T.U.K.'s Spotlight Q&A: Rock Star Stylist Candice Lambert

A Stylist That Rocks! Q&A with Candice Lambert

This question is hard to answer. I love all of the bands that I have been lucky enough to style. Each band has its unique style which always makes it fun to work with them. Currently, I am really enjoying working with Bad Things, Kongos, Camila, Smallpools, Blondfire, The Offspring, Echosmith and Deluka. In the past, the Black Keys and Green Day were always a blast to work with.

Well, creepers have been in my life since I was a kid. I grew up in the punk scene and it was a prominent fixture in our style. Creepers were a way to not only express yourself and your scene as a kid but it also provided an opportunity for you to identify with others. If you saw someone walking down the street in a pair, you knew immediately they knew what was up. They communicated to you an underlining street cred without words. I will wear creepers for the rest of my life. I will be that 80-year-old lady tromping around in a pair. They bring me to my roots, remind me of where I came from and plus they are so damn cool.

I have a fairly extensive collection. I have the Vivas in almost all colors as well as a ton of colors and patterns in the classic creeper. I love the Mondo, but I think my favorite is the studded Monk.

Music has influenced me which in turn has affected my personal style. From my teen years and beyond, I have reflected that influence in the way I have expressed myself through my personal style. The Clash has made a profound impact, and they are reflected in my choices because I get them and I like their message. Music is art – art is style – and it all a personal choice. I always say my personal style is a mixture of Joan Jett, Gwen Stefani, Kate Moss and Joe Strummer.

When styling clients, I listen to their music so I can get a sense of who they are and create a scene of their message and an image in my head to truly understand what it is that they want to communicate to their audiences. Then, I review previous photos, look for things I think represents that message best and things that I think don’t. I consider their vision and understand the core of their creative message. I usually have a collaborative meeting with the band members to discuss creative ways to express who they are and what they want to communicate as artists. This helps me to identify ways to display them through fashion in concert with their music and their art. Their message, their art, and their sound must be honestly reflected through their fashion. In my mind, they are the Picassos, the Van Goghs, and the Pollacks of the 21^st Century so I want to ensure their fashion never detracts from their music.

Wow! Hard question! I would love to style and throw some creepers on Joan Jett, Blondie, The Replacements, RHCP, Paramore, Twenty One Pilots. Really, I could go on and on. Everyone needs a pair of T.U.K.’s in their life.

I have many styling projects for this summer that I am excited about. I want to eventually start my own line and have a collection but I am going to start with shoes first. I am addicted to footwear as you can see, and I have tons ideas.