Gwen Stefani admits her work as a fashion designer came about because she wanted to have something to do when she gives up singing.

Gwen Stefani's fashion career is a back-up to her job as a musician.

The 40-year-old singer, who launched her fashion line L.A.M.B in 2004, admits she will not be in music forever and wanted to have something else to do.

She said: "I wanted so badly to have a backup plan for when I'm not performing anymore. Let's be realistic: It's not going to be like this forever. So I wanted to continue having something creative to do.

Gwen - who has recently reunited with her old band No Doubt - also claims she went ventured into the style world following years of making clothes as a child.

She told InStyle: "I made so many clothes growing up, and I used to do my own costumes. All I would do was just daydream about what I was going to make."

Recently Gwen revealed that No Doubt's comeback album would be influenced by 80s one-hit-wonders.

She said: "The last few weeks we've been listening to the worst of the 80s, in the sense of bad but good."

"Pop songs, one-hit wonders, nifty songs, things like that. You just go back and find things that you love, and try to figure out how they made them."