The story of renowned stylist Vera Wang, who at the age of 40 caused a revolution in the fashion world

Vera Wang, a former figure skater and fashion editor for Vogue magazine, started her own business at age 40. By creating a global brand, she changed the bridal fashion industry forever. Today, the designer’s name is mentioned on popular television shows and her clients are international celebrities.

we, from awesome.club, we decided to tell the story of this talented woman who, even having reached the pinnacle of success, stated: “If I were to say at any time that I feel really confident or in control, that would be a mistake. Because I don’t. I always see where I didn’t do things right. This is part of my wisdom.”

Vera Ellen Wang was born on June 27, 1949 in New York to an immigrant family from China. Her mother worked as a translator for the United Nations and her father owned a medical company. The family lived in an upscale neighborhood on the Upper East Side.

According to Wang, his interest in fashion came from his mother, whose clothes always impressed. During her college summer break, she even worked as a saleswoman at the Yves Saint Laurent boutique.

At the age of 8, he began to practice figure skating. In 1968, he competed in the United States championship and could have gone to the Olympics, but he did not qualify. While this setback ended her sporting career, it also pushed her to change: “I had a nervous breakdown and ended up doing a semester in Paris. There, I realized that I was passionate about fashion.”

She later designed costumes for several figure skaters, including Nancy Kerrigan and Michelle Kwan. And figure skater Evan Lysacek, who performed in a Wang outfit at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, won a gold medal. She herself admitted that the sport taught her discipline: “When you fall, you get up and try again. It’s a good metaphor for life.”

Skater Nancy Kerrigan in a Vera Wang costume

The future designer studied at the Sorbonne University in France and graduated in Art History at Sarah Lawrence College. But in 1971, Vera Wang began working as an assistant at Vogue and quickly made her career, becoming the magazine’s youngest editor.

“The film The devil Wears Prada is a smooth version of what it was like to work at Vogue🇧🇷, commented. “The first day, I arrived in a white shirt dress and platform shoes and the editor yelled at me, ‘Go home and change. We don’t dress like that in Vogue’. So I went back and put on jeans, sneakers and a t-shirt.”

After working at Vogue for 17 years, Wang stepped down as a fashion editor, giving way to Anna Wintour, with whom she is still friends. She also got a job as a design director at Ralph Lauren. During the interview, Ralph asked, “What don’t you like about my clothes?” And she got the job after she replied, “Do you want me to tell you what you want to hear or the truth?”

Traditional wedding dress compared to a creation by Vera Wang

The first wedding dress created by Vera Wang was her own. In 1989, the designer became engaged to investor Arthur Becker. While planning her wedding, the 39-year-old bride realized that there weren’t many wedding dresses for women her age. That’s when she decided to change the entire bridal industry.

Vera Wang with Arthur Becker

“I didn’t know anything about dress design. I didn’t feel ready. And when I left Ralph Lauren, a lot of doors that were open to me closed, whether it was a fabric manufacturer or a party I wanted to go to.”

At that time, Vera received full support from her father. As a businessman, she suggested to her daughter that her venture idea was profitable as people are always getting married, which meant there would be a steady stream of clients.

In 1990, she opened her own salon at the Carlyle Hotel in New York. A few years later, her brand began producing dresses for social events. Around the same time, she and Arthur Becker adopted two girls: Cecilia and Josephine.

Vera Wang wedding dresses have become the dream of not only ordinary women, but celebrities as well. Among her clients are Victoria Beckham, Gwen Stefani, Mariah Carey, Ariana Grande, Kim Kardashian, Hailey Bieber, Tina Kunakey, Jennifer Lopez and many other celebrities.

Victoria Beckham wearing a Vera Wang dress

Gwen Stefani wedding dress

Vera’s name is often mentioned in movies. For example, in the series Sex and the City, her dress was worn by two characters at the same time: Charlotte on her wedding day and Carrie Bradshaw during a Vogue photo shoot.

The protagonist Blair Waldorf in the series Gossip Girl also got married in a wedding dress of her creation. And in the feature Brides at War, Kate Hudson’s character said a phrase, which became famous: “You don’t adjust a Vera Wang dress to fit you, you adjust to fit a Vera Wang dress.”

Vera Wang dresses are also featured at major events such as the Grammy Awards and the Oscars. “Comfort is very important to me. Many of the women I dressed told me: ‘Your dress was so comfortable’”, commented.

The stylist has her own TikTok where she posts videos in which she dances, demonstrates her design work and things from her own wardrobe. In a recent interview, she admitted that she very much regrets not having made a career as a filmmaker.

In 2009, the fashion designer created a wedding dress for Barbie doll, and in May 2021 the brand launched a doll with the stylist’s own image.

Barbie wearing a dress of her creation and Barbie inspired by Vera Wang

According to netizens, Vera Wang, 72, looks very young. She attributed her toned physique to “muscle memory” after years as an athlete, as well as exercises she does sporadically.

We are sure that for many people, the name Vera Wang has become synonymous with perseverance, hard work and self-confidence, regardless of age or life circumstances.

What do you think of the dresses of this renowned fashion designer? Leave your opinion in the comments section!