Amber Lehman: Lady of Style

There’s something to be said about a woman with passion. Not everyone can go from getting a Master’s in Microbiology at Vanderbilt to being a successful stylist to the stars. Talk about a career change! Serious dedication, confidence and a whole lot of “go-getting” helped Nashville based stylist, Amber Lehman, do just that. Amber has worked with country stars and pop princesses alike to take the stress out of what every girl struggles with daily- what to wear?! Last week, I had the pleasure of catching up with her on what to wear this fall, what not to wear ever and how she made it all come together!

a-List: From microbiology major at Vanderbilt to fashion stylist…good change! Can you tell us how you got from point A to point B?

Amber: After undergrad at LSU, I was excited to be in the creative city of Nashville. I started styling on the side, because I could make my own hours around school.  I would put an experiment on in the lab and run out to assist with a photo shoot or be someone’s shopping assistant. Eventually, I knew I wanted to be in this full time.

a-List: What fashion blogs and/or websites that you enjoy reading?

Amber: Right now I am so busy with the CMA awards coming up on November 9^th, but some of my usual favorites are Who What Wear, Refinery 29, Design Sponge, Penny Weight Online, Hello Camp Comfort, and What Is Reality Anyway. My favorite magazine is NYLON. You can’t beat it.

{Jessica Harp, Julianne Hough, and Whitney Duncan sporting looks by Amber at last year’s CMAs. Bravo!}

a-List: What’s always in style?

Amber: Denim is always in, particularly, a dark wash jean with a little flare. It never goes away. Even though we deviate to other jean trends, skinny, bell-bottom, whatever it is- this style is always in.

a-Listed: What’s one item you wish you’d never worn?

Amber: I did fall into the bleached jean trend a couple seasons ago, the ones that look like you splattered bleach all over them. What was that?! Also, really just anything from Bebe!

a-List: I totally agree! I was all over the rhinestoned Bebe tees at one point. Yikes! What are your must have pieces for fall?

Amber: I’m loving blanket cardigans, especially with a Navajo vibe. I love the Navajo trend in general that’s happening. Midi skirts and a good fitted leather jacket too! Of course the midi length isn’t for everyone, but even a petite girl can pull it off with a wedge and the perfect wooly sock. It’s all about dressing for your body type.

a-List: Name one piece of clothing you can’t part with for sentimental reasons.

Amber: I have this light purple bolero with magenta fringe. I wore it the night that my husband proposed to me. I mean it’s a bad bolero, but I certainly thought I was hot to trot that night. I’ll never get rid of it.

a-List: I’m sure your closet is the envy of your friends and clients, but if you had the opportunity to raid someone’s wardrobe who would it be and why?

Amber: Rachel Zoe. She mixes vintage with modern so beautifully. The fur, the accessories! Amazing! I am definitely a hats and sunglasses girl, like her. I saw an entire drawer of sunglasses on a coverage of her closet. So jealous!

{Amber’s work with Jessica Harp, Dave Barnes, Kenny Chesney and Julianne Hough}

a-List: You work with a lot of country music artists. Where do you draw your inspiration for your work in country, versus your more mainstream clients such as Julianne Hough?

Amber: There’s definitely a different look in country than with the pop artists I dress. There’s a more organic color palette with less primary colors and more rusts, olives and rich tones. It’s important when dressing country stars to keep the looks approachable and laid back. That classic, all-American Ralph Lauren look is perfect for country. I also look to J. Crew for inspiration. I’m probably never going to use NYLON as inspiration for a country client!

a-List: I love the video for Easy by Rascal Flatts and Natasha Bedingfield! Any highlights you want to share from the shoot and where did you draw your inspiration for Natasha’s look?

Amber: This shoot was a huge challenge because I had to dress 25 extras, as well as Natasha. I worked with the director of the video, Peter Zafadil, and Rascal Flatts’ stylist, John Murphy, to come up with the theme for the video. We wanted to portray Natasha as sort of the Cinderella of the video. When she arrived at the ball, we wanted to make her stand out against a background with a darker vibe. I put the extras in edgy, dark colored dresses, and you’ll notice that each of the girls in the background have feathers incorporated into their look somehow, whether on their dress or some sort of headpiece. To contrast it all, I wanted a classically beautiful and feminine look for Natasha. A few days before, we had a massive fitting for the extras, and then the day of the shoot we were there at 9 am to start fitting Natasha. Once we started rolling around 3 pm, we were there shooting until 5 am. It was quite a day!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDSCjmxO4T4]

a-List: Some of your quirkier projects are great too! I love the Nascar pit uniforms from the Bait a Hook video by Justin Moore. What’s your wildest styling story to date?

Amber: The Rascal Flatts video was definitely epic and nuts. Another time, we were up all night filming Out Last Night  by Kenny Chesney in Miami. It was crazy! They would need all the extras to jump in the pool, and then need to reshoot, so we would have to make everyone look dry all over again. Doing things like the Nascar uniforms is interesting too, because it starts to cross over into costume design. Luckily, I haven’t had any wardrobe malfunctions to date!

{Nascar uniforms that Amber made by hand for the Justin Moore video- talk about a serious DIY project!}

a-List: Lastly, what advice do you have for aspiring fashion industry hopefuls?

Amber:  Be kind and work hard! The best exercise for me was working in a boutique. I got to fit different bodies and shapes. Everybody can’t wear every trend. You have to make people look and feel good. If I tried to put everyone in the Navajo blanket cardigan, I would crash and burn!

Diana Warner, jewelry design extraordinaire, wants to give you these lovely disco ball earrings from her collection, worn by Natasha Bedingfield in the Easy Video!

It’s easy (get it?). All you need to do is:

1) Follow Amber on Twitter

2) Follow Diana on Twitter

3) Follow me on Twitter

4) Leave a comment here describing what you would wear with these earrings if you win and your email address! Get to styling, go crazy…may the best outfit win!

Contest ends next Tuesday at noon!