Flare (October 2007)
Confessions of a pop icon
Gwen Stefani tells us exactly what's on her mind
New mom and modern-rock royal Gwen Stefani shows no signs of slowing down. Proof positive: in addition to the success of her clothing label, L.A.M.B.: her sophomore solo album, The Sweet Escape; and even a sellout doll made in her oh-so-stylish image, we were invited to New York to attend the launch of L, her new L.A.M.B. fragrance. At first sniff, we detected a standout cocktail of sparkling green notes, orange blossom (an ode to Orange County, Calif., Stefani's hometown), sweet peas and musk. About the final bright and sensuous mix, Stefani says it may not be for everyone: "You either smell it and think you'd like to put it oh-or you don't." We suspect the most bold and stylish will love it, and all of us aching for a spritz of stage confidence will want in on it, too.
ON CREATING L: "Music is a three-and-a-half-minute way to say an emotion. This is in a bottle."
ON L.A.M.B.. THE CLOTHING LABEL: "I wanted to do something creative In my life outside of music that I could do when I have a family. It's very rewarding for me to be able to do creative things. It's my personality."
ON THE JOY OF FASHION: "I've always been fascinated with Old Hollywood, the glamour. That's what's so great about being a designer-the history of fashion. I go to the costume houses and dig through for hours."
ON HER FASHION MUST-HAVES: "The dress in The Sound of Music that Maria Von Trapp wears when she meets the children. I personally love that dress, and I ended up copying and making that dress. Also, I used to have dreams that I would open my closet and find that pair of overalls that they wear in the Dexys Midnight Runners video ["Come On Eileen"]."
ON BEING AN ARTIST: "It's more about the process than the final product. You get to the end of a [project] and you share it with people-and that's really fun-but there's something about the baking of the cookies that I enjoy."
ON THE POWER OF MADGE: "Early Madonna records definitely inspired my album Love. Angel. Music. Baby. Songs such as 'Live to Tell' and 'Borderline.' "
ON HER FUTURE: "I think I'm In repeat mode. I'm going to make babies, make music, then make more clothes."
ON HER SON, KINGSTON: "He Is the greatest thing that's ever happened to me. He's just so deliciously great, and I love him. He's got the best smell in the world. We should bottle that."