Gwen Stefani in transition

15 November 1997: Gwen Stefani of 'No Doubt' at the Race to Erase MS, California.

The look: There's certainly a sense of individualism to this look but it's boho boring. The skirt says I travelled to Thailand and bought the skirt instead of the t-shirt.

Gwen Stefani in transition

18 May 1998: Gwen Stefani at the 1998 ASCAP Pop Music Awards, Beverly Hills.

The look: Is that blue ribbon a medal for worst dressed award?

There are so many style contradictions in this one outfit. The indie-cute Drew Barrymore hair with floral fabric, the glamour evening pash with white pants and the platform beach sandals... so ghastly I got a headache!

Gwen's searching for something but baby, this ain't it.

Gwen Stefani in transition

24 June 200: No Doubt performed live at Memorial Stadium in Seattle, Washington to celebrate the opening of Experience Music Project.

The look: "Being in a band you can wear whatever you want, its like an excuse for Halloween everyday"

Well, perhaps Boswell Wilkie's circus inspired this cartoon. The problem is that these clothes don't complement Gwen... sure they make a statement but it's so distracting, it's ridiculous.

Gwen Stefani in transition

21 February 2001: Gwen arrives at the 43rd Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.

The look: The dress is quirky enough without the gloves, stockings and bag. The hair and make-up complement the dress, but the extras make it look over-styled.

This is the first taste of Gwen's style transformation.

Gwen Stefani in transition

3 December 2001: Gwen arrives at the My VH1 Music Awards 2001 in Los Angeles.

The look: A vastly different look from Gwen's previous red carpet get-up. Her inner-rasta is exposed and whilst Gwen's look takes courage to wear, she is experimenting with her style. We don't often see Gwen's hair freely styled but it works.

Interestingly, the houndstooth print of her pants would later become a signature style of her fashion label, Lamb.

Gwen Stefani in transition

10 December 2003: No Doubt attend the 2003 Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas.

The look: In No Doubt's early days, Gwen Stefani looked like the members of her band, quirky but forgettable. Her decision to go solo saw the invention of a star, whose image would become iconic and fashion forward.

Here we have Gwen in limbo. She's departed from baggy pants, pink hair and face embellishments into a tailored temptress with way-out hair. She's more noticeable but still not there... just yet.

Gwen Stefani in transition

28 June 2004: Gwen attends the premiere of Anchorman in Westwood, California.

The look: Statuesque body which, God bless her, she admits "takes work". To be honest, she looks like a mannequin I just want to dress. The pants are a fantastic shape but the colour is crazy; crazy strange not crazy cool.

More importantly, she looks confident – as if there is a style maven brewing under that mismatched ensemble.

Gwen Stefani in transition

14 November 2004: Gwen at the 32nd Annual 'American Music Awards' in Los Angeles.

The look: This is insane, I love it – I call it "The launch of Gwen". Granted, you can't wear this outfit in the street but this is the music awards, an opportunity for Gwen to declare herself a solo artist.

Would she have featured on our radar if she wore a boring black dress and spoke about her aspirations? Probably not.

PS: How great is that jacket? Imagine with a pair of jeans... fierce!

Gwen Stefani in transition

18 November 2004: Gwen and hubby, Gavin Rossdale, pose backstage during the MTV Europe Music Awards 2004 in Rome, Italy.

The look: Oh Gwen, styling the Harajuku's with your and Gavin's outfit is genius. Visual marketing at its best... her first concert was called "Harajuku Lovers".

Gwen Stefani in transition

1 December 2004: Gwen attends the Los Angeles premiere of The Aviator in Hollywood, California.

The look: Gwen looks breathtakingly beautiful; her choice of gown is in keeping with her pop star image but leans towards Hollywood glamour. The colour compliments her skin tone and the leopard print shoes give a pop of personality.

Gwen understands it's not about what's right or wrong with fashion but what is appropriate for the occasion, and that's style savvy.

Gwen Stefani in transition

22 January 2005: Gwen and Gavin pose for a portrait to promote the Tsunami relief charity single, a cover of the Sir Eric Clapton ballad Tears In Heaven at a Los Angeles studio.

The look: Gwen appropriately dresses down for a Tsunami relief benefit. It's not the full on glamour that we have become accustomed to seeing but her style translates successfully with the patterned blazer and cargo pants.

Gwen Stefani in transition

28 August 2005: Gwen arrives at the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards in Miami, Florida.

The look: Slam-dunk! Sensational. The shape of the gown, the hair, the shoes. It brings a tear to my fashion-seeking eye...

Gwen shows us that it's all about balance, the dress is the feature and so everything else is neutral.

Who else could make leopard print look so chic and not like a footballer's wife?

Gwen Stefani in transition

16 September 2005: Gwen walks the runway at the Lamb By Gwen Stefani Spring 2006 fashion show during Olympus Fashion Week in New York City.

The look: Smile baby, you own it. Our little lamb has finally found her fashion footing and boy, does she get it. We've seen similar looks like this in her style past but they were more ghastly than ghetto.

Gwen Stefani in transition

8 February 2006: Gavin and Gwen arrive at the 48th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.

The look: "I imagine my children are going to save me from my vanity"

Baby brewing style – Gwen's empire-line frock makes mod maternity wear a must-have.

Gwen Stefani in transition

21 October 2005: Gwen arrives with the Harajuku girls to the celebration of the Harajuku Lovers Tour 2005 held at the Hollywood Museum in California. The Harajuku Lovers Tour 2005 is a presentation and launch of apparel and accessories from Harajuku Lovers brand.

The look: "I was thinking that when I have children that I should always dress as a character for them, so they think their mom is Alice in Wonderland or Cinderella"

Alice in wonderland never looked so hot. Gwen loves glamour and I admire the way she doesn't always need to be sexy to be considered hot.

Most starlets repeatedly put their goodies on show to get noticed and we always get the same image time and again (think Jessica Simpson). Gwen's look is different and fashionista's can't wait to see what she's going to do next.

Gwen Stefani in transition

21 November 2006: Gwen and Gavin arrive at the 2006 American Music Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.

The look: "Music and fashion, it all comes from the same place of creativity"

Another uniquely Gwen outfit and her hair is star-trek cool. Another g-invention for her second cd launch.

Gwen Stefani in transition

7 December 2006: Gwen poses backstage after an appearance on MTV's Total Request Live at MTV Studios in New York City.

The look: Gwen is a style icon. Her ability to put together an outfit is beyond admirable. Take the hot pants for instance; on a hanger, or on most individuals, these would be a style don't, but Gwen is able to balance the outfit with neutral colours and classic styling, making it look chic.

Gwen Stefani in transition

20 January 2007: Gwen attends the 2007 NRJ Music Awards held at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France.

The look: Ga-ga-gorgeous. This is one of my favourite looks on Gwen. Sure, her costumesque stage style is slamming but in this look, she reaches full vamp status.

Gwen Stefani in transition

5 September 2007: Gwen attends a ceremony in her honour, hosted by InStyle Magazine at the Grammercy Park Hotel during the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Spring 2008.

The look: "Sometimes you have to sacrifice your performance for high heels."

Take a bow Gwen, cause darling, you have it all. It takes hard work to become a style icon. Her commitment to fashion is admirable as Gwen always looks professionally turned out.

Written by: Bronwen Saayman