Teen Vogue (Sept. 16th 2014)

Why Gwen Stefani First Went Blonde…and How She Still Rocks the Raddest Personal Style in Hollywood

From her signature red lips right to your ears.

There are certain celebrities who have a next-level kind of cool factor—you know, that "something important is happening" vibe you can feel just by being in the same room with them. (Or by seeing them on TV, like most of us do.) Gwen Stefani is one of those celebrities. Maybe it's her ultra-confident stage persona, her insane musical talents, or that killer sense of style—whatever it is, it's palpable, and we were lucky enough to get a big ol' taste of it at her L.A.M.B. presentation last week.

Before we full-on ogled the collection's tribal-inspired prints and always-amazing shoes and bags, we caught up with the new Voice coach to get the scoop on her personal style evolution and to, well, just bask in her general greatness. Read on for the good stuff, and afterwards, be sure to tell us in the comments: Are we the only ones really eager to bleach our hair right now?

Your style has obviously evolved over the years, but you've always had such a signature look. Was fashion always important to you?

"It was! Even as a little girl, I was always really mesmerized by certain things. Like, I can remember the first time I went to see the Ice Capades. I have such vivid memories of the costumes…how there was an all-pink girl and a blue one and a yellow one. I was just always really affected by those kinds of visuals."

What else were you inspired by? Are there things you feel specifically shaped your style?

"I grew up near Disneyland, and my brother's an animator, so I was always really inspired by bright, cartoony colors and that whole feeling of happiness. But then again, growing up in Orange County, I was also really into chola gangster girls, too. Even being close to L.A., I was always inspired by old movies and Marilyn Monroe and the glamour of Hollywood. I even remember the day I discovered James Dean and Marilyn Monroe. I don't know why it affected me so strongly, but I walked down to the corner store and bought every poster of them, and I did my whole room up. Overnight."

How did getting into music influence your fashion?

"I think when I discovered music in eighth grade, that was when it really hit me…like, who am I? I knew who I didn't want to be. I knew I wasn't this girl or that girl. But I wasn't rebellious at all—I was just curious. I just knew what affected me in a positive way and went from there. I was actually a big copycat! I would see all these girls who had cool style and were just different, and I knew I wanted to be like that. I'd see something I liked and then sort of make it my own—you keep doing that and it becomes a sort of evolution of your style."

Are there any big fashion moments you felt were pivotal in your career?

"The first time I went all blonde! My mom started letting me do my hair in ninth grade with the frosting cap and all that, but it was a big moment for me when I did my whole head. I remember my boyfriend and I had just broken up, and I was like 'I don't care how much it costs, I'm getting my hair bleached!' That's really when everything changed. We had already written all the _Tragic Kingdom _songs, and that was the moment that sort of started the next chapter."

What do you think when you look back on old photos of yourself? Do you ever have those "what was I thinking?" moments?

I don't really get embarrassed about it, but I definitely look back at certain moments and don't think I look good…but I know why! I didn't have a hair stylist, I did all my own makeup, and I was going to the local fabric store for all of my outfits. That's just the point I was at in my life. But I've always loved fashion—it's a reflection of your personality. Even if no one was looking, I'd still be wearing the same things."

We might not know what happens when a tree falls and no one's there to hear it, but at least we know Gwen will always be Gwen. And you know what? That's enough for us.