王薇薇（Vera Wang）

【4/21/2021】CAPA-NoVA Distinguished Chinese American Project

(Written by: Xinyi Ma)

王薇薇（Vera Wang）was born in New York City in 1949, to wealthy immigrant parents. She was educated at prestigious private schools and was a competitive ice-skater. When she didn’t make the 1968 U.S. Olympic team, she “looked to fashion to replace it.” In 1989, while planning her wedding to Arthur Becker, she decided that she could fill a void in the bridal industry: “It just had not evolved,” she later said. “I realized that I could make an impression in terms of changing and readdressing the whole industry of bridal.”

Endless celebrities would get married in a Vera Wang dress, including Jennifer Lopez, Uma Thurman, Mariah Carey, as well as political daughters Karenna Gore and Chelsea Clinton. Wang’s evening wear has been worn by stars at many red carpet events, including Viola Davis at the 2012 Academy Awards, and Sofia Vergara at the 65th Emmy Awards.

On May 27, 2006, Wang was awarded the André Leon Talley Lifetime Achievement Award from the Savannah College of Art and Design. In 2013, She was awarded the Council of Fashion Designers of America Lifetime Achievement Award. Forbes placed her the 34th in the list America’s Richest Self-Made Women 2018. She returned to the New York Fashion Week runway for her Spring/Summer 2020 fashion show, which celebrated the 30th anniversary of her brand.

More information about her:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vera_Wang