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Vera Wang

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Vera Wang
Wang in 2007
Born
Vera Ellen Wang

(1949-06-27) June 27, 1949 (age 75)
New York City, U.S.
EducationSarah Lawrence College (BA)
OccupationFashion designer
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1989; sep. 2012)​
Children2

Vera Ellen Wang[1] (Chinese: 王薇薇; pinyin: Wáng Wēiwēi; born June 27, 1949)[2] is an American fashion designer. Wang initially pursued a career in figure skating before transitioning to fashion. She worked for Vogue and Ralph Lauren before launching her own bridal gown boutique in 1990.

Wang gained international recognition for her wedding dress designs. Her gowns have been worn by numerous celebrities. She expanded her brand to include ready-to-wear fashion, accessories, fragrances, and home goods. In December of 2024, Wang sold her namesake brand after 35 years in business to WHP Global.

Early life

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Vera Ellen Wang was born June 27, 1949,[3] in New York City to Chinese parents who immigrated to the United States in the mid-1940s. Her mother, Florence Wu (Wu Chifang), worked as a translator for the United Nations, while her father, Cheng Ching Wang (Wang Chengqing), a graduate of Yanjing University and MIT, owned a medicine company, and held the following positions: Director, Singapore Petroleum Company Pte. Ltd., Chairman & President, Oceanic Petroleum Corporation, Chairman & President, Oceanic Petroleum (Asia) Corporation, Chairman & President of Summit Group of Companies (now U.S. Summit Company), Chairman of the Vera Wang Group 1990-1998.[4] Wang has one brother, Kenneth, who is a life member of MIT Corporation, a board of trustees that governs the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.[5][6]

Wang began figure skating at the age of eight, training under Peter Dunfield and Sonya Klopfer in Denver during the summers and with the Skating Club of New York during the rest of the year.[7][8] While in high school, she trained with pairs partner James Stuart, and competed at the 1968 U.S. Figure Skating Championships. She was featured in Sports Illustrated's Faces in the Crowd in the January 9, 1968 issue.[9] When she failed to make the U.S. Olympics team, she said, "I was devastated when I did not qualify for the Olympic team."[10] Then she entered the fashion industry.[11] Wang continues to enjoy skating, saying, "Skating is multidimensional".[7]

Wang attended Friends Seminary,[12] graduated from Chapin School in 1967, attended the University of Paris, and earned a degree in art history from Sarah Lawrence College.

In 1968, Wang was presented as a debutante to high society at the International Debutante Ball at the Waldorf Astoria New York.[13]

Career

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Wang was hired to be an editor at Vogue immediately upon graduation from Sarah Lawrence College, making her the youngest editor at that magazine. She stayed at Vogue for 17 years, leaving in 1987 to join Ralph Lauren, for whom she worked for two years. At 40, she resigned and became an independent bridal wear designer.[14]

Vera Wang Spring-Summer 2014 runway show at New York Fashion Week

Wang has made wedding gowns for public figures such as Hayley Williams,[15] Ariana Grande, Vanessa Hudgens,[16] Chelsea Clinton,[17] Karenna Gore,[18] Ivanka Trump,[17] Campbell Brown,[19] Alicia Keys,[17] Mariah Carey,[17] Victoria Beckham,[17] Sarah Michelle Gellar,[20] Avril Lavigne,[17] Hilary Duff,[17] Khloe Kardashian,[21] and Kim Kardashian.[22] Wang started off as being best known for her elegant wedding dresses. Wang's evening wear has also been worn by Michelle Obama.[23][24]

Figure skaters who have worn costumes designed by Wang at the Winter Olympic Games include Nancy Kerrigan (1992 and 1994), Michelle Kwan (1998 and 2002), Evan Lysacek (2010), and Nathan Chen (2018 and 2022).[25][26] Wang was inducted into the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 2009 for her contribution to the sport as a costume designer.[27] She designed the uniforms worn by the Philadelphia Eagles Cheerleaders.[28]

On October 23, 2001, her book Vera Wang on Weddings[29] was released. In June 2005, she won the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) Womenswear Designer of the Year. On May 27, 2006, Wang was awarded the André Leon Talley Lifetime Achievement Award from the Savannah College of Art and Design.

