Vera Wang-viata

Vera Ellen Wang was born and raised in New York City, and is of Chinese descent. Her
parents were born in China, and came to the United States in the mid-1940s. Her mother,
Florence Wu, worked as a translator for the United Nations, while her father, Cheng Ching
Wang, owned a medicine company. Wang has one younger brother, Kenneth.
Wang graduated from The Chapin School in 1967, attended the University of Paris and
earned a degree in art history from Sarah Lawrence College. Wang began figure skating at
the age of eight.[2] While in high school, she trained with pairs partner James Stuart, and
competed at the 1968 U.S. Figure Skating Championships. She was featured in Sports
Illustrated's Faces in the Crowd in the January 9, 1968 issue.[3] When she failed to make
the US Olympics team, she entered the fashion industry.

Wang was hired to be an editor at Vogue immediately upon graduation from Sarah
Lawrence, making her the youngest editor at that magazine. She stayed at Vogue for 17
years, leaving in 1987 to join Ralph Lauren, who she worked for 2 years. At 40, she
resigned and became an independent bridal wear designer.[5]
Wang has made wedding gowns for many well-known public figures, such as Chelsea
Clinton,[6] Karenna Gore,[7] Ivanka Trump,[6]Campbell Brown,[8] Alicia Keys,[6] Mariah
Carey,[6] Victoria Beckham,[6] Avril Lavigne,[6] Hilary Duf,[6] Khloe Kardashian,[9] and Kim
Kardashian.[10] Wang's evening wear has also been worn by Michelle Obama.[11][12]
She has designed costumes for figure skaters, including Nancy Kerrigan, Michelle
Kwan and Evan Lysacek. Silver medalist Nancy Kerrigan wore a unique design of Vera's for
the 1994 Olympics. She designed the uniforms worn by the Philadelphia Eagles
Cheerleaders.[13]
On October 23, 2001, her book, Vera Wang on Weddings, was released. In June 2005, she
won the CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America) Womenswear Designer of the
Year. On May 27, 2006, Wang was awarded the Andr Leon Talley Lifetime Achievement
Award from the Savannah College of Art and Design. Wang was inducted into the U.S.
Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 2009 for her contribution to the sport as a costume designer.
[14]

She has also designed a tux for William Burge.

Wang's evening wear has been worn by stars at many red carpet events, including Viola
Davis at the 2012 Academy Awards,[15] and Sofia Vergara at the 65th Emmy Awards.[16]
She was honored with the Council of Fashion Designers of America Lifetime Achievement
Award in 2013.[