New York based fashion designer, Vera Ellen Wang was born on 27th July 1949. She is recognized for wedding and bridesmaid gowns. In addition to this, she designs outfits for figure skaters, and produces dresses for exhibitions and competitions.
Wang comes from a Chinese background but was born and grew up in America. Her parents were from Shanghai and settled in the United States in the 1940s. Her father owned a company of medicines and mother used to work for United Nations as a translator. She has one younger brother as well. Wang graduated in 1967 from The Chapin School and studied at University of Paris. Moreover, she went to Sarah Lawrence College and attained a degree in art history.
From the age of six, Wang started figure skating and while she was in high school competed in the United States Figure Skating Championship in 1968. In the same year, Sports Illustrated featured Vera Wang in their Faces in the Crowd issue. When Wang failed to become a part of the US Olympics team, she diverted her attention towards the fashion industry.
In the early 1970s, Wang served as a senior editor of fashion for Vogue but left the job once she was rejected the post of editor-in-chief. Then she became a director of design at Ralph Lauren for two years. This gave her enough experience to become an entrepreneur herself. Although she became a fashion designer, she never lost touch with skating. Somehow she remained a part of the sport.
In 1989, she married Arthur Becker at a interfaith Jewish-Baptist ceremony. They settled in Manhattan with their adopted children – two daughters. Becker worked as the Chief Executive Officer at NaviSite, an I.T. company, until 2010. In 2012, it was announced that the couple separated in a harmonious way.
Vera Wang has designed and manufactured wedding dresses for several noted personalities, such as Karenna Gore, Campbell Brown, Avril Lavigne, Victoria Beckham, Sharon Stone, Hilary Duff, Holly Hunter, Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez, Khloe Kardashian, Michelle Obama, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Chelsea Clinton, Ivanka Trump and Alicia Keys. Furthermore, her dress have been worn by many stars on red carpets, including Sofia Vergara at Emmy Awards, Sandra Bullock at 2011 Oscars, and Viola Davis at Academy Awards.
Additionally, she has made outfits for figure skaters like Michelle Kwan, Nancy Kerrigan and Evan Lysacek. She designed the uniforms that are worn by Philadelphia Eagles Cheerleaders. In 2005, she was presented with an award for the year’s designer for women from the Council of Fashion Designers of America. In 2009, she was honored for her design contributions to the sport of skating.
Apart from designing, Wang released a book as well in 2001, titled Vera Wang on Weddings. After twenty years of opening her first bridal couture shop, the Radcliffe-Harvard Asian American Association presented Wang with the Leadership in Arts Award in 2010. In 2013, Wang was honored with the Geoffery Beene Award for lifetime achievement.
Her wedding gown boutiques have been opened in Australia, Sydney, Tokyo, London and New York. Her brand also produces eyewear, jewelry, fragrance, shoes, home decorations and house wares.
Apart from this, Vera Wang has been a part of the popular culture by being mentioned and appearing in many television shows and movies such as in Sex and the City (film and series), The West Wing, Ugly Betty, Bride Wars, and Totally Spies.