Wang's evening wear has been worn by stars at many red carpet events, including Viola Davis at the 2012 Academy Awards,[30] and Sofia Vergara at the 65th Emmy Awards.[31]

She was awarded the Council of Fashion Designers of America Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013.[32][33]

In 2006, Wang reached a deal with Kohl's, a chain of department stores, to produce a less expensive line of ready-to-wear clothing exclusively for them called Simply Vera.[34]

Forbes placed her the 34th in the list America's Richest Self-Made Women 2018, her revenues rising to $630 million in that year.

On September 10, 2019, after a sabbatical of 2 years during which she had presented her collections only via films,[35] Vera Wang returned to the New York Fashion Week runway for her Spring/Summer 2020 fashion show, which celebrated the 30th anniversary of her brand.[36] The show received very positive reviews, with Godfrey Deeny describing it as a "notable collection by one of the few New York designers with a truly distinctive fashion DNA",[37] while Bridget Foley presented Wang's creations as "Beautiful, seriously designed clothes, presented with gutsy panache".[38] However, the show was marred by several major footwear malfunctions,[39][40] especially during the finale when four models fell down,[41] including Fei Fei Sun, who fell twice in a row,[42] leading chief fashion critic Vanessa Friedman to state that "In 2019, no woman should be tortured by what she wears".[39]

In December of 2024, WHP Global, a brand management firm based in New York, announced an agreement to acquire the IP of the Vera Wang fashion brand. As part of the transaction, Wang herself will continue the role as Founder & Chief Creative Officer and will join WHP Global as a shareholder.

Retail

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In 1990, Wang opened her first design salon in the Carlyle Hotel in New York City that features her trademark bridal gowns.[43] She has since opened bridal boutiques in New York, London, Tokyo, and Sydney and has also expanded her brand through her fragrance,[44] jewelry, eyewear, shoes, and homeware collections.

"White by Vera Wang" launched on February 11, 2011, at David's Bridal. Prices of the bridal gowns range from $600 to $1,400.[45] In 2002, Wang began to enter the home fashion industry and launched The Vera Wang China and Crystal Collection,[46] followed by the 2007 release of her diffusion line called Simply Vera, which are sold exclusively by Kohl's.[43]

Wang in 2009

In spring 2012, Wang teamed up with Men's Wearhouse to offer two tuxedo styles available in both the retail and rental areas of their inventory.[47] In June 2012, she expanded in Australia with the opening of "Vera Wang Bride Sydney" and her first Asian flagship store "Vera Wang Bridal Korea", helmed by President Jung Mi-ri, in upmarket neighborhood Cheongdam-dong in Gangnam-gu, Seoul.[48]

In a 2013 interview with CBS, Wang described her transition from journalist to businesswoman as "painful, and not only that, I have no choice. So I think when you start there's a certain innocence because of that freedom, and as you evolve you begin to see the parameters of what you can and can't do. So I make decisions that are very tiny that will affect an hour of work, I make decisions that will impact the lives of the people that work for me. It's in fashion as well, micro work, a centimeter of proportion and then it's macro to see what a vision is on the red carpet."[49]

Personal life

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In June 1989, Wang married investor Arthur P. Becker in an interfaith Baptist and Jewish ceremony.[1] They have two daughters, both of whom were adopted.[50] In July 2012, the couple announced their separation.[51]

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Several movies and television shows have featured Wang's works, including The West Wing, The Newsroom, Gossip Girl, Sex and the City,[52] Revenge,[53] The Simpsons, and the film Sex and the City.[54]

Wang appeared in a cameo in season 5 episode 11 of the TV series Gossip Girl and as herself in the second season of Ugly Betty in episode 2.07.

