Well, she ain't no holler back girl - but she's not such a great designer either.
Now I should start this post by saying -I am a HUGE Gwen Stefani fan. I love her look, her style, her voice, her band - NO DOUBT.. name it. I'm there. I actually flew from NYC to San Diego to see No Doubt in concert. Also, by chance I was in Paris once when they were performing and saw them in a tiny little venue right as the band was blowing up.
However, as much as I was dying to love everything that this music rebel offered the fashion world - every time I see her designs its like someone is ripping the needle off the record. rrrrrrripp. Ok, that is an old school reference... I guess its like the CD starts skipping... or the MP3 stops???? You get the point!
Her collection is called L.A.M.B. an acronym for Love/Angel/Music/Baby - which I guess describes her personal style - or her personal theory on life?
Most celebrities who decide to be fashion designers are smart enough to hire a designer to help them or partner with them to guide their collection, however it is important to choose wisely. Gwen chose someone who the New York fashion fold knew for years as half of an infamous performance artist duo of Matthu & Zaldy. The two were known as Suzanne Bartsch's backup / go go/ creature boys. It was the late 80's and NYC was FUN! Zaldy always had an androgynous look to him and to his designs- very avant-garde club kid. Suzanne has been around since the wild 80's days. She is the mother of all club kids and those who live outside the box. I got to know Suzanne during my Mugler days and it was never dull - that is for sure. Suzanne was also the wife of David Barton. Here is a picture of the two- camping out at home in the Chelsea hotel. Yes, thats the one where Sid Vicious of the Sex Pistols killed Nancy!
It makes perfect sense for Gwen to be drawn to Zaldy, as she herself is quite punk and definitely not your average girly girl. The trouble is that the clothes look more like costumes than fashion finds. What works in a video or on a runway does not always translate to the street.
I think Zaldy is really talented, but his out of this world style is way too much for the serious designer vibe Gwen is shooting for. I hate to say she is taking herself a little too seriously, but I smell a diva. I think Gwen needs a bit more realistic view of what she is creating. Last year on the red carpet, Gwen wore a very over the top ensemble that featured two prominent G's back to back on her belt buckle. A very earnest tv correspondent wondered out loud "who are you wearing- Gucci?". Gwen's smile quickly disappeared as she answered "L.A.M.B. - by me...Gwen". OH! silence... ouch! Sorry Gwen but I do think that little company from Italy does own the whole G logo thing! I'm not saying Gwen should not be designing, but lets call it what it is... A nice secondary line that is no major fashion collection. Alongside a Baby Phat, or a Cynthia Rowley - L.A.M.B. looks excellent. However, when you parade these collections on runways that also showcase Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, or Donna Karen - sorry it just doesn't cut it.
Let me hear from you if you love L.A.M.B. and think i'm way off - or if you think I'm right on and L.A.M.B. leaves something to be desired.
