As a fan of Gwen Stefani’s personal style, it follows that I’m generally a fan of her clothing line as well. And if you’re not a fan of Gwen Stefani’s style, there’s probably not much for you here. It’s easy to criticize “personalities” who become designers for only designing for one girl – themselves. But all designers have “their girl” of the season and as long as there’s variety and constant evolution of the brand, I don’t view it as a problem. Stefani seemed to be super aware of this criticism when she sent six groups of looks down the runway for her L.A.M.B. Fall 2011 Collection. You certainly can’t say the collection is one note.
Some of my favorites were the “London Girls”, “Buffalo Girls”, and of course the “Glamour Girls”. It wouldn’t be L.A.M.B. without some plaid and some menswear inspiration. While not particularly innovative or new, it was always done stylishly and with real-world wearability. Stefani seemed to get the memo about 40s inspiration for fall, and did it in that chic, Old Hollywood way she’s know for. The color and tribal prints of the “Ragga Muffins” gave the collection an injection of energy. (It seems Stefani can’t – and shouldn’t – get away from Rastafarian reggae inspiration in her music or her fashion.) There were the leather leggings and jackets and boots you’d expect from a rock star, mod dresses, glamorous gowns. A really well-rounded closet for anyone lucky enough to be a kid in Stefani’s candy shop.
Even if it’s close to her own aesthetic, Stefani does always seem to be in touch with how real women who love clothes dress. And that’s something we need in an industry too often run by men designing for women or designers creating for the press or an improbable, uncomfortable waif. It’s evident in the variety of silhouettes and styles she shows that Stefani, in the end, isn’t really just creating for herself.
view all the looks in the L.A.M.B. Fall 2011 runway gallery >>