Filmography

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Movies

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Television

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Books

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  • Vera Wang, Vera Wang on Weddings, HarperCollins, October 2001 (ISBN 9780688162566).

Recognition

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She was recognized as one of the BBC's 100 women of 2021.[55]

In 2023, she received the Board of Directors' Tribute at the 2023 CFDA Fashion Awards for her Bridal impact.[56]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Vera Wang Wed To Arthur Becker". The New York Times. June 23, 1989. Archived from the original on April 23, 2023.
  2. ^ Friedman, Vanessa (September 15, 2014). 設計師王薇薇的房間，那裡什麼都沒有. The New York Times (in Chinese). Retrieved June 24, 2018.
  3. ^ Koenig, Ronnie (July 3, 2021). "Vera Wang celebrates 72nd birthday in style with Cher (sort of)". Today. Archived from the original on October 14, 2021. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
  4. ^ "Paid Notice: Deaths WANG, C.C." The New York Times. October 1, 2006. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  5. ^ "Kenneth Wang | the MIT Corporation".
  6. ^ Hutchinson, Bill (April 23, 2012). "C.C. Wang didn't want married mistress". New York Daily News.
  7. ^ a b Barsamian, Edward (December 20, 2011). "Vera on Ice". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 1, 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2011.
  8. ^ "ITNY Honors Vera Wang". IceTheatre.org. Ice Theatre of New York. January–February 2004. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
  9. ^ Sports Illustrated, December 15, 2006, p. 66
  10. ^ Goh, ZK (November 3, 2020). "Vera Wang talks about her Olympics ambitions". olympics.com. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  11. ^ Krohn, Katherine (2006). Vera Wang (A&E Biography). Twenty-First Century Books. p. 112. ISBN 0-8225-6612-5.
  12. ^ Allen, Emma (April 6, 2015). "Going Once, Going Twice". The New Yorker. No. April 13, 2015. Archived from the original on May 22, 2023. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  13. ^ Krohn, Katherine E. (September 2008). "Vera Wang: Enduring Style". USA Today. ISBN 9781580135726. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  14. ^ "Vera Wang". Fashion Model Directory.
  15. ^ Hansen, Erika (February 24, 2016). "Hayley Williams Weds Chad Gilbert in Vera Wang Dress and Doc Martens Boots". Your Next Shoes. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
  16. ^ "Vanessa Hudgens wore Vera Wang to marry Cole Tucker in the heart of the Mayan jungle". Vogue. December 7, 2023.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g "The 12 Most Stunning Vera Wang Brides". Vogue. June 27, 2014. Archived from the original on December 24, 2016. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
  18. ^ "Gore's Eldest Daughter Weds New York Doctor In Washington". CNN. July 12, 1997. Archived from the original on January 21, 2009. Retrieved October 12, 2007.
  19. ^ "NBC's Campbell Brown Gets Married". People. April 2, 2006. Archived from the original on September 8, 2012.
  20. ^ "Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze Jr. Wedding - Celebrity Bride Guide". Archived from the original on February 8, 2009. Retrieved March 8, 2017.
  21. ^ "Celebrities who wore Vera Wang on their wedding day". Hello!. October 13, 2013. p. 3.
  22. ^ "Celebrities who wore Vera Wang on their wedding day". Hello!. October 13, 2013. p. 4.
  23. ^ "Michelle Obama Dons Vera Wang". Elle Magazine. December 5, 2011. Archived from the original on July 11, 2012.
  24. ^ "Photos: 10 Best Dressed: Week of December 12, 2011". Vogue. December 2011. Archived from the original on February 15, 2012.
  25. ^ Frey, Kaitlyn (February 8, 2018). "Vera Wang Reflects on More Than 20 Years of Designing Olympic Figure Skating Costumes". People. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  26. ^ Gavin, Mike (February 9, 2022). "Vera Wang Discusses Designing for Olympic Figure Skater Nathan Chen". NBCSports.com. Stamford, Connecticut. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  27. ^ "Johnny Weir, Evan Lysacek in battle at figure skating nationals". USA Today. January 22, 2009.
