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She is widely regarded as the most influential designer of wedding gowns – gowns that are famous for their elegance and sleek, modern style.
And now, with collections that extend to ready-to-wear, fur, footwear and more, the name Vera Wang has become synonymous with elegance and sleek, modern style – period.
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 Read more about Vera Wang and see her work |
| View Vera Wang's photos from the show |
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Vera Wang has been living and breathing fashion for as long as she can remember. A native New Yorker, Wang recalls accompanying her mother as she shopped for her Parisian and American couture clothes. The exposure to elegant, sophisticated fashion left an impression that would last a lifetime, and spawned an interest in fashion that has never waned. “Clothes are my passion and my knowledge,” Wang admits. “ I’ve studied fashion from every angle – historically and critically, cerebrally and emotionally.”
Following her education at Sarah Lawrence College and the Sorbonne, Wang began her fashion career at Vogue magazine. At 23, she was the youngest ever fashion editor and stylist and she remained there for 16 years. She left the editorial world of fashion to join Ralph Lauren where she was design director for the company’s 13 accessory lines. In 1990 she ventured out on her own to produce a collection of luxurious and very modern bridal gowns and in doing so had truly found her niche. “I adore the challenge of creating truly modern clothes,” says Wang. “ Where a woman’s personality and sense of self are revealed. I want people to see the dress, but focus on the woman.”
It seemed like the natural next step when Wang began to design eveningwear. Here she applied her same sophisticated, pared down aesthetic to create an ultra-chic collection. “Fashion offers no greater challenge than finding what works for night without looking like you are wearing a costume,” Wang believes. Her good friends Sharon Stone and Holly Hunter are among the many celebrities who turn to Vera for those occasions when they’re in the spotlight.
Wang has very definite ideas about what works in terms of design, fit and fabric, and the evidence is clear in each of her garments. “For me, the magic is in weightless clothes,” she says. “Cutting armholes that add grace, cleverly exposing the best parts and sensuously draping fabric over less fabulous ones…to allow a woman to feel secure while being totally comfortable. A woman is never sexier than when she is comfortable in her clothes.”
Wang’s empire has been steadily growing. From her first salon in New York’s Carlyle Hotel (which remains to this day the company’s flagship store) Wang’s collections are now sold at Saks Fifth Avenue, Barneys New York, Bergdorf Goodman, Nordstrom and other specialty stores worldwide.
Lately Wang has been busy expanding her empire in other ways. There are now eyewear and footwear collections as well as accessories – handbags, wraps, scarves and shawls. A lower priced bridal collection was introduced late last year, making Wang’s gowns, which can retail for up to $12,000 (U.S.) and beyond accessible to more brides. The new collection ranges from $1,650 to $2,990. This spring Wang introduced her first signature fragrance – which promptly set an all time sales record at Saks Fifth Avenue in New York. Wang has begun to enter the home market, too, with a collection of china and crystal under license to Wedgwood.
And if all that weren’t enough Wang is now an author. Last fall she released her first book, Vera Wang on Weddings (HarperCollins). In it she shares her knowledge on all things related to weddings, from the proposal to choosing a gown all the way through to the reception.
And just what will the best-dressed brides be wearing next spring? According to Wang, the mood is one of femininity and frivolity. There are slim, body conscious gowns and gowns that emphasize the waist; A-shapes and mermaid silhouettes. Fabrics range from modern techno twills to layers of traditional, romantic silk organza. Details like delicate embellishments, sashes, ribbons and bows add a touch of whimsy. For Vera Wang, this is where it all began. But it’s certainly not where it will end.
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