Gwen Stefani sticks to what she does best, fusing '60s tailored chic with '90s slouchy patterns.
Black-and-white photos of New York in the 1960s provided the backdrop for tweed miniskirt suits, chunky knit sweaters worn with shorts and tights, and a double-zip, high-neck jumpsuit. Grays and blacks were punctuated by occasional flashes of bright yellow.
AP: What was your inspiration, and how is this collection different and similar to your previous seasons?
Stefani: I began with the original rock girl icon, the sweater girl in a pencil skirt and looked at early `60s fashion imagery. These girls were the first and have always stayed current. After that I added all the things I always loved. Houndstooth, mixed print, black and white, pop colors. This season I tried to make the clothes stand out and yet be very easy to wear.
Unfortunately, the logistics of her presentation Saturday night at the Lincoln Center tents during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week made it difficult for the assembled editors, retailers and stylists to get a really good look at the collection. A half-dozen models at a time were rotated onto a small stage as hundreds of people tried to get a glimpse. It was hard to get a sense of the cohesive message of the line, although it seemed like there was a definite point of view from Stefani, which she confirmed in an email interview with The Associated Press.
AP: Can you describe your ideal customer and how the new collection serves them?
Stefani: My ideal customer is a fashion-forward girl, an individual who needs her clothes to perform like classic sportswear. She enjoys her fashion, loves her style, likes to express herself and not look like everyone else. Her clothes should cruise along with everything else that she loves in her life and not be difficult or restricting to wear.
AP: How do you keep tabs on up-and-coming designers?
Stefani: I'm constantly on the Internet at the studio late at night when we have breaks recording the ND ("No Doubt") album. I love sites like Trendland, Style.com and am always finding tons of new Japanese sites to go through too. I love sending my team all of the images I find . so much fun. I'm totally obsessed.
Inspired by the "1960s rogue girl with a Japanese street sensibility," Gwen Stefani chose to show off her latest L.A.M.B designs against a collage of black-and-white New York City street snaps and closeup shots of girls getting their eye makeup done, all while Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Were Made For Walkin'" boomed overhead.
Each look seemed to reflect a moment in Gwen's iconic style evolution. Case in point: her "Hey Baby" houndstooth print made a serious comeback, landing on everything from sporty totes to bomber jackets; her "Sweet Escape" moto-edged attire popped up in zippered jacquard jackets; and those Clueless-worthy platforms? That's just a classic Gwen staple.
While the outerwear was athletic and tough, the attention to feminine details was also spot on. Look to the Peter Pan collars, sexy Morgenthal Frederics cat-eye glasses, impeccably pleated circle skirts, and sheer knee-high nylons for proof of Gwen's girlier side.
No matter how you spin it, this is an ultra-wearable lineup of '90s-cool gear with a hint of retro and a pop of graphic-print modernity.
Trends: Houndstooth print, pleated skirts, sportswear-inspired outerwear, and Peter Pan collars.
Colors: A dark, cool palette — red, black, gray, and ecru — with surprise pops of neon yellow.
Key Piece: The gray pleated circle skirt paired with a sweet collared top makes a sexy take on schoolgirl classics.
Accessories: Sporty tote bags, cat-eye secretary glasses, knee-high nylons, and '90s-style chunky platforms.
Who Would Wear It: The girl with a sportier fierce edge when it comes to dress, like Rihanna.
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