O Magazine (January 2015)

How Gwen Stefani Lives Her Best Life

The No Doubt front woman, now out with her third solo album, looks to her parents for marital wisdom and her inner tween for fashion cues.

Best Moment With No Doubt 

Early in our career we performed in a pub in Munich where everyone knew all the words to "Don't Speak." It was incredible. And what's really insane is that I recently worked with a photographer who was at that same show as a 13-year-old, and he had tried to take off my shoe! 

Best Relationship Advice 

You get what you put in. I've learned that from my parents, who have been married for almost 49 years—proof that the more you work at marriage, the more amazing the rewards. 

Best Guilty Pleasure 

A deliciously simple Margherita pizza, all to myself. 

Best Style Inspiration 

My eighth-grade self. In 1982, I was into ska music, James Dean, and the Latino culture in my Southern California neighborhood. As a result, I tried to dress outside the box, different from what the other kids were wearing, with a laid-back vibe—and big accessories. More than 30 years later, that's still my look! 

Best Family Tradition 

When I was growing up, Santa Claus would cover the living room doorway in wrapping paper so we kids couldn't peek at what was under the tree. Our parents would count to three, and then we'd crash through the paper to get our presents. It's the craziest thing because now Santa does the same thing for my kids. Weird, huh? 

Best Collection 

My three children. Anything more than two qualifies as a full-blown collection, right?