L.A.M.B. is an eyewear line by American singer Gwen Stefani, the lead vocalist of the rock band No Doubt. The line once sold apparel and fashion accessories. It was founded in 2003 and made its runway debut in 2004. The line's name is an acronym of Stefani's debut solo album Love. Angel. Music. Baby. As of 2015, the line currently focuses on eyewear.
The line was influenced by a variety of cultures' fashions, including Guatemalan, Japanese, Indian and Jamaican styles. Stefani came from a family of seamstresses. This further inspired her to launch her own fashion line. The line achieved popularity among celebrities and was worn by stars such as Teri Hatcher, Nicole Kidman, Paris Hilton and Stefani herself. The fashion line made a runway debut in the spring collection of 2004Van Meter, Jonathan "The First Lady of Rock" Vogue, retrieved October 12, 2007 and achieved mainstream success at New York Fashion Week in 2005. An additional fashion line, called Harajuku Lovers, was subsequently launched by Stefani.
History
Stefani's first experience designing clothes came when she and her mother would sew clothes for themselves when she was young. Stefani comes from a long line of seamstresses, as even her great-grandmother would sew clothes. Stefani made most of the things she wore onstage during concerts. When she became successful and began to tour constantly, she felt she lost her way. Then she met the stylist Andrea Lieberman. Lieberman introduced her to ready-to-wear clothing. Later Lieberman became her creative consultant and Zaldy Goco took over as the head designer."Billboard News" Billboard Retrieved January 28, 2017 Goco parted ways with L.A.M.B. in 2007.
L.A.M.B. started out as a collaboration with LeSportsac in 2003. The name L.A.M.B. is an acronym which stands for Love. Angel. Music. Baby., which is also the name of Stefani's first solo album.
Products
L.A.M.B joined with Royal Elastics for the shoe line. Stefani then started to widen the footwear line for adults to include boots and stilettos."Stefani includes Baby Shoes in L.A.M.B line" Contactmusic Retrieved October 13, 2007 L.A.M.B collaborated with Coty Inc. for the fragrance and with LeSportsac for handbags in 2003. The fragrance, "L" was launched in September 2007 at Soho House in New York City. Stefani worked with perfumer Harry Fremont to develop the scent. Stefani described the fragrance as "it's another thing you can wear and another thing I can be part of creatively. I created it for myself -- it's like me shrunk into a box."Flanagan, Noreen "Elle Canada" Elle Canada. Retrieved September 14, 2007 Stefani went on to design a new line of handbags with Shifter and Partners in 2006. The bags feature LeSportsac's rip-stop nylon along with a variety of antiqued metal hardware, leather trims and colorful linings. Stefani planned to design lingerie as well as make-up products for L.A.M.B. L.A.M.B. partnered with Vestal Group on a line of 39 women's watches."Weekly E-News, Issue #169, July 11, 2006" Licencemag.com Retrieved October 12, 2007
L.A.M.B. products were relatively expensive, with apparel priced $55 to $1100, handbags priced $80 to $825, and watches priced $125 to $995.Marsh, Lisa "Gwen Stefani: June 30, 2006" Elle Retrieved November 8, 2007
An eyewear collection launched in January 2016. It won 3 of 20/20 - Vision Monday Reader's Choice awards: Frame Brand Introduced 2016, Sunglass Brand Introduced 2016 & Frame Brand – Women.
