Gwen Stefani — Elle Magazine’s May cover girl — has no problem confessing how much she cares about her looks. But she thinks Katy and RiRi are going too far to be sexy!

Gwen Stefani, 41, admits she’s super concerned about her looks — “I’m very vain. That would be my middle name. Of course I am, you know what I mean? I love the visual.” But Gwen — a super-stylish designer of her own fashion line  – says younger artists like Katy Perry and Rihanna go too far when they try to be provocative.

“I usually put pants on. I see these girls as more going for the sex-symbol thing. I was more, in the band, like a tomboy,” she says, referring to her No Doubt days.

Gwen’s L.A.M.B. collection offers another way for girls to be sexy without having to bare too much skin. Maybe that’s why she says she doesn’t see herself in the sexy styles of younger hit-makers like Katy and Rihanna.

Gwen also gives her thoughts on pop music and its unpredictability. “Like a guilty pleasure, it’s right at the moment. It’s like fashion—it’s now, then it’s gone.”

She says it hasn’t always been easy to look the way she dreams — especially when she’s pregnant! The mother of two reveals her not-so-sexy days when she’s been expecting. ”Certain songs would make me want to puke. You feel pretty gross when you are first pregnant. You don’t feel cute, you feel disgusting.”

The new issue of Elle Magazine hits stands April 12.

–Amanda Chen