No Doubt Scrapbook

Hey, Baby

California dreamer Gwen Stefani has proven that she’s much more than “just a girl in the world.” Here the pop icon, new mom, and fashionista gets real about her baby, her band, and living in a bubble.

It’s Friday night in N.Y.C. when Gwen Stefani enters the conference room at the Ritz-Carlton, where I’ve been waiting for over an hour. There aren’t fireworks or rounds of applause or any big fanfare - actually, it’s not much different than when I entered the room, except that she’s Gwen Stefani and, well, I’m me. Her platinum hair is perfectly coiffed; her eyelashes are thick with mascara. She’s wrapped up in a long black coat that she seems to be getting lost in, and she’s holding her seven-month-old son, Kingston, who is decked out in a L.A.M.B onesie. It’s exactly what I imagined that scene would be like. Read the rest of this article »

Blonde ambition

From pop-punk queen to fashion icon, Gwen Stefani has forged a one-woman empire. She exclusively tells ELLE’s Kerry Potter about her rock-star marriage, being a beauty junkie and how hard she’s worked for that body.

Four hours in hair and make-up and Gwen Stefani, 37-year-old multimillion-selling rock star and fashion icon, finally takes centre stage at the ELLE photoshoot. She’s immaculately painted, cartoonishly flawless and Amazonian in stature. White-blonde hair fiercely straightened, wearing a tiny pair of shorts with giant heels, she glares at the camera as her entourage (stylist, hairdresser, make-up artist, US record company execs, nanny) look on silently. So far, so intimidating, until we’re introduced and she immediately breaks into a broad, sunshiney smile. ‘Hey there!’ she says in a girlish all-American drawl and takes my hand. A few days later, we meet again, at a hotel, and this time I remember not to judge a book by its cover. Gwen turns out remarkably unassuming, chatty, free of pretentious pronouncements about her ‘art’, and strangely honest about everything - from how hard she works to stay trim to the problems with a long-distance love affair (she’s married to Brit Gavin Rossdale, former singer in Rock band Bush). Read the rest of this article »

Escape Artist

Platinum pop star Gwen Stefani talks about her hit addiction, yodeling fantasies, and how she kicked her Madonna habit. Now she prepares to conquer the world, with baby in tow. By Joseph Hooper.

You know the story: Blonde Italian-American pop diva, music video eminence, and all-round material girl marries a Brit artiste and moves to England. The relationship hits some bumps along the way, but a baby boy ensues and celebrity life keeps rolling. “It is weird that we have all these similarities,” Gwen Stefani allows as she nestles on a couch in one of the many rooms her entourage has taken in London’s Landmark hotel in mid-November. With a voice that hovers somewhere between sultry and Kewpie doll, the singer has a knack for sounding about seven years old: “Madonna’s had us over to dinner and stuff, and she’s always been very nice to me.” Read the rest of this article »

Now and Gwen

She’s got a wardrobe of to-die-for clothes and gets to spend all day making music with Pharrell. We tracked Gwen down and demanded to know why she’s so cool.

Hey Gwen! How are you?
“I’m good, thanks for asking!”

You’ve been so busy. We love the Wind It Up video.
“Thanks. It’s so cool looking. I remember when I was a little girl and I saw The Sound of Music. It was such an inspiration to me. My folks wouldn’t let me watch Grease when it came out… but I did see that and it changed my life. I was able to indulge my theatrical side!” Read the rest of this article »

The good girl

Gwen Stefani’s new single, “Wind It Up,” celebrates her lifelong obsession with Maria from ‘The Sound of Music.’ Yet the singer says her latest stylistic muse is Michelle Pfeiffer’s drug-addled bombshell from ‘Scarface.’ As she prepares to release her second solo CD, the new mom talks about the unlikely people, places, and events that have shaped her career, her wardrobe - and her yodeling. By Clark Collis. Photographs by James Dimmock.

