No Doubt Rock Steady

New York Fashion Week got off to a bang today with a predictably upbeat presentation of L.A.M.B.’s fall 2010 collection. While we’re used to seeing Gwen Stefani rock the stage as a mega-watt pop performer and the front woman of No Doubt, today we got an inside look at her role as designer. We got her to dish on the hottest trends, her signature red lips, the late passing of Alexander McQueen, and more.

Stefani describes the inspiration for her fall 2010 collection to be a mix between a snobby Hollywood starlet, a futuristic girl, and a soldier girl. “I don’t really know what the trends are—whatever I like I just kind of go for,” says Stefani. “I just want to make stuff that I want to wear, you know, that’s not costume-y stuff, but stuff I want to wear every day that makes you feel unique and individual.

Alexander McQueen’s McQ collection was supposed to be shown in the same venue as L.A.M.B. today, but was cancelled due to his sudden passing. When asked how she felt about this news, Stefani had this to say: “From my perspective he was a genius. I mean, I never got to meet him, I never got to go to one of his shows, he’s given me a few pieces that I’ve worn, one time to the Grammys, and I have these leather boots that come to up to here [points at upper thigh], I have a couple pieces of his that he was so generous to give. Yeah, it’s devastating, and people are going to feel it for a long time. It’s just so tragic and so shocking.”

MAC makeup artist applies Gwen’s makeup, mixing four different shades to create her signature red lip. And FYI- she won’t be changing up her lip color anytime soon. “My husband really likes it, so whenever I don’t do it, he’s like ‘wait, where are the lips?’ I like that Hollywood glamorous thing, I always have, and always will. I’m stuck in my own ways.”

Viewers got a sneak peek at the new L.A.M.B. accessories. The lace print in particular is very on-trend.

Not only do Gwen’s Harajuku Lovers fragrances smell delish, they’re so adorable! Her new “Sunshine Cuties” summer fragrances will be launching soon, but attendees were lucky enough to get one in the gift bags. “For me fragrance is really hard, it’s so abstract,” says Stefani. “It’s hard trying to get the personality in there. I started the whole Harajuku thing with my album, and I never thought it would keep going, but it really evolved.”

MAC makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury came up with a Clara Bow-inspired ’30s look for the models. Skin was pale and semi-matte, while feline eyes were created by smudging MAC Smoulder black eyeliner outwards, and topped with several coats of mascara. Red and black lipliners were used on the lips to complete the look.

The new L.A.M.B. line was full of tweed coats, bodysuits, leopard prints, corsets, camouflage, military-inspired coats, stud and zipper detailing, and the slouchy harem pants she’s so fond of. “My whole life I’ve always worn men’s pants and trousers, and now they’re in, but they’re always gonna be in for me,” says Stefani. “When they go out, I’ll still wear them.”

Platform booties stormed the runway, some with opened toes. All were sky high.

Gwen Stefani likes her girls to look “like ’30s prostitutes.” Awesome.

We’ll never argue with a bit of sheer stocking, and that’s exactly what Gwen Stefani chose for her Fall 2010 presentation. The pop star wrapped her girls’ gams in black fishnet thigh-highs, combined with black leather mules, tight peplum jackets, and a few loose print dresses with a tribal feel.

“Basically whatever I’m wearing right now, that’s what I design,” said Gwen backstage, adding that she was influenced by the dirty glamour of ’30s nightlife and the current (and, it seems, forever) military craze.

But Gwen doesn’t just carry trends, she also starts them – that soldier-boy look that Balmain smashed through Paris last year actually had a start on Gwen’s stage: remember, her marching-band look for Hollaback Girl was pure smile-and-salute.

So next year in Paris – leather leggings and a purple trench dress?

All eyes on LAMB, not designer Gwen Stefani, at Fashion Week.

It was a backhanded compliment to Gwen Stefani that few people in the crowd noticed her on a stepladder in the back of the room as the fall LAMB collection debuted Thursday at New York Fashion Week.

All eyes at the MAC & Milk studio space were on the models — with pouffy hair, smoky eyes and skyscraper heels — and the hip, urban clothes that Stefani’s label is known for.

The new styles show that Stefani is evolving as a designer, not just retreading her own wardrobe that often gets her on best-dressed lists.

The LAMB look has some hard edges, with skinny leather pants and grommeted military-style belts wrapped around slinky dresses as if they were holding ammunition, but that’s likely what the customer wants. Stefani herself proved a leather jacket-and-bloomer-short combination wearable on the right person — or at least the right celebrity — when she took her bow. It’s hardly a look for the everywoman, though.

The model who wore the ruched catsuit got a lot of attention from the photographers, even some cat calls.

Stefani furthered the resurgence of denim that first made the round of runway appearances in the spring collections that are just hitting stores; she favored silhouettes that were either baggy at the waist and hips with a sharply tapered hem or second-skin jeans with ankle zippers. But some of the futuristic styles, including some dresses with strong shoulders or a lot of hardware, seemed a little late to the trend.

For all the body-hugging looks, some of the best individual pieces here were cozy, loose knits, especially a sweater poncho and an off-the-shoulder lurex sweater.

But those pieces would be a waste on Stefani: She should rock the metallic cropped jacket or black satin riding coat with leather leggings.

With gorgeous baby in tow (the smaller one), Gwen Stefani presented another tough-girl LAMB collection for fall 2010 at MAC & Milk.
The punky and youthful looks for next season are quintessentially L.A.M.B. — lots of cargo, dog tags, etc., but we were thrilled to see some grown-up cuts in pleated wool trousers and a nicely draped silk jersey dress.