  28. ^ "Highlights". Philadelphia Eagles. Archived from the original on April 19, 2018. Retrieved August 8, 2016.
  29. ^ "Vera Wang On Weddings". www.goodreads.com. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  30. ^ "Oscars 2012: Stars arrive". BBC News. February 27, 2012. Image 3 of 16.
  31. ^ "Sofía Vergara Talks Wedding Dress: It Has to Be Vera Wang". E! News. October 2, 2013.
  32. ^ "Vera Wang honored for lifetime achievement". The Columbus Dispatch. June 5, 2013. Archived from the original on March 2, 2019. Retrieved August 8, 2016.
  33. ^ cfda.com "Vera Wang", Council of Fashion Designers of America.
  34. ^ "Vera Wang - Fashion Designer - Biography". biography.com. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
  35. ^ "Vera Wang returns, with hippie hair and couture lingerie". News.yahoo.com. September 10, 2019. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  36. ^ "Vera Wang Spring Summer 2020 Full Fashion Show (untagged) - YouTube". Youtube.com. September 12, 2019. Archived from the original on December 11, 2021. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  37. ^ "Vera Wang soars yet stumbles". FashionNetwork.com. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  38. ^ "Vera Wang RTW Spring 2020". Wwd.com. September 10, 2019. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  39. ^ a b Vanessa Friedman (September 11, 2019). ""Vera Wang [...] threw in shoes so acutely angled and vertiginous that her models' knees shook with the effort to remain upright. Two actually fell, and one limped down the runway with one shoe off and one on"". The New York Times.
  40. ^ Phelps, Nicole (September 10, 2019). "Vera Wang Spring 2020 Ready-to-Wear Collection". Vogue.com. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  41. ^ "Models trip and fall at Vera Wang Spring/Summer 2020 - HD video with various angles of view - YouTube". Youtube.com. September 12, 2019. Archived from the original on December 11, 2021. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  42. ^ "Top Model Fei Fei Sun FALLS TWICE during Vera Wang Spring/Summer 2020 (New York Fashion Week) - YouTube". Youtube.com. October 5, 2019. Archived from the original on December 11, 2021. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  43. ^ a b "Vera Wang – Designer Fashion Label Biography" Archived October 21, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, New York Magazine. Retrieved October 20, 2009.
  44. ^ "Vera Wang Fragrances". VeraWangFragrances.com. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
  45. ^ "White by Vera Wang launches at David's Bridal". David's Bridal. Archived from the original on January 21, 2013. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
  46. ^ "Pink Collection by Audrey Hepburn". Archived from the original on February 24, 2015. Retrieved November 3, 2014.
  47. ^ "Men's Wearhouse Partners with Vera Wang to Launch Black by Vera Wang". PR Newswire (Press release). Retrieved May 18, 2015.
  48. ^ Lee, Rachel (June 29, 2012). "Vera Wang opens 1st Asia flagship in Seoul". Korea Times. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
  49. ^ "Vera Wang talks bridal inspiration, how she applies fashion sense to wedding style". Retrieved February 14, 2017.
  50. ^ Larocca, Amy (January 12, 2006). "Vera Wang's Second Honeymoon". New York.
  51. ^ Feitelberg, Rosemary (July 11, 2012). "Vera Wang and Arthur Becker Separate". Women's Wear Daily. Retrieved July 11, 2012.
  52. ^ Amy Sohn (February 23, 2004). Sex and the City: Kiss and Tell. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9780743457309.
  53. ^ "Revenge First Look: Victoria Grayson's Vera Wang Wedding Dress – InStyle.com". InStyle.com. Archived from the original on March 2, 2019. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
  54. ^ "Bride Wars Wedding Style". Brides.
  55. ^ "BBC 100 Women 2021: Who is on the list this year?". BBC News. December 7, 2021. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  56. ^ "The Winners of the 2023 CFDA Fashion Awards Presented by Amazon Fashion". CFDA. November 6, 2023.
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