Gwen Stefani finally got her props as a style icon, thanks to PEOPLE who honored her with the title last night. Over the years, the Harajuku Queen has taken more style risks than any of her peers–to be fair, she's got decades of bold wardrobe choices on fellow fashion icon Rihanna. Aside from providing the world with stellar pop songs, endless hair inspiration, and coppable clothes and accessories she designs for her L.A.M.B. line, Gwen has saved us from a boring red carpet time and time again. For those reasons and 21 more, here's why she's deserving of her style icon status.
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She was one of the first to pair socks with Mary Janes.
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She taught Rihanna everything she knows about red carpet goth.
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She was an ab-baring OG.
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Now this is how you do baby bangs.
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Gwen also did the pixie cut before anyone else.
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There is no hair risk she won't take.
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Seriously—you name the dye, she's done it.
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The real inspiration behind Jada Pinkett Smith and Rihanna's baby buns? Gwen.
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Before there was #FreetheNipple, there was Gwen.
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She's one of the few people who can wear a suit without it looking stuffy.
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And she can sport streetwear just as well.
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No one else in the history of pop has gotten as much mileage out of a white tank top.
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She's also found a record number of ways to wear bikini tops.
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She's not afraid to promote her music through her clothes.
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She dared to go ombré with her wedding dress.
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She was one of the best dressed attendees at the punk-themed Met Gala.
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She was one of the first pop stars to bridge the world of music and fashion with her own clothing line.
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She's still taking risks–even at age 45.
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