5 Outdated Trends We Can't Believe Gwen Stefani Wore

Gwen Stefani has been the queen of style since the '90s, going through several fashion iterations over her decades as a global star and designer at Love Angel Music Baby (L.A.M.B.). But with so many daring choices, there are bound to be a few fails, and Stefani has worn some outdated trends that didn't push the limits; instead, they pulled her back into bygone eras. It's not totally surprising that the Gen X singer has had a few fails; her fashion taste has always been evolving, and with that comes new challenges but also the possibility of an outfit flop. 

Stefani was a grunge queen during the reign of her band No Doubt before entering her "Harajuku Girls" phase, followed by a more subdued, though never totally tame, "The Voice" style. Through it all, Stefani pushed the limits, and was often able to dazzle fans. As such, we've always been fascinated by her looks. For instance, Stefani's natural hair color isn't platinum blonde, and her real color is shockingly different. To keep things even more daring, Stefani's also opted for wigs over the years, which accounts for her ever-changing hair colors. In spite of all this perfection, Stefani's got a few fits in the old archive that she's got to regret. 

For someone with such an ability to successfully push sartorial limits, Gwen Stefani's outfit choice at the 1997 Grammys was shocking. Her outfit was designed by Dolce & Gabanna, and one would think that the combination of Stefani and the iconic Italian fashion house would be invincible, but not so. She wore a floor-length flower dress in dusty pink and layered over it a shiny, oversized butter yellow floral jacket in completely different tones. The monstrosity looked like something a grandmother would wear in the '70s. Stefani, despite all of her power at pulling off wild looks, couldn't make this frumpy outfit shine.

Though the boxy blazer look would have a resurgence in the 2020s, it doesn't surprise us that this characteristically '90s style went out of fashion, especially after looking at this Gwen Stefani outfit from a 1998 Rolling Stones concert. We sort of get what singer was going for here. She seemed to be channeling the vibes of the previous decade by pairing a grey blazer with oversized pants, thick, black sneakers and Bantu knots. Noting the cultural appropriation of her wearing Bantu knots, popular in the Zulu nation in South Africa, Stefani's outfit was a hot mess of '90s fashion gone wrong. The blazer looked maternal and boxy on her, while the enormous, baggy pants looked strange with the tailored top. The thick, dark sneakers did nothing to lift the look, either.

It's always been a risk to pull off pants under a skirt, and the combo is hard to pull off for anyone. This was the case even when the fad peaked in the '90s and early aughts. Stefani's attempt at the trend for the MTV Video Music Awards in 1998 proved why this look was best left in the past. The singer's disastrous outfit featured a black skirt layered over baggy, black pants. As if this couldn't get anymore '90s, she paired the fad with a fuzzy blue bikini top to match her blue hair, and platform sandals. While we can't deny how much Stefani left an impression with this daring look, the monstrosity of an outfit didn't do any favors for the singer, and served as a reminder for why we hope this style doesn't ever come back.

What a whirlwind of fabrics! Gwen Stefani arrived at the 2001 VH1 Vogue Fashion Awards in New York City in the absolute wildest outfit imaginable, and managed to wear every piece that has not survived Y2K fashion. She wore a lot of mesh, both on the top and the bottom, thanks to her fishnet stockings. She styled these pieces with a herringbone blazer, a print that has dated about as well as its sister-style, chevron. Both prints should be locked in a vault and launched forever in the past. She then wore low-rise, billowy capris and finished off the busy look with red and white pumps. No thanks. 

Nautical fashion was inescapable in the 2000s, so it doesn't surprise us that fashion queen Gwen Stefani embraced the long outdated trend during its peak. However, her take on the style at the Grammys in 2004 still hasn't left our minds — and not for the right reason.

Opting for a black and white look, Stefani channeled her inner sailor with high waist, wide leg trousers with plenty of button details on the abdomen and a fitted, ruffled top. While the mixed textures from the flouncy halter and smooth pant made for an intriguing look, it's hard to imagine the singer in something like this now. Stefani swept her hair dramatically to one side in a haphazard — though characteristically 2000s style — and the overall effect was one of the singer's most dated looks.