The highlights came from stand-out prints including plaid, tribale-esque, a dingy watercolor, leaopard and camo, as well as a focus on the waist, with corsets over manly oxfords and layers of belts atop high-rise pleats.

The models teetered on sky high platform booties and resembled something between the bride of Chucky and Barbie gone bad (in a good way). Hair was like a doll’s — bouncy curls and heavy bangs, with makeup taking any prisoners, combining smoky eyes and dark, rich lips.

Gwen popped out at the end in a leather suit — short shorts and a crop jacket — a kicky look we hope to see for fall.

Gwen Stefani strikes a pose at her L.A.M.B. Fall 2010 presentation during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York City on Thursday (February 11).

The 40-year-old fashionista and singer presented the latest from her casual, chic and fun line at Milk Studios and spoke with JustJared.com about her Valentine’s Day plans!

“I’ve been gone for a week, so hopefully kissing my husband [Gavin Rossdale] a little bit!” Gwen said, smiling.

The mama of two said that her younger son, Zuma, is in NYC with her for the week but that she misses Gavin and son Kingston and can’t wait to come back to L.A. and spend time with them!

We saw an intriguing role model for young American women Thursday afternoon in New York, a rambunctious Barbie babe courtesy of Gwen Stefani who presented the fall 2010 collection of her fashion label L.A.M.B. with considerable sass and polish.

This was Stefani second show since she shifted licensee to a Canadian outfit last year and a highly respectable collection it turned out to be.

For fall, Stefani sees gals strutting their stuff in deconstructed pants and off-the-shoulder knits, saucy but never ever slutty. She had lots of military references with fatigue pants, sergeant’s belts and camouflage tops, but these were maneuvers will extend no further than a packed after party, or a steamy bar.

Stefani remains obsessed with deconstruction, so much so it’s become her signature, whether leather corsets worn over khaki shirts or chopped up French Revolutionary blouses. She showed lots of leg – skirts were cut way up the thigh – though alternated this with skin-tight suede leather pants, and a large dose of bondage references. Though these were the sort that wouldn’t offend your granny, that is if she’s the kind of lady who dreamed of going to a swingers club, but could never find the right guy to take.

It helped that Stefani was savvy enough to surround herself with strong back up. Winning distinctions were excellent, mega eye lashes and thick sooty eyeliner courtesy of English beauty genius Charlotte Tilbury and the M.A.C. Pro Team, and a medal for DJ, and John Galliano mix master, Jeremy Healey, who got the mood spot on with his rocking mélange.

It was a marked improvement since we first spied a Stefani runway show some six years ago, a rather hackneyed affair in Roseland Ballroom that most critics panned. Well, it turns out this lady has staying power, and enough commitment to have learned her new trade well. This was nothing very revolutionary, but for a convincing suggestion of what young women can wear, and feel good about themselves in, we’ll give this saucy doll collection high marks.

And if you had any doubt what the lasses on this catwalk were looking for, then the small goody bag pressed into our paws as we exited made it clear – miniature 10ml bottles of Harajuku “Sunshine Cuties” Lovers fragrances.

L.A.M.B. Fall 2010 Presentation during New York Fashion Week, February 11th.

L.A.M.B. Fall 2010 Presentation during New York Fashion Week – the collection, February 11th.

EDIT: Over 120 HQs added.

Popsugar had a chance to catch up with Gwen Stefani this morning before her L.A.M.B. presentation during New York Fashion Week — lots more to come on that later. She took a brief moment to touch on the loss of Alexander McQueen, who passed away in London last night at the age of 40. Some of his close friends like Kate Moss have expressed their sadness over his death, as we look back at his amazing runway moments and trend-setting beauty looks. Gwen, meanwhile, had this to say:

“To me, from my perspective, he was a genius. I never got to meet him, I never got to go to any of his shows. . . He’s given me a few pieces that I wore one time to the Grammys, and these leather boots that come up to here [mid-thigh]. I have a couple pieces of his, he was so generous. It’s so devastating, I think people are going to feel it for a long time. It’s devastating.”

From Twitter:

EDIT:

twitter.com/glamour_fashion: backstage at lamb–gwen stefani is wearing a leather shorts suit and insanely high booties. so chic!

less than 10 seconds ago from mobile web

http://twitpic.com/12n16r – Loving Gwen stefani’s take on leopard shoes at L.A.M.B.!

5 minutes ago from TwitPic

EDIT2:

twitter.com/jaredeng: At Gwen Stefani’s LAMB presentation. Hundreds of press/photogs @ Milk Studios. There r 37 looks – 1 of my fave #s ha http://mypict.me/3IPUn

2 minutes ago from UberTwitter

EDIT3:

twitter.com/Videofashion: Gwen Stefani is gorgeous! Check out her awesome LAMB booties! http://yfrog.com/4irfswj

about 2 hours ago from Twitterrific

EDIT4:

EDIT5:
twitter.com/jaredeng: Gwen Stefani looking FIERCE at her LAMB presentation at NYC’s Milk Studios with all of her models. Casual, chic, fun http://mypict.me/3IRqB
2 minutes ago from UberTwitter

twitter.com/YuliZ:

EDIT6:

twitter.com/jaredeng: Gwen Stefani! She’s going home for VDay, ere with Zuma, hasn’t seen Gavin/Kingston for 7 days. Misses them! http://mypict.me/3IRQC
2 minutes ago from UberTwitter

Check back for more soon.