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Vera Wang
Vera Wang promoted her smart, sexy vision of modern womanhood.

Silver Gown

Wedding Gown


She is funny and smart and outspoken, a consummate New Yorker with a loud, nasal voice and a penchant for speaking in italics -- especially when talking about her own contribution to fashion. And for good reason: Vera Wang is an extraordinarily talented designer, creating clothes so simple and yet so striking.

Wang's rather sudden rise to fame over the first few years in the business via the Olympics and the Oscars were master strokes by a kind god. In 1992 Wang was approached by Nancy Kerrigan's coach to design Kerrigan's outfit for that year's Olympics. Wang refused because skating outfits weren't her specialty.

"Have you ever met a bathing suit that worked for you perfectly?" Wang asked pointedly. She doesn't need to wait for an answer. "Well, skating dresses are even worse. It's the worst nightmare of a bathing suit, with the fact that the skater has to look like she's in an evening gown, that she's got to be able to do triple jumps and not rip. It's all the worst things combined together technically."

Nonetheless, Wang was ultimately prevailed upon to accept the challenge. The elegant white dress she created for Kerrigan made the cover of Life's Year in Pictures. She dressed Kerrigan for the next two years, facing increasingly difficult competition as other skaters took note and updated their own outfits. Although Kerrigan had to settle for silver at the infamous 1994 Olympics, she was unquestionably the best-dressed skater there.

Wang has gained even more visibility from her status as a Hollywood designer, for which she is considerably indebted to Sharon Stone who wore Wang's old-fashioned blond satin ball gown to the 1993 Oscars. This was followd by Marisa Tomei and Best Actress Holly Hunter in 1994 Oscars, Hunter and Stone in 1995, and Alicia Silverstone and Mare Winningham in 1996.

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