Fashion is her passion

Former Livingston resident Latisha Darden-Taylor (left) and her husband, Billy Taylor. Latisha has her own cosmetic line, Classy Fashion Cosmetics. (Contributed photo)

Former Livingston resident has own cosmetic line

By Jason Chlapek
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Beauty has always been one of Latisha Darden-Taylor’s passions.

The daughter of Pastor Kenneth and Lady Janice Darden always loved to “put on her best face.”

“Anyone that knows me personally knows I love to fix myself up,” Latisha said. “It’s therapeutic and I am big on waking up, feeling good and putting on my face. I love to work on my face, hair and nails. It’s a passion and to be able to start a business is a blessing.”

An 18-year veteran in the medical field, Darden-Taylor now has her own cosmetic line, Classy Fashion Cosmetics. The married mother of two considers the cosmetic line to be her “third child.”

“I have two children, but my cosmetic line is one of my babies as well,” Darden-Taylor said. “It represents inner and outer beauty. We started off with lipstick only and that’s the main product. It’s offered in a variety of colors and for a variety of skin tones. We now offer a little more like skin care, oils, body butter and holistic herbs. It can be used by men as well, not just women. Everything’s all natural.”

Customers can purchase products on the Classy Fashion Cosmetics Facebook or Instagram pages, or on the website at www.classyfashioncosmetics.com. Darden-Taylor also has a podcast called the Classy Lab Podcast.

“We discuss all things business, beauty, health and wellness,” she said.

After nearly two years of preparing for the business, Darden-Taylor launched her product line in February. A month later, Covid-19 hit, but her business didn’t suffer.

“I’m happy with it, especially in the middle of the pandemic,” Darden-Taylor said. “I launched it at the beginning of the year. I have very faithful customers and business has been steady. I’m very grateful to God for that. I prepped and got it together for a year-and-a-half prior to launching in late February. I have some very faithful customers that kept me going. It was a process and I’ve wanted to do it for years. It’s been great so far.”

Darden-Taylor graduated from Aldine ISD’s Nimitz High School in 2001, and started in the medical field shortly thereafter. Her career began as an intern at Livingston Memorial Hospital — now CHI Livingston.

“I worked at CHI Livingston when I first started for a year,” Darden-Taylor said. “Through school and internships, I went to Physicians Emergency Room for seven years, special education department at Humble ISD filing medicare and Medicaid claims, and now I’m at the Cancer Center. I’m very grateful to be at the Cancer Center.”

Darden-Taylor is now an in-patient administrator at the cancer center where she works. She has a bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration from Pima University Online and will obtain her master’s degree from Walden University Online in February.

Family has always been a big part of Darden-Taylor’s life. Her daughter is a senior at Summer Creek High School and her son is a seventh-grader at Humble Middle School — both part of Humble ISD.

Although Darden-Taylor lives in the Greater Houston Area, she is grateful for her Livingston roots. Her father, Kenneth, is the pastor of Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church.

“My family is from Livingston and it’s a connection that I’ve had since birth,” Darden-Taylor said. “During (Hurricane) Harvey, we were there for seven days because we couldn’t get back home from the family reunion after the hurricane.”

Darden-Taylor said her daughter plans to enter the medical field and become a respiratory therapist. She looks forward to a bright future for not just her children, but also her business.

“I’m enjoying this health and beauty ride,” Darden-Taylor said.

After all, it’s her passion.