MAMA AND ME

Co-founder of both NYC lifestyle website Mama & Tata and highly-coveted new fashion label Black Iris, powerhouse mom Candice Miller is raising her two daughters to follow their dreams just as she has.

MINI | Thank you for inviting us into your home! Tell us about the place.

CANDICE MILLER | Our home was a true labor of love. My husband is a real estate developer and the two of us found this empty lot in an area we both loved and built the building together. We were so fortunate to be able to carve out the exact layout we envisioned for our family life, and worked on the project for about three years together until we were able to move in. We worked with our dear friend and interior designer, Julie Hillman, whom we love and trust. We wanted it to feel open and airy, but warm and cozy at the same time. Our apartment is filled with light, which makes me very happy, and we live vertically in what we call our townhouse in the sky. We used a neutral palette but added many textures to make the rooms feel interesting. Our one pop of color is in our dining room, where we made eggplant velvet sofas and dining chairs to add some fun.

MINI | Do you have a favorite room in your home or room where you spend the most time?

CANDICE MILLER | My favorite room in our home is the living room, however it is definitely not where I spend the most time. It’s a completely white room, white sofa, white Moroccan rug, white books in the shelves, white faux fur covered chairs around the white marble coffee table. As you can imagine, it’s the least kid-friendly room ever made! It is so beautiful to sit in, as long as you aren’t wearing anything that bleeds, and exclusively drinking water. When we watch movies as a family, that is where we snuggle, but other than that I just like looking at it.

MINI | What is most important to you in raising your girls?

CANDICE MILLER | It’s important to me that I raise girls who are kind, good humans. Girls who are compassionate, sensitive, respectful, reliable, honest, and strong. I want my girls to know that they can follow their biggest dreams and know to never give up. I want them to be confident in everything they do and know that they are SO loved and supported every step of the way. As of right now, they are on the path to being a fashion designer and a supermarket chain owner! At least, that’s what I hear around the house.

MINI | What do you love most about raising your kids in NYC? Would you ever want to live anywhere else?

CANDICE MILLER | I love the convenience of NYC, particularly in fall and spring. The fact that we can get out and walk to any restaurant, museum, park, or play date is definitely a treat. I also love the schools here and find that they really provide a stellar education from both a social and academic perspective. Truthfully, I love the warmth and sunshine, so I do dream about moving to LA and Miami in the winter because the cold weather gets to me. In reality, my entire family—other than my Dad—reside in NYC, so it’s doubtful that will ever actually happen.

MINI | As a mom of two, what advice would you give to someone about to welcome their second baby?

CANDICE MILLER | The best gift you can ever give your child is a sibling— that’s a fact! My girls are best friends and even make secret handshakes about sisterhood with hugs and kisses that make me melt! My best advice is to have your older child be the designated “helper” with all baby tasks, from feeding and burping to bedtime. Let them be involved as much as possible so that they always feel included. We told our oldest daughter that her little sister was a present for her and she came home with me all wrapped up in a bow. She ate that up!

MINI | Tell us about Mama & Tata. How did the site come to be and what can we find there?

CANDICE MILLER | Mama & Tata is a web guide for women, particularly mothers in NYC and LA, that I co-founded with my sister. At the time of its conception, nearly three years ago, we had both stopped working and were focused on being Mama. We were eager to spend more time together doing something to help and support our new community. We started by creating a long list of our favorite businesses that we wanted to share with the world. It grew organically into everyone’s go-to for all things beauty, style, family, wellness, and home decor. Its success and fast growth was surprising to me, since I really started it more for fun, but there was clearly a demand for chic, well-curated content for moms and I was able to provide that, in a very honest, reliable way. If you want the best style advice, best beauty maintenance, best doctors, best family friendly activities, kids classes, interior design inspiration, and best travel destinations with kids, Mama & Tata has it all, with direct links to communicate with the business founders. The most beautiful part of building this brand has been the incredible, brilliant female founders I’ve had the opportunity to interview. Being able to help these small businesses grow and flourish, through my online referrals, has been a tremendously rewarding experience.

