Living the DreamLiving the Dream

By: Casey SuligaBy: Casey Suliga

Vera Wang is a Chinese fashion designer, born June 27, Vera Wang is a Chinese fashion designer, born June 27, 1949. 1949.

Wang’s mom often took her to fashion shows in Paris when Wang’s mom often took her to fashion shows in Paris when she was a girl, and her father started a chemical company.she was a girl, and her father started a chemical company.

Wang got a degree in Art History from Sarah Lawrence Wang got a degree in Art History from Sarah Lawrence College.College.

When Wang was a girl, she trained as figure skater, and When Wang was a girl, she trained as figure skater, and competed at the United States skating championships in competed at the United States skating championships in 1968. 1968.

Wang was featured in an issue of Sports Illustrated.Wang was featured in an issue of Sports Illustrated.

When she failed to make the Olympic team for the U.S, she When she failed to make the Olympic team for the U.S, she went to the fashion industry.went to the fashion industry.

Vera Wang was the senior editor for Vera Wang was the senior editor for Vogue Vogue fashion fashion magazine.magazine.After Wang was turned down for being editor in chief in After Wang was turned down for being editor in chief in 1985, she went to be a designer director with Ralph 1985, she went to be a designer director with Ralph Lauren for two years.Lauren for two years. In 1990, Wang opened a designer salon in New York, In 1990, Wang opened a designer salon in New York, featuring bridal gowns designed by Wang.featuring bridal gowns designed by Wang.Wang also made wedding gowns for stars like Jessica Wang also made wedding gowns for stars like Jessica Simpson, Mariah Carey, Jennifer Lopez, and Avril Simpson, Mariah Carey, Jennifer Lopez, and Avril Lavigne.Lavigne.Wang also designed costumes for figure skaters Michelle Wang also designed costumes for figure skaters Michelle Kwan and Nancy Kerrigan, and designed the uniforms Kwan and Nancy Kerrigan, and designed the uniforms that are worn by the Philadelphia Eagles cheerleaders.that are worn by the Philadelphia Eagles cheerleaders.She opened boutiques in New York, Beverly Hills, She opened boutiques in New York, Beverly Hills, Boston, and Waikiki.Boston, and Waikiki.She also now has a mattress line.She also now has a mattress line.

Vera Wang has now expanded her work through her Vera Wang has now expanded her work through her shoes, fragrance, house ware, jewelry, and eye ware shoes, fragrance, house ware, jewelry, and eye ware collections.collections.Wang also wrote a book released in 2001, called Wang also wrote a book released in 2001, called Vera Vera Wang on Weddings.Wang on Weddings.In 2002 when Wang entered the home fashion In 2002 when Wang entered the home fashion industry, the Vera Wang China and Crystal collections industry, the Vera Wang China and Crystal collections made 3 of the 10 best selling bridal patterns in the made 3 of the 10 best selling bridal patterns in the US.US.In 2005, Wang won the In 2005, Wang won the Council of the Fashion Council of the Fashion Designers ofDesigners of AmericaAmerica, and in 2006, she won , and in 2006, she won Andre Andre Leon Talley LifetimeLeon Talley Lifetime Achievement AwardAchievement Award from the from the Savannah College of Art and Design.Savannah College of Art and Design.In 2006, Kohl’s said the would carry accessories, foot In 2006, Kohl’s said the would carry accessories, foot ware, linens, and clothing designed by Vera Wang.ware, linens, and clothing designed by Vera Wang.

Vera Wang has made a lot of appearances in many Vera Wang has made a lot of appearances in many things.things.She was featured in an issue of Sports Illustrated.She was featured in an issue of Sports Illustrated.Wang made a cameo appearance in the episode ofWang made a cameo appearance in the episode of Ugly BettyUgly Betty called called Nice Day for a Posh WeddingNice Day for a Posh Wedding, , where she designed the wedding gowns.where she designed the wedding gowns.Also, she designed a dress for an episode of Also, she designed a dress for an episode of Buffy Buffy thethe Vampire Slayer.Vampire Slayer.In the third season of In the third season of Project Runaway, Project Runaway, Wang Wang appeared as a guest judge.appeared as a guest judge.Last but not least, Wang appeared on Last but not least, Wang appeared on The The Apprentice Apprentice to promote the to promote the Vera Wang Mattress Vera Wang Mattress Line.Line.

You may now be thinking: Does Vera Wang have a You may now be thinking: Does Vera Wang have a family?family?Vera Wang lives currently in New York City at the Vera Wang lives currently in New York City at the age of 58.age of 58.She lives with her two adopted daughters, and her She lives with her two adopted daughters, and her husband named Arthur Becker.husband named Arthur Becker.The happy couple got married in 1989.The happy couple got married in 1989.Arthur Becker is CEO of Navisite, an information Arthur Becker is CEO of Navisite, an information technology services company.technology services company.Her daughters are Cecilia, who was born in 1990, Her daughters are Cecilia, who was born in 1990, and Josephine, born in 1993.and Josephine, born in 1993.They both are currently attending Chaplin School.They both are currently attending Chaplin School.

