Harper's Bazaar is lush and beautiful. Gwen Stefani is beyond awesome and beautiful. So, based on common sense, there is no reason these two things should be incompatible, right? The glossy featured the singer (on a comeback after the release of No Doubt's first single in 10 years) for the September issue, but we were a little surprised to see stylist Lori Goldstein's excessively girly, oddly un-Stefani-like take. In a number of pink ensembles and one gigantic hat worthy of the world's largest racetrack, Gwen – despite her persistently characteristic facial expressions – could be just about anyone in this shoot.
Of course, we're not saying she doesn't look great. The singer/mother/designer always does, and if we looked even a quarter this good at 42, we'd be praising genetics. When we see the original pop-punk princess on a giant magazine cover, we sort of want her to do something else than peer demurely out from under a pink chapeau. She's got too much 'tude to be completely stifled, but dressing her up like a Barbie seems not only counterintuitive but counterproductive for a woman of such power, prowess, and punch. See more of the spread (full editorial and video here), and tell us if this cover is a wow or a whimper!
What do you think of Gwen's latest cover? Are you just happy to see her back in action, or do you think HBZ could've taken an edgier approach?
Photo: Courtesy of Harper's Bazaar.