Thus, her success is no coincidence.
At 19, she was the first Chinese woman to be presented at the International Debutante Ball in 1968.
The New Yorker stayed near her roots, choosing to attend Sarah Lawrence College.
The experience piqued herinterestin fashion, leading her to eventually pursue a career in the cutthroat industry.
She was one of the top pairs skaters in the nation and even made it to the U.S.
Figure Skating Nationals twice, but unfortunately, it wasn’t enough for the Olympics.
She was heartbroken by the loss and decided to give up hercareerfor good.
Although she no longer skates competitively, Wang is the designer of several iconic skating costumes.
Wang’s contributions to the sport earned her a spot in theU.S.
Figure Skating Hall of Famein 2009.
Academics were not her strong suit
Vera Wang has aspired to achieve great things since her childhood.
She transferred to the Professional Children’s School for her senior year and received her diploma there.
But after her brutal loss in the 1968 U.S.
Figure Skating Nationals and a subsequentnervous breakdown, Wang decided to give college another try.
Wang set her sights on design school after graduation, but her fatherrefusedto pay for it.
So instead, she sought a full-time job.
Stein was so impressed that sheoffered Wang a jobat the magazine after college.
She worked with Anna Wintour, whose current job she almost secured in 1987.
The editor politely sent Wang home to change, but she definitely made a strong first impression.
Aside from clothing choices, her personality was also unlike her fellow colleagues at Vogue.
She brought the party to everyone around her, often hosting lively events in her own home.
She pivoted from one major fashion hub to another Ralph Lauren.
The New York designer hired Wang to be his accessories design director in 1987.
Wang believed that she could not onlyintroduce better options into the market but also reinvent it entirely.
Wang’s father, Cheng Ching Wang, financed her dream in 1990.
While Wang considers herself to be an artist first, her business-savvy mind is certainly admirable as well.
Wearing a Vera Wang dress is now a status symbol in itself.
“I am the sole owner,” Wang confirmed toCNBCin 2020.
After her products became the standard in the haute couture market, she moved into mid-priced and discount markets.
She also released her ownVera Wangperfume, which now has several lines.
In 2021, Wang partnered with Pronovias Group to sell her bridal wear.
The distributor and iconic designer signed a10-year dealto sell the Vera Wang Bride line.