For top quality wedding dresses, Vera Wang has set For top quality wedding dresses, Vera Wang has set out pretty good prices for buyers.out pretty good prices for buyers.Vera Wang’s Luxe Collection starts at $6,000 to Vera Wang’s Luxe Collection starts at $6,000 to $12,000 or more.$12,000 or more.But relax, most of her dresses cost from $2,000 to But relax, most of her dresses cost from $2,000 to $7,000.$7,000.If those prices still shock you, you can look at If those prices still shock you, you can look at bisque-colored dresses that go from $200 to less bisque-colored dresses that go from $200 to less than $1,000.than $1,000.Or you could look at New York sample sales, where Or you could look at New York sample sales, where some stock overrun or one-of-a-kind sample some stock overrun or one-of-a-kind sample dresses can have up to 75% discount.dresses can have up to 75% discount.Either way, you can count of getting the perfect Either way, you can count of getting the perfect wedding gown.wedding gown.

Vera Wang didn’t started out as a designer, but now she is Vera Wang didn’t started out as a designer, but now she is famous for her wedding gowns and household collections.famous for her wedding gowns and household collections.

Now let’s review how she got to where she is now from the Now let’s review how she got to where she is now from the beginning.beginning.Mom brought her to fashion shows in Paris as a young girl.Mom brought her to fashion shows in Paris as a young girl.

Trained as a figure skater and competed in US Championships.Trained as a figure skater and competed in US Championships.

After failing to get onto to the US Olympic team, she went to After failing to get onto to the US Olympic team, she went to Vogue Vogue fashion fashion magazine for 16 years, then Ralph Lauren for 2 years.magazine for 16 years, then Ralph Lauren for 2 years.

Opened a designer salon in New York.Opened a designer salon in New York.

Started designing gowns and household collections.Started designing gowns and household collections.

Appeared in famous shows.Appeared in famous shows.

Designed gowns for celebrities.Designed gowns for celebrities.

Opened boutiques in New York, Beverly Hills, Waikiki, and Boston.Opened boutiques in New York, Beverly Hills, Waikiki, and Boston.

Vera Wang has accomplished a lot in her lifetime so far. She has Vera Wang has accomplished a lot in her lifetime so far. She has helped us in many ways.helped us in many ways.

Many people may have stopped after being turned down for Many people may have stopped after being turned down for editor-in-chief, or after they opened 1 designer salon.editor-in-chief, or after they opened 1 designer salon.But not Vera Wang....But not Vera Wang....She now has 4 boutiques, designer salons, a fashion line, She now has 4 boutiques, designer salons, a fashion line, household collection’s, and so much more! household collection’s, and so much more! This remarkable famous American won’t stop at any This remarkable famous American won’t stop at any obstacles, and she is determined to reach her goal.obstacles, and she is determined to reach her goal.Wang has had a lot of bumps in the roads, but she kept on Wang has had a lot of bumps in the roads, but she kept on going.going.She has contributed by introducing useful things and clothing She has contributed by introducing useful things and clothing to us.to us.Vera Wang is amazing, and you can count on her creating Vera Wang is amazing, and you can count on her creating something that will impress something that will impress YOU!!!YOU!!!

Vera Vera Wang has accomplished a lot for half of her life, and Wang has accomplished a lot for half of her life, and many others have too.many others have too.But it’s But it’s YOUR YOUR turn to do something.turn to do something.Do you like to write, draw, design, sing?Do you like to write, draw, design, sing?Write a book or record some songs, or even create some Write a book or record some songs, or even create some outfits.outfits.Then send it to a publishing company, or visit a recording Then send it to a publishing company, or visit a recording studio. Whatever your talent or hobby is, do something to studio. Whatever your talent or hobby is, do something to promote it.promote it.Don’t be afraid to shoot for your dreams. If you get Don’t be afraid to shoot for your dreams. If you get rejected, think of it as advice to improve your hobby.rejected, think of it as advice to improve your hobby.All good things happens when someone takes the chance.All good things happens when someone takes the chance.Now it’s Now it’s YOUR YOUR turn to take that chance.turn to take that chance.

http://http://images.google.com/imghp?hlimages.google.com/imghp?hl=en&tab==en&tab=wiwi

www.weddings.about.comwww.weddings.about.com

www.dilpreetbawa.comwww.dilpreetbawa.com

www.aahceleb.comwww.aahceleb.com

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vera_Wanghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vera_Wang

Information collected and rewritten by Casey SuligaInformation collected and rewritten by Casey Suliga