Gwen Stefani on her new collection, latest perfume, and how to look stylish at all times

Brian Bedder/Getty Images
Brian Bedder/Getty Images

For Fashion's Night Out last Friday night, Gwen Stefani held a pre-launch event for her new Harajuku Lovers Wicked Style fragrances, which she describes as "light, fun, happy, fruity, and sweet." 100 lucky customers who got there first had the opportunity to buy the scents months in advance and have them autographed by Gwen herself. But I was even luckier. I got to interview Gwen about her new perfumes, her fascination with Japanese culture, how she looks gorgeous on- and off-stage, and her upcoming L.A.M.B. clothing collection. Read on for our exclusive interview!

On how one goes about creating a fragrance
I'll be on tour spraying everyone like, "which one do you like? Which one do you like?" It's really difficult, especially when you start to mess with [the scents]. They send you something and you're like, "well, maybe a little bit more orange." And then you really don't know what you want and you're like, "oh no, maybe I was wrong. Take the orange out. What was I thinking." It's such an abstract, weird kind of personal thing.

Brian Bedder/Getty Images
Brian Bedder/Getty Images





On her favorite scent


I used to be that kind of girl that wanted to have that one scent and that's what I smell like. But now being able to have so many different fragrances I can change it up all the time, and I love that. I've matured.
I think "Gwen" is my favorite... I love to be able to wear the one that really is me.

On the one not-so-cool thing about having your own scent
I remember doing it when I was pregnant one time-that was hard, I was like, "I can't smell! Everything smells bad!"

On why she's completely obsessed with Harajuku
My dad actually worked for Yamaha motorcycles my whole life. He would come home [from Japan] with a doll, and the candy, and different little presents from there, so I had that connection real early. When I finally went there with No Doubt it was just like, wow, this is totally where I should be from! I very much related to the whole thing. It's just so creative, and everybody's trying to be individual, and unique, and original. I just really loved it and always wanted to go back there.


Gwen Stefani signs autographs flanked by her Harajuku girls. Photo: Brian Bedder/Getty Images
Gwen Stefani signs autographs flanked by her Harajuku girls. Photo: Brian Bedder/Getty Images

On how she stays pretty
I take as good care of myself as I can. I eat really good. I work out a lot. Training and drinking water and all the things they say to do. I don't have any answers or tricks where I can be like, "guess what? If you do this…" If I did I would probably like, I don't know, sell it.

On her beauty routine as a kid
As soon as we got home from school I'd book it to the bathroom in my girl friend's house and be like, Mary Kay-let's do it! And we'd have all of our moms' makeup, and I'd burn her neck with a curling iron.

Me and Gwen! Definitely a Fashion Week highlight. Photo: Brian Bedder/Getty Images
Me and Gwen! Definitely a Fashion Week highlight. Photo: Brian Bedder/Getty Images

On why she looks stylish at all times
Since I was able to put any clothes on or make clothes I've always loved getting ready. So even if I didn't have this life I would still get made up before I left the house. That's just how I am. My husband always says, "we spend all this time getting ready, and then you just want to leave as soon as we get there!" And I do! I'm, like, in and out. I think it's because I enjoy it. Maybe that's what people see, it's not like this forced thing. Of course there are days when I don't want to put make up on. I just don't leave house those day. But I do really enjoy the process of getting ready.

On her new Spring 2011 collection, showing later this week

This time it really took a turn, because I wanted to do a Kimono type print, and one of the girls who works with me brought this African print that was supposed to just be scrap. She just found it, it was like, a mistake. And we were like, "Oh my god, we love that!" So then everything kind of went African, and just went into that direction surprisingly last minute. It's going to be a lot of prints, a lot of color-which is totally opposite of the last couple years.

Why we're totally jealous of Gwen Stefani
I love my clothes, and I love making clothes. It's just such a dream.