Vera Wang, a fashion designer from the United States, started off her career as a figure skater but eventually shifted her focus to the world of fashion. She gained experience at Vogue and Ralph Lauren before establishing her own boutique specializing in bridal gowns in 1990.
Vera Wang Bio Summary
Full name: Vera Ellen Wang
Date of birth: June 27, 1949
Age: 75 years (2024)
Gender: Female
Zodiac sign: Leo
Place of birth: New York City, U.S.
Education: Sarah Lawrence College (BA)
Occupation: Fashion designer
Marital status: Separated
Ex-husband: Arthur P. Becker
Children: 2
Childhood & Education
Vera Wang was born on June 27, 1949, to her parents, Florence Wu and Cheng Ching Wang. Hailing from China, her parents immigrated to the United States in the 1940s.
Her mother was employed as a United Nations translator while her father, a graduate of Yanjing University in China and MIT in the United States, owned a medicine company. Wang has a younger brother named Kenneth.
Wang started figure skating when she was 8 years old and quickly progressed to advanced training. She participated in both individual and pair skating and took part in the 1968 U.S. Figure Skating Championships to qualify for the U.S. Olympic team. Although she did not achieve this goal, she still skates today and has created numerous figure skating outfits.
After starting her education at Friends Seminary, Wang transferred to Chapin School, an all-girls academy, and completed her high school education in 1967.
She then moved on to Sarah Lawrence College, where she majored in art history. While there, she also spent a semester studying at the University of Paris before earning her bachelor’s degree in 1971.
Career
Right after Vera Wang graduated from college, she was offered a job as an editor at “Vogue,” becoming the youngest editor ever hired by the magazine. She held this role for 17 years before departing in 1987 to join Ralph Lauren, where she worked for two years.
At the age of 40, Wang’s passion for designing led her to establish her own design brand, with an emphasis on bridal wear. In 1990, she launched her first boutique at the Carlyle Hotel in New York City, exclusively showcasing her wedding dresses. Over the years, she has extended her retail presence to include major cities such as London, Tokyo, and Sydney.
In 2002, she ventured into designing for the home, expanding from her focus on wedding gowns. This led to the creation of The Vera Wang China and Crystal Collection. In 2007, she partnered with Kohl’s to introduce her retail line Simply Vera, making her designs more accessible to the wider public at reasonable costs.
In 2011, she collaborated with David’s Bridal to introduce “White by Vera Wang,” a line of wedding and bridesmaids dresses starting at $600. Additionally, she teamed up with Men’s Wearhouse to offer two tuxedo options.
Vera Wang‘s reputation as a renowned wedding dress designer led to numerous high-profile individuals seeking her out to create personalized gowns for their special occasions. Her list of clients includes Chelsea Clinton, Alicia Keys, Mariah Carey, Ivanka Trump, Hilary Duff, Victoria Beckham, and Khloe and Kim Kardashian, among other notable names.
Aside from bridal gowns, she has also debuted numerous evening wear pieces at New York Fashion Week. Her creations have been donned by notable figures such as Michele Obama, Viola Davis, and Sofia Vergara.
Following a two-year break, Wang made a comeback at New York Fashion Week in 2019 to debut her Spring/Summer 2020 collection. Despite some issues with the shoes causing a few models to stumble, the show received high praise.
Throughout her career, Wang has been recognized and celebrated with numerous awards and distinctions. In June 2005, she was bestowed with the Council of Fashion Designers of America Womenswear Designer of the Year title.
The following year, in 2006, she was presented with the esteemed André Leon Talley Lifetime Achievement Award by the Savannah College of Art and Design.
Personal Life
In 1989, Vera Wang and investor Arthur Becker tied the knot. They chose to have a ceremony that blended the Baptist and Jewish religions. Together, they adopted two daughters named Cecilia Sloane and Josephine Heloise and raised them in New York. However, in July 2012, the couple revealed their decision to separate.
Net Worth
Vera Wang, a former figure skater turned American fashion designer, has a net worth of $650 million. She gained fame primarily for her bridal attire, which has been adorned by various famous individuals such as Chelsea Clinton, Uma Thurman, Jennifer Garner, Holly Hunter, and Alicia Keys. Additionally, she has created lines of houseware, footwear, perfumes, glasses, and jewelry.
