VE RA W AN
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Here at Blondie HQ, we are all for celebrating women and their achievements and well, it just wouldn’t be right to not praise the multitalented and beautiful fashion designer, Vera Wang. As inspirational as women come, arguably, Wang is at the top. Not only is she one of the most successful female fashion designers of all time but she also is a driven and hard-working businesswoman, whose drive and determination is evident throughout her career in the fashion industry. Despite her colossal achievements in the world of fashion, Vera Wang’s childhood dream was far from the worldwide name that she is now. It may be a surprise to learn that Wang is not only exceptionally talented at fashion design but is also exceptionally talented on the ice. Now when you think of the name ‘Vera Wang’, an ice rink is probably not the first thing that springs to mind but back in the day, Wang was a keen figure skater and dreamed of making a profession out of dancing on the ice. Her climb into the fashion industry began after she failed to qualify for the United States of America Olympic figure skating team. In an interview with American legend, Oprah Winfrey, Wang admitted that the setback made her revaluate where she was heading in life while desiring for a career that she was passionate about and it was only then that she turned her focus to fashion. And what a decision that was. After graduating from Sarah Lawrence College with a degree in history, Vera Wang was almost immediately hired by Vogue magazine and by the age of just twenty-one, she became the youngest editor in the magazine’s history. Not only was she the youngest, but she broke through gender and ethnic barriers in the meantime. At that time, it was rare for a woman to hold such a position but for a woman of Chinese descent? That’s impressive. After 17 years as the fashion editor of Vogue, Wang left in 1987 to further pursue her fashion career. Following her departure from the famous magazine, Wang began to work for esteemed fashion designer, Ralph Lauren, where she spent two years of her life before resigning. What we admire about Vera Wang is her constant desire for change and excitement. She is not one to let the world go by and get stuck in the same routine but instead, she is one to branch out and explore what the world of fashion has to offer. At the age of 40, Wang began her very own fashion line and set her sight on becoming a bridal wear designer and well… need I say more? The queen of bridal couture has designed wedding dresses for all of the big names in Hollywood, including Alicia Keys, Hilary Duff, Kim and Khloe Kardashian to name a few. Wang has now become the most sought-after bridal designer in the world and just taking a peek at her wedding gown collections, it is clear to see why. Her designs emulate elegance and beauty, timeless style and sophistication. In 2018, Vera Wang placed at number 34 in Forbes America’s Richest Self-Made Women, with her revenues estimated at $630 million. Wang built her success over many years of hard work and her determination and drive is nothing short of utterly admirable. Now, with extensive knowledge and years of experience in the industry, Wang’s independent label has soared in popularity, establishing herself, not by the big brand companies that she had worked for in the past, but as Vera Wang. And today, that name alone means so much to the world of fashion.
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