Vera Wang

Vera Wang was born in New York in 1949, to Chinese parents who had fled the Communist revolution. She had originally dreamed of being an Olympic figure skater, but when she did not make the team in 1968, she went to the Sorbonne, in Paris and to Sarah Lawrence College in the USA, to study. She has a BA in Liberal Arts. In 1970, on graduating, Vera became the youngest editor ever at Vogue magazine. She remained there for 17 years till 1987. When she left Vogue, she worked with Ralph Lauren for 2 years.

In 1990, she opened her own house on Madison Avenue, New York, designing bridal wear and evening gowns. In 1994, she started her own label. These bridal gowns are what Vera Wang is famous for. She uses rich fabrics such as silk lace and duchesses satin, in the tradition of Paris couture and applies them to the simple shapes associated with American sportswear, like the vest dress.

Her appreciation of surface decoration, particularly beading, and the use of the net to give the illusion of bare skin, have also recommended her for the design of Olympic figure skating costumes, so bringing her back full circle to her childhood dreams. Nancy Kerrigan wore her costume in the 1994 Winter Olympics. Her clientele list is very long, especially for Oscar night. She has made wedding dresses for numerous celebrities including Mariah Carey for her wedding to Tommy Mottola in 1993. Cate Blanchett picked up her Golden Globe for 'Elizabeth' in a beaded black Wang dress. Uma Thurman, Posh Spice, Alicia Silverstone, and Sharon Stone and Elisabeth Shue are all her loyal clients.