Conversations with Candice Lambert-McAndrews

Today we’d like to introduce you to Candice Lambert-McAndrews.

Hi Candice, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’ve been a music junkie since I was a kid. Not just the songs the whole experience. Album packaging, music videos, CD inserts with lyrics, posters, band tees; I was all in. I obsessed over how artists expressed themselves through their sound and their style, and I’d try to recreate that vibe in my own way.

Later on, I joined the Coast Guard and I loved it. Every second. But eventually, I felt this tug, like I wasn’t quite where I was meant to be. So I stepped away from active duty, packed up, and moved to L.A., chasing this idea of merging fashion with music. Back then, there wasn’t really a name for what I wanted to do. It was a bit of a wild ride trying to figure it out.

Then one day, I found a Craigslist ad, totally random, for a fashion intern. The stylist worked with musicians, and her name was Dee Anderson. She became my mentor. I started as an intern, then became her second assistant, then first. Dee taught me everything, how to hustle, how to create, how to really see style. We worked hard, and we had a blast doing it.

From there, I started building my own path. Meeting people, taking risks, finding my style. It wasn’t always easy, this industry rarely is. But it’s been full of incredible moments, lessons, and growth.

One thing I’ve learned: in this world, you’ve got to know your craft. Styling isn’t just about throwing a look together. It’s about understanding every layer, every detail, and staying hungry to keep learning.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
One thing I’ve learned: in this world, you’ve got to know your craft. Styling isn’t just about throwing a look together. It’s about understanding every layer, every detail, and staying hungry to keep learning. Another big challenge? Loyalty, or really, the lack of it. In Hollywood, loyalty is rare. You can work with someone for ten years, pour everything into every job, and the moment you ask for a raise, they’ll move on without a second thought.

It’s frustrating. You think, Look at everything I’ve done, job after job, year after year. But it cuts both ways, right? Look at what I’ve brought to the table. In any other industry, you put in that kind of time and energy, and you get a raise. You get recognition.

Out here? Sometimes, you don’t even get a thank you. And yeah, it hurts when people don’t see your worth. When they treat you like you’re replaceable. But that’s part of the game. And you have to know your value, even when others don’t. Thick skin is a requirement.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I help people say what they want to say—through fashion. Style is a language. It speaks before you do. When you meet someone, what they’re wearing tells you so much: confidence, sex appeal, attitude—or sometimes the absence of it. Clothing reveals personality, energy, and intention.

What I do is help people align how they see themselves with how they show up in the world. I translate their vision, whether they’re a brand, a musician, a mom, an actor, into a visual statement.

Because at the end of the day, everyone wants to walk out the door feeling confident, authentic, and seen.

Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
I wish someone had told me just how cutthroat this industry can be. That I would have been better prepared. I’ve always been the kind of person who sees the good in people, who believes in the greater good. That mindset has made this journey harder than it needed to be, especially in the fashion world.

From the start, I believed in teamwork. That if we all worked hard, we’d rise together. But the truth is, most people are out for themselves, and that took me a long time to accept. I’ve had to learn, over and over again, that in this business, you have to protect your own path.

Even now, I still struggle with it. I believe in community, in loyalty, in lifting others up. And honestly? I don’t think that part of me will ever change. It means I’ve shot myself in the foot more times than I can count, but I’d rather be real than ruthless.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.theonly.agency/artists/candice-lambert
• Instagram: @cdicelove13

Image Credits
Joseph Cultice
F&G
Brian Ziff
ABaxley