The Gwen Stefani Look

“Don’t speak, I know what you’re saying…” These words would bring goose bumps to my skin. Granted I was maybe nine or ten, but I knew the girl who sang one of the many singles to the album Tragic Kingdom was to be my future wife. Oh, how I remember watching No Doubt videos and dreaming about marrying Gwen Stefani.

You may ask, “why was I so infatuated with this woman?” Ah! I know why, it was her style. Her style to me was like none other. It was like this skater/rocker meets ska type of thing going on. I couldn’t really explain it, but I knew her blonde hair was pretty wicked too.

Her style was always light years before our time. 

Years later I didn’t mind her marrying guitarist and singer Gavin Rossdale. She was still my future wife. Plus I was too young to get married. Gavin was just my placeholder until I stepped up to the plate. 

A new album from No Doubt and “Don’t Speak” being covered by the cast of GLEE last week have me rethinking what I once thought about Stefani. “Does she still have the edge that she once possessed?” No Doubt’s recent song and video, Settle Down, shows Gwen and the band still trying to give the ol’ 90s try. She still rocks the skater look, which is complete opposite of what she did as a solo artist.

I find myself thinking, “Maybe her style isn’t as interesting as it once was.” I’m not sure what it is. But the one time skater/ska woman who was once “just a girl” just doesn’t do it for me anymore. 

Her looks may still be amazing but the style may be far-gone. Let’s hope she doesn’t join the ranks of Madonna and Cher. Only in my worst nightmares would I hope to see one of Gwen Stefani’s children playing in the background as she croons, “if I could turn back time.”