I was an art history major, but never specifically contemporary. I would say where I really stopped were the abstract expressionists in the New York school. Vera Wang More Quotes by Vera Wang More Quotes From Vera Wang I've been designing since I was 8. I started sketching dresses I could wear when skating. I was always involved in all aspects of skating, not just the technique, the choreography, the music, but the visual aspects, too - what I should wear. Vera Wang skating design technique My mother was extremely controlled, sort of flawless. And I always tend to be a bit more hippie. Vera Wang flawless hippie mother Ready-to-wear is what I've wanted to do since the beginning. ... I'm not a girl who spends my life in a ballgown Vera Wang ready girl wanted When I decided to get married at 40, I couldn't find a dress with the modernity or sophistication I wanted. That's when I saw the opportunity for a wedding gown business. Vera Wang wedding dresses opportunity I see myself as a true modernist. Even when I do a traditional gown, I give it a modern twist. I go to the past for research. I need to know what came before so I can break the rules. Vera Wang artist giving past It's for all the women who embrace my aesthetic, but can't afford a Vera Wang dress. If women can get anything out of it - a little bit of me or a lot of me, that's what's important. Vera Wang women important dresses I see myself as an arbiter of taste. Vera Wang arbiter taste I work with structure, but I go outside the box and give it my own spin. I adore the challenge of creating truly modern clothes - where a woman's personality and sense of style are realized. Vera Wang creating clothes artist People get very trapped where they are. When they hear 'fashion' they get intimidated, particularly at the upper end because it's so elitist. Vera Wang fashion ends people I was struggling to find a way to make evening clothes more deconstructed. I like to think that I translated the Latin concept in a more modern way. I don't think that I was that literal. Vera Wang struggle latin thinking To me, eyewear goes way beyond being a prescription. It's like makeup. It's the most incredible accessory. The shape of a frame or the color of lenses can change your whole appearance. Vera Wang makeup color artist Figure skating has been a great influence for me. I took dance at the School of American Ballet, which helped my own skating. And whether you are a skater or a dancer, without sounding narcissistic, it is all about looking in the mirror. Vera Wang dancer mirrors school I love the focus and bravery of European designers, but I love the nonchalance and throwaway aspect of America that has made Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein two of the greatest icons. I try to bridge those two worlds in my work. The clothes may be couture on the runway but there's an attitude that's very street and that comes from America. Vera Wang focus bravery attitude Certainly a big challenge for me with evening-wear is to make it look modern and artistic and avant-garde. The very concept of a ball gown is not in itself a modern concept, and women need to wear that for a certain presence in Hollywood. I'm also aware that a starlet might go to more than one place that night so the piece could also offer, maybe not a revolution, but an evolution. Vera Wang revolution challenges night As the mother of two daughters, I have great respect for women. And I don't ever want to lose that. Vera Wang respect daughter mother People get very trapped where they are. When they hear "fashion" they get intimidated, particularly at the upper end because it's so elitist. If you can bring your own concept or your viewpoint and translate it not down but out, then you're really successful in the truest sense. Vera Wang fashion successful people All I did my first year at Vogue was Xerox. Vera Wang vogue years firsts I think there's going to be a real push in the next two years in Asia - China and Korea specifically. And that's a huge undertaking. Ten years ago it was impossible to break into that part of the world. Some of the biggest companies in the world found it challenging. But I am Chinese-American and I think what we do will resonate in China. So that's where we see our biggest opportunities going forward. I do speak Mandarin and I also relate to the hunger that China has for culture and architecture and style. Vera Wang real opportunity thinking I am not the sort of woman who would wear high heels with a bathing suit. Let's get that straight right now. Vera Wang suits right-now high-heels My normal routine is pretty much putting out fires all day. Vera Wang routine normal fire
