Gwen Stefani rose to fame as the lead singer of the popular ’90s band No Doubt and still remains a relevant name in pop culture today. The star went on to achieve global hits with the band and conquered her own solo career. Not only that, but she also built an empire for herself. From her clothing brand, LAMB, to her own eyewear range, Gwen has done it all and continues to influence others. After all, she did teach us how to spell bananas.
One thing that has helped her stand out over the years if her unique sense of style which has continued to evolve. Whether it was the pink hair or the bold red lip, we’re pretty sure you’ve gone through a phase that was inspired by Gwen.
Here are 15 photos that prove that the “What Are You Waiting For?” hitmaker is a fashion icon.
15 Tank Top With Leopard Satin Pants
When Gwen sat down with Vogue, she admitted that tank tops are an item of clothing she has always worn. She expressed that her vibe at the time was to be glam in the face but more tomboy with the outfit. The “Just a Girl” songstress was snapped with her No Doubt band member Tony Kanal at the MTV Awards in the mid-’90s.
14 The Infamous Bindi
During the early days of No Doubt, Tony was Gwen’s boyfriend. Over the years, the singer has been accused of cultural appropriation because of the bindi she used to wear. However, she explained it was inspired by Tony’s Indian background. His mom would give her bindis to wear as a way of introducing her to their culture and the rest was history. It became a signature look for the rockstar throughout the late 1990s.
13 Tommy Puffer Jacket And Camo Pants Ensemble
Gwen is no one-hit-wonder. She may have been rocking the bindi for several years but she would always change up her fashion for every occasion.
Here, she is photographed with her ex-husband Gavin Rossdale in an oversized Tommy Hilfiger bomber jacket and loose-fitted camo pants. Gwen rocked Bantu Knots and kept it comfy in sneakers.
12 Blue Hair
After Gwen got off tour with No Doubt, she was sent lots of free stuff including a blue paste that you could put in your hair. She told Vogue that this cute blue hair look was inspired by Judy Jetson from The Jetsons. Gwen was photographed on the MTV Video Music Awards red carpet in a furry blue bathing suit top that was also gifted to her.
You know what they say, the best things in life are free.
11 The Iconic Braces And Pink Hair
From blue to pink. When No Doubt released Return of Saturn in 2000, Gwen made a statement with pink hair as a way of displaying a change in her life. The album was inspired by a breakup and consisted of a lot of heartfelt songs.
Her goal was to have cotton candy light pink hair but ended up with fuchsia. Gwen admitted that at this point she still didn’t have much budget or a stylist and that this was all her own doing. She referenced Debbie Harry as someone she was inspired by at this particular time.
As for the braces, they were purchased with the money she got from No Doubt’s first huge tour. Goals.
10 Rock Steady
After Return of Saturn, No Doubt released a more upbeat and uplifting album, Rock Steady. The record was inspired by reggae and Jamaican culture.
In the early 2000s, Gwen re-invented her image once again and was known for bikini tops with pants or fishnet garments. When promoting the album, she flashed knuckle dusters with the album title to photographers. Promotion game strong.
9 The Harajuku Girls Era
In 2004, Gwen released her first solo album, Love. Angel. Music. Baby.
The album campaign was heavily influenced by Japanese culture. Throughout the era, Gwen was always accompanied by four Japenese women who she named the Harajuku Girls. During this time, she would wear a lot of Vivienne Westwood and John Galliano and showed her feminine side off more.
8 She Ain’t No Hollaback Girl!
In 2005, Gwen released one of her most successful singles to date, “Hollaback Girl.” According to The Cut, Courtney Love dissed Gwen in Seventeen Magazine and called her a “cheerleader” which is what inspired her to record the song.
For the music video and several TV performances, Gwen went all out and committed to the role of being a cheerleader, and quite frankly nailed it. TEAM GWEN!
7 The Sweet Escape Stripes
In the music video for “The Sweet Escape,” Gwen was locked up in jail. But don’t worry, she was still looking super fly in a stripey ensemble. The blond beauty rocked a long-sleeved sweater tucked into her high-waisted pants with gold jewelry. At this point in her career, Gwen was fashion royalty and no one could touch her.
6 Back With No Doubt In Leather
In 2012, No Doubt returned with a new album, Push and Shove, and looked more stylish than ever.
The band posed on the Teen Choice Awards red carpet together and looked slick in black suits. Gwen slayed a sleeveless leather jacket with large sunglasses and heels and proved that the rockstar never left her.
5 Vegas Cowgirl
Gwen is currently in love with Blake Shelton and seems to have been influenced by his country roots.
For her Las Vegas residency, “Just a Girl,” the “Baby Don’t Lie” chart-topper performs in a cowgirl outfit with gold tassells. And quite frankly, we’re not mad. Gwen rocks the look with fishnet tights, Western boots, and her signature bold red lip, which is a reminder to everyone that no matter how much her style continues to evolve, the girl we all fell in love with is still there!
4 Met Gala
For the Met Gala in 2019, the theme was camp. We’re not sure what the prize is, but Gwen won in our eyes.
For the ceremony, she was representing Jeremy Scott, who is the creative director for Moschino. Gwen stunned in a white sparkly jeweled leotard with lots of jewels all over. She wrapped herself up in a white fur coat with a super long train and oozed Hollywood Glamour with a high ponytail.
3 Red Tartan Goals
Red is obviously a color Gwen adores. And we adore it on her.
Along with her signature red lipstick, Gwen rocked a tartan ensemble of the same color. She paired a long-sleeved shirt with a high-waisted skirt and put on white cowgirl boots. She wore her long wavy blond locks down and looked like a complete flame.
2 The Fashionable Mom
Gwen is not your average mom-of-three. She’s a FASHIONABLE mom-of-three.
At the Ugly Dolls movie premiere, she posed on the red carpet with Blake and her three sons. Unsurprisingly, her kids looked super stylish. But, that’s only inevitable if your mom is Gwen Stefani!
Gwen too was swagged out in a knitted jacket, three-quarter length jeans, fishnet tights, and heels.
1 Grammy Princess
At the 2020 Grammy Awards, Gwen looked like a princess. She wore a strapless corset-style dress with mini flowers embroidered all over made out of shells. She paired the look with thigh-high PVC boots and wore sheer fishnet tights underneath. Gwen opted for a glossy lip for the occasion and wore her long straight blond hair down.
25 years since No Doubt’s breakthrough album, Tragic Kingdom, and Gwen is still a trailblazer in fashion.