Since 1986 when she first appeared on stage as the lead vocalist for No Doubt, the fashion savvy Gwen Stefani pulled out iconic looks, from 1950s pin-up to edgy streetwear and modern day glam.
The 54-year-old superstar – who in 2021 married Blake Shelton, her co-star from The Voice – has never shied away from expressing herself through her iconic, sometimes quirky, sense of fashion that’s always coupled with her signature platinum blonde hair and striking red lips.
Even when the “Sunday Morning” singer performed on the field at the 2003 Super Bowl, she stayed true to her style with a sparkly silver bustier top, baggy pants and statement accessories.
“I was gonna dress the way that I always dressed. That’s the way I dressed my whole life,” the “Don’t Speak” singer tells People.
And in 2022, demonstrating her versatility, Stefani lit up the red carpet at the MET Gala when she appeared in a stunning fluorescent gown designed by Vera Wang, who also created her 2021 wedding dresses.
The artist explains her fashion is “true” to who she is: “Just follow your own passion…I love fashion. It never gets old for me,” she said.
‘Girl just killed it’
In July 2024, the solo vocalist – who still performs reunion shows with No Doubt – took the stage at the inaugural Minnesota Yacht Club Festival on Friday, July 19.
The “Just a Girl” singer headlined the weekend festival located at Harriet Island Regional Park in St. Paul, Minnesota alongside Alanis Morissette, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
During Stefani’s set, concert goers went wild when Shelton, 48, appeared on stage with his wife to perform their duet “Purple Irises.”
Sharing moments live from the event, one Facebook user writes, “I’m a huge Gwen fan so I insisted we get up pretty close so we could see well and jump up and down with the crowd. When ‘Sunday Morning’ started playing, the tears streamed down my face. It’s my favorite No Doubt song and I had no idea she’d sing it!!!”
The user continues, “Fantastic that Blake Shelton made a surprise appearance. Gwen just radiates joy and has tons of energy. The girl just killed it.”
A second shares, “Gwen Stefani truly stole the show and took me back to the 90’s/2000’s.”
“Gwen Stefani brought out Blake Shelton which was surprisingly cooler than I thought and she put on a great show,” shares another netizen who adds a series of photos and clips from the evening’s events.
‘Looks tacky’
While fans gushed over the live performance, online critics failed to appreciate her deconstructed outfit, that was made with three different kinds of plaid.
Underneath the suit, The Voice judge wore a black fishnet bodysuit and tied her trademark platinum blonde hair – the tips dipped in black – into a high ponytail.
“I don’t know how she is a fashion icon!” snipes one cybernaut while a second adds, “She looks tacky. She needs some cool looking clothes [sic].”
A third cyber fan shares, “Where does she find that crap she wears I think she does it for attention it’s not very becoming either way [sic].”
Meanwhile other netizens complimented her unique style and defended her against the harsh judgements.
“So, she always liked to be different! That’s just her style. She doesn’t want to look like everyone else. I think she’s great!” writes one.
A second shares, “She looks amazing for her age and that’s simply her style. It always was.”
Another adds, “All you jealous people. STOP IT. Entertainers entertain, besides she rocks everything she wears. It is called authenticity.”