MINI | You’re also a co-founder of a new clothing line, Black Iris! How did you come to be involved and what was the inspiration behind the line?

CANDICE MILLER | My entire life I dreamt of having my own collection. Anyone who knows me well wondered why it even took me this long! Mama & Tata and all of its success gave me the extra push and confidence I needed to make the dream a reality. Everyone on my Instagram platform seemed to consider me a fashion influencer even though that was not at all what I intended. More and more DM’s and emails would come in daily asking about what I’m wearing and frankly, the majority of my wardrobe is vintage dresses that I altered to look more modern and are unable to be replicated. I realized then that there was a demand for the old fashioned vibe, with a twist of modern sensibility. I had three very bright, talented, close female friends, all previously in the fashion industry in some capacity, whom I trusted, and asked if they were interested in partnering in this new venture. Luckily, they all wanted to get back into the work force with more flexibility, being that we were all mothers and needed to work around our school pick-up and drop-off schedules. Each of us had a different skill set and as a team, we were a force. We work collaboratively, supporting one another every step of the way, and are very open-minded and adapt easily to change— qualities we realized were imperative to creating a successful new business. It’s definitely a modern version of a fashion brand, not adhering to the typical office structure, and working more remotely with a mantra of divide and conquer to get the job done. It’s different, but it works! I contribute to initial design inspiration, cover all of our marketing and events and assist with branding. Aly Gradone is in charge of fit, production and merchandising, and assists with design. Chloe Rosenberg is our head of creative and design officer, and Rachel Wexler is our chief operating officer, handling all business and overseeing daily operations. We will have two collections a year, spring/summer and fall/winter, with special drops in between seasons, all sold direct to consumer on our website (ShopBlackIris.com). Our collec tion is romantic, feminine and ethereal, made for a customer we call the lady. They are limited edition, timeless, coveted pieces to be worn time and time again. We love our traveling trunk shows where we go to big cities across the country to meet our “lady,” get to know the customer, and build personal relationships with our clientele. It’s been an incredible learning experience, one that is always evolving, and we are looking forward to collaborations that are in the pipeline.

MINI | How would you describe your style? Has your style changed at all since becoming a mom?

CANDICE MILLER | I like to wear timeless, classic, neutral pieces during the day, whether it be a long flowy dress, or a great pair of high-waisted jeans with a white T-shirt and blazer; daytime is typically casual. When I go out in the evening, I like to take more risks, wearing a lot of bright color, very tailored, structured pieces, bold prints, and fun high heels. Since becoming a mom, I realized comfort is key. I will no longer buy an itchy wool sweater simply because it’s beautiful. I always wear flats to run around during the day and the height of my evening heels has decreased by a couple of inches. White bags, shoes, and jackets are no longer in the cards for me, despite my affinity for the color, and silks can only be worn during adult time!

MINI | We know schedules can be hectic— so tell us about yours! What does a typical day look like right now?

CANDICE MILLER | My days have no consistency, as each day has its own set of meetings for both Mama & Tata and Black Iris. I actually don’t mind the constant change; it keeps things interesting. The one part of my day that remains the same is my mornings with the girls before they depart to school, and my Tracy Anderson workout classes that keep me sane and are the main source of energy that fuels my day. After that, I have photoshoots and interviews around the city for Mama & Tata features, combined with Black Iris shoots and meetings with various stores working on collaborations, press events, organizing our trunk shows, and maintaining both social media accounts. In between all of this, I could be seen on a school trip, parent conference, taking the kids to after school activities, or attending events to support brands and friends in their endeavors. Lastly, I am very involved in a few philanthropic organizations, and co-chair galas annually for New York Presbyterian Children’s Hospital and Youth America Grand Prix. On most days, what I really look forward to is arriving home, and sitting for dinners with my husband and my girls, followed by some very yummy snuggles before bedtime, where we all profess our love for one another over and over again. Literally, we do that!

MINI | What do you think is the greatest challenge of being a working mom?

