learning, going back to school, attending conferences and workshops, donating my talents and services to those in need, and more. Was it easy?! No!!! Did every obstacle imaginable try to come against me?! Yes!! I went through it all from the divorce, to having my utilities disconnected, to a car repo, betrayals from people I thought were friends, to the deaths of my two of my younger siblings from terminal illnesses to my oldest son getting into trouble and going to jail. But I was so set on overcoming!!! And I was set on doing something to add value to others lives. And I was set on building a legacy for my children.
Great things have arisen from it all!!!

As a former hairstylist, I had the honor of meeting so many amazing women who would tell me their stories. From this was born our organization called The Adorned Life, which began is 2011. The Adorned Life’s mission is to help women flourish and thrive in all areas of their lives. We have hosted national pop-up shops that have drawn participants from across the country at big events such as Essence Festival, we still host women’s events and classes to teach beauty care, style, financial responsibility, spirituality and more, we’ve spearheaded drives for our local women’s shelters and donated clothing and toiletries to those in need. (www.livingtheadornedlife.com)

As a designer with an extreme love for interior styling, a few years ago, we launched a business called Adorned Style Loft. We retail some of the best and most “non-boring” furniture on the market as well as provide design services with a specialization in commercial design!
A big favorite of the Style Loft is our fashion collections! Some of our other offerings with the Style Loft include a beauty lounge called Adorned Beauty Co. and our new art gallery/collection that will debut this summer!
We have had the privilege of partnering with some the top brands in fashion and interior design to bring our customers some of the most jaw dropping looks to fit their unique style! Some of those trade partnerships include Eva Franco Designs, FW Styles, William Sonoma, Pottery Barn, ZGallerie, CB2, Crate and Barrel and more! (www.adornedstyleloft.com)
More recently, we have opened launched a beautiful creative space called The Loft! It is the design showroom for Adorned Style Loft and is available to rent for intimate gatherings, business launches and corporate events, pop-ups, photo shoots and videography projects. We are extremely pleased with the response that we have gotten as it is the first of its kind in our area!!

And lastly, our most current venture is The Collaborative! I’m absolutely in love with the heart of this project! The Collaborative CoWork is a space where other women entrepreneurs, creatives, visionaries and dreamers can come to receive mentorship, participate in classes and events, work remotely, have access to private office space, use our conference rooms, have coffee, network and much more! This project is Mississippi’s first coworking space that was founded by women and is exclusively for women! And what’s even more cool is that we launched this venture in March while we were celebrating Women’s History Month!! We also hosted a Soft Opening/Informational Session in March and received great feedback! We have already started pre-registering members for our CollaborateHER membership program. The CollaborateHER membership will give its members access to all of the aforementioned amenities. We are so excited about this project!!!
We will be hosting our Grand Opening event in May 2022.
www.thecollaborative.cc

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
So we’d start the morning with fresh brewed coffee on my patio while catching up, enjoying the newness of the morning, the birds chirping and the gentle morning breeze! From there we’d get all dolled up and head out on the town! So it’s on to brunch at LaCour Kitchen which is a fabulous eatery in Highland Village inspired by the brasseries of Paris!
And then from there, it’s on to the Art Museum of Mississippi to view its newest pieces. We would also check out the MS Civil Rights Museum while she’s in town! Leaving there, head back down the interstate and over to the Renaissance at Colony Park to partake of some great shopping and walking around!
From there we’d move on down to the Township at Colony Park to have an early dinner at Sombra’s Mexican Kitchen. And then from there we’d head to the jazz concert! Great way to end a casual day with the bestie!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First and foremost, I cannot go without shouting out GOD! He, His Word, and my dedication to Him and fulfilling my life’s purpose for His glory have been my biggest motivations and consistency-keepers!

Okay so now, there are several people who have been destiny influencers in my life! One such is the late Dr Myles Munroe, a prolific orator, author, professor and leadership consultant. In 2008, I was living in Oklahoma and he came there to speak. His opening words were this…”Can anyone in this room tell me where the richest place in the world is?!” After some time, he revealed that the graveyard was the richest place in world because in those graves were buried unwritten books, unsung songs, business ideas, inventions and concepts, etc. I was captivated. That was a moment where I vowed that I would indeed go to my grave empty, having tapped into and released every gift within me.

Then there’s Bishop TD Jakes! His profound and dramatic oracle presentation is unmatched. He has delivered so many messages that have sparked change in me in so many areas, have helped me navigate my way through entrepreneurship, etc. Two of his books that helped me to shift in life are “Instinct: The Power to Unleash Your Inborn Drive” and “Soar”.

Other destiny influencers in my life have been Courtney Adelaye, Jason Bolin, Paul Craig, Joel Sims, Sam Rhodes and Esther Hunter. These people have either mentored me personally, from afar, and have provided opportunities to be exposed to greater things in life, business, social settings, service and more. I’m extremely grateful for them.

And lastly, I could not have made it in this life without my family! As a single mother of five children, it meant everything for me to model love, tenacity, resilience and strength to them. However, they have loved me unconditionally and always allowed me to be ME. Whether I’m on a mountaintop or having a valley moment. They have supported my dreams, businesses and endeavors from the start. They are my biggest cheerleaders, my prayer partners, my peace. I quickly learned that I needed them…probably more than they needed me! I can’t thank God enough for giving me them!

Website: www.adornedstyleloft.com

Instagram: www.Instagram.com/theadornedlife

Facebook: Towanda Elle Simmons

Image Credits
Charity Parker (Charity Alayna Aesthetics) Crate and Barrel