Vera Wang: A Woman of Style

Vera Wang was blessed with an immense sense of fashion. She is known for her extraordinary bridal gowns and bridesmaid dresses. But despite the trademark dresses that countless stars wear today, Vera Wang is all around a phenomenal woman.

Vera Ellen Wang was born on June 27, 1949 and was born and raised in New York City. Her mother worked as a translator for the United Nations and her father owned a medicine company. After graduating school in 1967, Vera then attended the University of Paris and earned a degree in art history from the Sarah Lawrence College.

Before she graduated high-school, Miss Vera Wang trained as a figure skater with James Stuart and even competed in the 1968 U.S. Figure Skating Championships. It was only when she failed to enter the U.S. Olympics team, did she enter the fashion industry.

Vera Wang started as a senior fashion editor for Vogue magazine, but when they turned down her request for the position of editor-in-chief, she left and joined Ralph Lauren as a design director for two years. In 1990, she finally opened her own design salon in New York that features all her trademark dresses.

Since then, Vera Wang has made gowns for the most well-known people in the world. Chelsea Clinton, Alicia Keys, Mariah Carey, Victoria Beckham, Jennifer Lopez and Avril Lavigne are only a few celebrities that wore a famous Vera Wang dress. Just recently, Kim Kardashian wore a Vera Wang masterpiece for her wedding to Kris Humphries.

Vera Wang soon expanded her brand name through successful fragrances, jewelry, eyeware, shoe and houseware collections. In 2009, Vera was inducted into the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame for her extensive contributions as a sports designer for figure skaters such as Nancy Karrigan and Michelle Kwan. Vera accepted the Leadership in the Arts Award in 2010, twenty years after opening her first bridal boutique.

Vera Wang is truly an exceptional woman. She used her failures to propel her farther and farther in the world. When one door closes, another one opens. Just think that if Vera was accepted into the U.S. Olympic team, she wouldn't have started in the fashion industry. If Vera's request wasn't turned down at Vogue magazine, she wouldn't ever opened her first bridal shop in New York. Vera is the best example of turning failures into success and everyone should take something from her example.