CANDICE MILLER | Keeping the phone away when they get home. My work really revolves around my phone and computer, constant emails and direct messages, and I feel I have a responsibility to respond and interact with all of my followers because they all depend on me for so much important parenting information. Getting back to everyone in a timely manner is very important to me, so it’s like a job that never sleeps. I do not want to model being attached to technology for my girls, so I make a conscious effort to hide the phone in my bathroom until they go to bed (which is at times impossible). I’m just doing the best I can!

MINI | How do you manage to keep all of the plates spinning?

CANDICE MILLER | I’ve always been happiest with a challenge. The days I used to spend sitting around at home ended up making me feel anxious and overthinking the daily minutia. I love having a passion and a purpose, something that is forever motivating, where I’m constantly learning. I have the most supportive husband who encourages me to do whatever I love and always lifts me up. I attribute a lot of my courage and strength to his unconditional love and support, as well as that of my children. Our mutual respect and understanding of one another is what empowers me to push my own limits and leave my comfort zone. I’ll always have home, so taking risks and perhaps falling and failing at times is okay with me. As my dear friend and spiritual leader always tells me, fear is not an option. I find that my work inspires my girls, so I rarely have any parent guilt, my husband has never been more proud of me, and my work has only made our relationship better and stronger. There really is no balance— for me, work and family is very much intertwined, but being present on weekends, vacations, and in the hours after school before bedtime is a main priority.

MINI | What do you think is the one thing about motherhood no one really warns you about?

CANDICE MILLER | The aftermath of giving birth. The hormonal fluctuation that can leave you feeling ups and downs so intensely, the loneliness that can be overwhelming at times, the various unexpected medical issues that can arise with the inner organs from the placenta, urethra, and scar tissue. Nobody talks about those things, perhaps because they are private, but we would all feel a lot better if we got a heads up.

MINI | What is your greatest parenting worry or fear?

CANDICE MILLER | Bullying, I know that with social media and children having that platform for expression, there has been a rise in childhood bullying. As a mom, you can only do as much as you can on your end to ensure your children are kind, thoughtful, respectful, and confident to defend themselves, but you cannot control the parenting that goes on outside of your own family, so that definitely scares me.

MINI | If you could give your kids one piece of advice, what would it be?

CANDICE MILLER | You do you! I already know they will be wonderfully loving, compassionate, good humans, but I want them to always be themselves. I want them to be their own unique individuals, strong, independent, and fearless when it comes to voicing their mind.

MINI | Where do you like to shop? For yourself and your kids.

CANDICE MILLER | I love small boutique shopping. I find department stores to be overwhelming, with all of the stimulation and I prefer a one-on-one experience with salespeople I know and have relationships with. The Webster, Tenet, Kirna Zabete, Warm, Fivestory, and a few small SoHo stores are my go-to shopping destinations. My kids wear a ton of Bonpoint, as my mom dressed me in the brand my entire childhood and it was what I knew and loved. We also have a close relationship with the brand which makes it that much more appealing. We love small boutiques like My Little Sunshine, Yoya, Trico Field, Bonton, and Posh Kids, and our friends at Lindsey Berns always send over the sweetest dresses.

MINI | Favorite places to to visit in NYC with kids, GO!

CANDICE MILLER | The Whitney, the Natural History Museum, Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Boathouse in Central Park, Bar Pitti for lunch al fresco, Seaglass Carousel, Broadway shows.

FAST FACTS

BEFORE KIDS, I NEVER THOUGHT

Be deathly afraid of flying.

IF THERE WERE MORE HOURS IN THE DAY, I WOULD

Still be working.

TYPICAL COFFEE ORDER

Double matcha tea with a side of steamed oat milk.

GUILTY PLEASURE

Saltwater taffy, odd but true! Homemade chocolate chip banana bread and the Peking Duck House in Chinatown.

FAVORITE LOCAL SHOP

The Row.

FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT

New Thomas Keller, Tak Room.

SIGNATURE SCENT

Tea tree and lemongrass essential oils. Lavender at night.

FAVORITE KIDS BOOK

The Giving Tree and Love You Forever.

CAN’T STOP LISTENING TO

Old Dave Matthews and The Rolling Stones.

ALWAYS IN MY FRIDGE

Organic grapes and a ton of Fiji water.