Candid of Kandis
Photo Cred: Roxy Yang
The word Candid can be interpreted in many ways. The Dictionary defines the word as “characterized by openness and sincerity of expression.” From a photographer’s standpoint, a candid is usually a photo that is taken when the subject is in motion and sometimes unaware of the photographer’s presence. Candid photos are sometimes the best way to catch the true essence of a particular moment in time. These slightly variating definitions both can be used to describe the Fashion Blogger Kandis Nickole Isom. How? Through her website KandyReign, Kandis candidly captures bits and pieces of her life not only in photos but, through the use of her words. Kandis gives her readers a candid view of her love for fashion and life. Her honesty and unedited personality is appreciated by her readers and can be seen through one of her social media handles, Instagram. Her brand currently has over 2,000 followers and growing! I had the opportunity to get my personal candid of Kandis and now you will too. Through this interview, get to know and experience the contagious and joyful spirit that is Kandis.
“I’m over the top, dramatic, but in a good way. I’m just a go-getter. I have always had an energy as a child that I believe has transpired into my adult life.”
The 28-year-old from Indianapolis, Indiana, now living in Chicago experiences several growth and changes that come with adulting. But, along the way, she remains positive and learns from her life lessons. Currently, she is a team lead at British retailer Topman Chicago. Kandis raved about her love for her job. The main things that bring her joy at TopMan are to see her co-workers working their way up to reach their greatest potential. Her desire to help others. Indeed, her passion for fashion is one of the reasons why she started her blog,
“I’m super passionate about women, and I just believe that there’s a queen in every woman. You have a right to just be you! I love to show that through fashion, inspiration, lifestyle, and just everything that makes a woman… a woman. I just love women! We’re so powerful.”
Photo Cred: Roxy Yang
Kandis started her blog a year ago at a time when she was moving and recently graduated from graduate school. She wanted a way to still connect with people but always incorporated fashion. So, Kandis decided that blogging would be the best route for her to open up and make the connections she desired. Kandis credits blogging for helping make connections at a time when she moved to Chicago and did not know anyone. She is pleased with the progress she has made as a blogger thus far.
Fashion stood out to Kandis because of its continuous evolution. She revealed that sometimes, she’d imagine that she’s in a different city or a character. Her outfits determine who she wants to be for the day. One day she might desire to dress like a Nubian goddess with a head wrap but still keep it chic yet hipster, or she might imagine she’s in Seattle wearing oversized clothing in all black. These are just inspirations when she can’t decided how to dress for the day!
Kandis gathers a lot of her fashion inspiration through street style, her co-workers, Refinery 29, Bloglovin, and Pinterest just to name a few. Either way, it’s all fun! Style is a reflection of your personality. It’s inspiring. It’s a statement. That’s how Kandis views style. It speaks to her.
“When I walk to work in downtown Chicago, there are so many people that I see, and I’m just like yes, get it. My best conversations and even some of my best friends to this day that I met in New York are people who I started a conversation with around fashion.”
Photo Cred: Roxy Yang
As a blogger, Kandis has experienced the ups and downs that come with running a brand; now she’s paying it forward. Here are Kandis tips on how to start and stay consistent as a blogger.
1) Know your niche. For example, do you want to be a fashion, travel, food, or mom blogger? Find that one topic that is important to you.
2) Consistency. You have to be consistently engaged with your audience and constant research.
4) Be open to evolving your brand. Does your audience want to know more about you?
3) Be yourself! Be your true, honest, and genuine self.
Kandis candidly captures her emotions and places them unto the pages of her website. She opens up to her readers in a way that might appear intimidating to some. However, Kandis has found the strength to present her real, raw and uncut self. What sparked her openness? February 2017 was a difficult month for Kandis. All that could go wrong went wrong. She would vent to her husband and family about it but, then she started using her platform. Opening up can be hard for some of us. With openness comes a sense of vulnerability that can feel uncomfortable. But, despite those normal feelings, Kandis decided to trust the process and pour out her feelings. She believed that her words could help someone else who might be going through a difficult time.
She saw that people were relating and connecting with her posts and the more she wrote, the more confidence she gained. A prime example of Kandis’ candid post is ‘Spilt Milk. She wrote this article during a time when she was experiencing the “adulting growing pains.”
Spilt Milk touches on topics such as, finances, relationships, moving, soul-searching, and accepting wise counsel. These are topics that we all experience at least once in our lives. Kandis expressed her feelings, and the blog post has a beautiful ending. The fashion blogger has a gift for writing a personal post that is relatable but, flows in a way where the reader is captivated.
“The more you do it, the more you get comfortable about being honest.”
Photo Cred: Roxy Yang
She recommends all bloggers to be open and honest in what their blog is representing. She finds that social media can paint the perfect picture of someone that isn’t always true and honest. So, Kandis emphasizes, to be honest with your followers. Not a requirement, but certainly recommended.
For most bloggers, social media is a powerful tool that helps to captivate and draw their readers to their websites, YouTube pages, and other platforms. Some use Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest. Kandis also manages multiple social media handles for her brand but, Instagram is one of her biggest treats! Her Instagram is the hub for fashion inspiration, a minimalistic aesthetic, and bright but, captivating photography. What’s her secret? Just a little splash of blessings mixed with great photographers, social media, and her city, Chicago.
“I have one photographer here in Chicago, Christian Blakely,” said Kandis. “He’s my go-to blogger photographer. I was also blessed to have a friend connect me with another photographer in the city and her name is Roxy Yang. We connected, she saw my pictures and wanted to shoot me. Back at home in Indy, I’ve had two photographers that took pictures for a fashion lookbook I wanted to shoot. When money is funny, sometimes it’s my husband who will shoot me. He’s an amazing photographer! Lol!”
With all the fantastic things that are going on in Kandis’ life, she still finds it important to write things down and manage her time. Her planner is one of her sidekicks in helping life stay balanced. She told me that her husband bought her a big calendar and that helps her remember every due date and task. Even if she’s not home to see the calendar, the due dates are on her phone; getting things done or completing a task is an amazing feeling for Kandis. However, making time for herself is equally important.
“I had three days off one week, and I literally did nothing,” said Kandis. “Nothing was on my agenda. Not only that, the weather was bad here in Chicago. It rained all day Friday and Saturday so, I just laid in the house, ate my ice cream, watched scary movies, and that was my self-care. That was me taking time for me.”
Ultimately, Kandis wants to leave the legacy of the woman with drive, genuinely cared for people, energetic, and never gave up.
Check out KandyReign for your daily dose of fashion and style inspiration along with some well-needed encouragement.
Photo Cred: Roxy Yang
Speed Questions!
Favorite clothing brand?
Chanel is my number one. Love Chanel. It’s timeless, chic, feminine, Karl Lagerfeld is evolving the brand so Chanel, number one.
The top thing on your bucket list right now.
I want to go to Spain. I want to go to Barcelona and dance in the streets in a Flamenco skirt. That’s literally on my bucket list. That’s number one.
A fun fact about you.
I was in color guard and dance for nine years and I was in the Rose Bowl Parade and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade.
Favorite Sports Team
You know, I have to go with my husband and his team, its Ohio State college football.
Between seasons, fall or summer?
Oh Fall, fall all day.