Promotion and fashion shows
Just wait 'til you get your little hands on L.A.M.B. —Stefani's song "Harajuku Girls" Stefani frequently referred to her clothing line in her music, as one of the brand's promotional strategies.Pytlik, Mark "Review : The Sweet Escape" Pitchfork Media Retrieved October 14, 2007 Stefani refers to her clothing line in her songs "Wind It Up," "Harajuku Girls," and "Crash" (which even incorporates the brand's slogan, "I want you all over me like L.A.M.B.")."Crash lyrics Retrieved October 13, 2007 Stefani is often seen wearing her own designs, especially when making public appearances. A thirty-second commercial directed by Sophie Muller was also released to promote the brand's fragrance."L" Fragrance Commercial by Gwen Stefani AOL Retrieved October 13, 2007
L.A.M.B. had participated in the Spring/Summer 2006, 2007, and 2008 New York Fashion Weeks. Stefani described her first line, which debuted on September 16, 2005, as "a little Sound of Music, some Orange County chola girl, some Rasta, and a bit of The Great Gatsby.""L.A.M.B" Style.com Retrieved October 19, 2007 The highlights of the show were purple cars bouncing using hydraulics while Stefani's song "Wind It Up" made its debut as the models walked the runway.Official "Fashion Show video" Retrieved 23 September 2007
For Spring/Summer 2007, Stefani opted for a presentation rather than a catwalk show."L.A.M.B Fashion shows" Style.com Retrieved November 11, 2007 The models, all donning identical blond wigs, wore designs Stefani said were inspired by Michelle Pfeiffer's role as Elvira Hancock in the 1983 Scarface. The show included some of Stefani's trademark tracksuits and extensively referenced prints from Guatemala, India, and Japan.Maxwell, Alison; Freydkin, Donna; and Barker, Olivia. "Stefani tends to her L.A.M.B." USA Today. September 15, 2006. May 30, 2007.Borelli, Laird "Runway Review L.A.M.B" Style.com Retrieved September 29, 2007 On September 5, 2007, L.A.M.B opened New York's Spring/Summer 2008 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. The collection "looked like the sixties as seen by someone who grew up in the eighties" and incorporated influences from Stefani's ska roots."L.A.M.B" Style.com Retrieved October 19, 2007
Critical reception
The line was mostly well received by critics and Stefani was appreciated for taking fashion seriously even though she is a celebrity. Fern Mallis of IMG praised the line and Stefani as well and said, "the L.A.M.B. line is clearly at the top of these lines and is as unique and individual as Gwen herself.""Stefani's L.A.M.B. gains Fashion Week respect" msnbc.com Retrieved September 16, 2007 The shoes were well received by the critics, though considered to be pricey. Desiree Stimpert of About.com said, " ... these shoes aren't for everyone, but will most definitely appeal to fans of Ms. Stefani's music and fashion - sense."Stimpert, Desiree "L.A.M.B Shoes Retrieved 25 September 2007 Tim Stack of Entertainment Weekly said, "L.A.M.B.'s embellished tracksuits, Rasta-inspired knits, and gaucho-heel combos deliver the edge"Stack, Tim "L.A.M.B. Shop" Entertainment Weekly Retrieved October 14, 2007 Nicole Phelps of Style.com said, "The collection, which looked like the sixties as seen by someone who grew up in the eighties, was altogether more wearable and on trend."Phelps, Nicole "L.A.M.B Spring 2008 Ready - to - wear" Style.com Retrieved October 18, 2007 Fashion journalist Cathy Horyn of The New York Times differed and said, "If ever there was a reason for a pop star to concentrate on her vocal skills, it was Gwen Stefani's fashion meltdown."Horyn, Cathy "Spring Rolls and Arm Candy" The New York Times Retrieved October 18, 2007
Commercial success The brand was sold in 275 stores worldwide"L.A.M.B To Make $90 Million By End Of Year" Retrieved October 12, 2007 and was seen worn on celebrities including Teri Hatcher, Nicole Kidman, Kelly Ripa, Paris Hilton, and Stefani herself.McGibbon, Rob. "No natural born popstar" . The Daily Telegraph. May 13, 2007. Retrieved June 2, 2007.Eliscu, Jenny. "Gwen Cuts Loose" . Rolling Stone, issue 966. January 27, 2005. Retrieved April 17, 2005. L.A.M.B sales had expanded from $40 million in 2005 to a predicted $90 million in 2006. In March 2008, it was reported the line reached sales of $100 million. According to a Nordstrom spokesperson, the debut of L.A.M.B.'s watch line was the store's most successful watch launch ever. The brand's designs have appeared in W, Marie Claire, Elle, Lucky and InStyle.Critchell, Samantha "Gwen Stefani: just a girl with a new fashion line" Seattle Times Retrieved October 13, 2007
References
sv:L.A.M.B.