New York native Vera Wang was honored with the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award by the Council of Fashion Designers at its star-studded awards show this week at the Lincoln Center. Wang received the award from her mentor, and former employer, Ralph Lauren.
Wang, 63, was initially a competitive figure skater, before moving into fashion. By age 23, she was the youngest ever Vogue fashion editor and stylist where she remained for 16 years before moving to Ralph Lauren as a design director. In 1990, she launched her own fashion line as a bridal brand with a shop at the Carlyle Hotel.
Since then her work managed to be embraced at the levels of the fashion industry as well as the mass market. One of the highlights of Wang’s career was Chelsea Clinton’s wedding gown in 2010.
In 2005, the Council of Fashion Designers of America awarded Vera “Womenswear Designer of the Year”.
Wang currently has a line at Kohl’s, and another one at David’s Bridal.