These are a few of Gwen Stefani’s favorite things: ‘The Sound of Music,’ ‘The Sound of Music,’ and, oh yes, ‘The Sound of Music.’ “I’m like a Trekkie, but for ‘The Sound of Music,’ ” says the No Doubt frontwoman and solo superstar. “The first time I ever went on stage, at a high school talent show, the dress that I wore was the dress that Maria wears when she sings ‘I Have Confidence.’ The drop-waist tweed dress. I had that dress. I made it.” Read the rest of this article »

Gwen’s New Baby

Gwen and Gavin go ga-ga as they welcome their son, Kingston, into the world.

He’s only a month old but already Kingston James McGregor Rossdale is one of the coolest babies in the world. He’s got a superstar singer and fashion icon for a mum in Gwen Stefani, and a rock star dad in Gavin Rossdale. Then there’s his cool name. While he shares one of his middle name, McGregor, with his dad, who’s half-Scottish, his first name, Kingston, is the capital of Jamaica - look closely at these photos and you’ll even see him wearing a t-shirt with Jamaican reggae legend Bob Marley on it! Read the rest of this article »

Shadow of a Doubt

Unlikely ska-chick turned international fashion icon and starlet Gwen Stefani is pushing for world domination with her Harajuku hip-pop.

Her debut solo album, Love. Angel. Music. Baby, released last year, has gone six-times platinum worldwide and, with pop anthems like ‘Hollaback Girl’ becoming the sound of 2005, Gwen Stefani has spent the year becoming a solo star of truly international status.

Hardly suprising - she has all the makings of a sex icon - bleached blonde barnet? Check. Scarlet smackers? Check. Tight belly constantly on display? Check. Gwen Stefani really is an all round siren, ticking all the boxes. An individual, quirky trend bender with a feisty attitude. Gwen was already an accomplished star, as the enigmatic front woman of No Doubt before she launched herself as a modern day style icon. An important addition to a long line of contemporary feisty females fronters of rock and alternative bands, she is the Debbie Harry of our generation. Read the rest of this article »

Go, Gwen! Go!

Our fave rock star-designer dropped some knowledge on what’s it’s like to release a solo CD, and how every good song deserves a slamming outfit. By Crystal Meers.

It’s been two years since the hardest rocking lady in music first graced our cover. Since then Rock Steady and No Doubt’s Greatest Hits have taken the world by storm, lovely L.A.M.B. gear has hit the streets, and that fine fiancé Gavin Rossdale has become the very lucky Mr. Stefani. As if that’s not enough, Gwen somehow found time to team up with powerhouses André 3000 of OutKast, Eve and the Neptunes to make a solo album, which hits stores November 23. It’s totally a big deal. The record, Love Angel Music Baby, is a dance-party dream and marks Gwen’s first magical musical adventure withour the No Doubt family. (Don’t worry - they’re not breaking up!) Read the rest of this article »

Gwen Stefani

Whether with No Doubt or solo, pop’s blonde bombshell is hardly “just a girl”

Do you remember what you were doing in 1985?
I remember exactly what I was doing. I was in high school and in love with this guy named Matt. He was on the drum line. I had a bob haircut and wore black-and-white tights and little mod-style outfits, listening to Madness or the Specials. I was hard-core into ska and thrift-store shopping, and making my own shit - trying not to be like everyone else. Read the rest of this article »

Gwen Stefani: Blonde with Extra Bottle

Madonna thinks she is ripping her off but who is the bigger star now?

When Madonna accused Gwen Stefani of copying her style last week - “She ripped me off. She married a Brit, she’s got blonde hair and she likes fashion” - it seemed like business as usual. With a new album to promote, her Madgeness has a habit of slapping down her best friends/rivals. But this time it was personal. Because for many, Stefani is the new Madonna, and her new solo album, Love.Angel.Music.Baby, is the album Madonna should have made. Read the rest of this article »