Wedding fashion designer Vera Wang eyes local market
Wedding fashion designer Vera Wang eyes local market
By Rita A. Widiadana
JAKARTA (JP): Vera Wang is one of the first names that comes to mind when female celebrities think of wedding dresses.
She dressed Sharon Stone, Mariah Carey and other famous names for their weddings. Veteran artist Jane Fonda failed to donate her silver Vera Wang evening gown at the recent Oscars because she had fallen in love with it.
Some 250 guests witnessed Wang's designing talent last week at Vera Wang's Spring/Summer 2000 Bridal and Evening Trunk Show, jointly organized by Hotel Mulia Senayan and Singapore-based fashion and bridal house The Link.
The hotel's grand ballroom, decorated with white lilies and roses, was packed with local celebrities and fashion buffs. Designers Ghea Panggabean, Ramli, Choosy Latu, former top models Okky Asokawati, Enny Soekamto and Chrisye Subono, were among the limited guests.
The lights dimmed and the show started with a collection of evening gowns, directly flown in from Wang's Manhattan boutique.
Wang's evening wear lines are always modern; innovative yet elegant. The show began with a floral organza ball gown worn by model Caroline. It was followed by a sleeveless cashmere tank with blue floral skirt and an off-the-shoulder beaded lace gown and "wet" chiffon gown with beaded detail on the neckline.
For local fashion lovers, watching Vera Wang's Spring/Summer collection was truly rewarding.
A well-honed knowledge of anatomy and an expert way of making women look their physical best is what sets Wang apart from many designers. The Vera Wang look is what it usually is called by Hollywood celebrities. Her designs are uncomplicated, sensual and sophisticated. She offers a unique, modern, luxurious product for the fashion-conscious woman.
"I think that in my clothes, people see you, they don't only see the dress," Wang once said.
The daughter of wealthy Chinese immigrant parents, Wang has always survived in the world of fashion.
Vera Wang's professional life has always revolved around the world of fashion, taste and style. As the youngest person ever to be made an editor at American Vogue magazine, Wang, then 23 years old, was sent to the world's fashion capitals to see the collections.
After nearly twenty years with Vogue, she moved on to be the design director for famous American designer Ralph Lauren.
In l990, she ventured out on her own opening a store in New York City. Now, at 51, Wang is a prolific designer and a mother of two daughters. She currently manages an expansive and robust fashion business empire.
The showing of Wang's collections in Indonesia was an attempt to expand her market in Indonesia and its neighboring countries although the designer herself failed to attend.
During the show, 20 evening gowns were displayed by Indonesian and Singaporean models.
Model Mariana wore an iridescent chiffon off-the-shoulder gown with beaded bodice. Other fabulous ensembles comprised a black matte jersey with organza neckline detail; a beaded tube with taffeta skirt with net overlay; a celadon panne velvet dress and a ruched lavender duchess gown.
The fashion show was divided into three sessions. The second session presented Wang's latest bridal gowns.
The mood changed into a very romantic atmosphere. The sound of wedding bells and love songs occupied the ballroom.
Then, two beautiful flower girls appeared on the runaway. Donned in ivory gowns, they brought the audience to a real wedding party.
Wang's bridal line includes dresses for bridesmaids and flower girls, as well as their shoes and bouquets. In addition to wedding gowns, Vera Wang also designs bags, gloves and exquisite footwear.
It was Vera Wang's own experience as a bride that led her to specifically design wedding gowns. She found difficulty in finding her own wedding gown.
Drawing from her own experience as a bride, designer and seasoned veteran of the fashion industry, Wang has been able to achieve a bridal couture look that is fresh, innovative and dramatic.
She emphasizes the fabrics and how it drapes a woman's body. Her wedding gowns are simply elegant and sophisticated with sharp attention to detail. Her beadwork is precise and the fabrics are of the highest quality.
Vera has an eye for real fashion when approaching wedding dresses as fashion as opposed to a traditional ceremonial costume. She introduced color and was the first to come up with a true head-to-toe concept, applying her sense of style to what a contemporary bride is looking for. She used innovative fabrics such as stretch tulle so one could be very covered up yet look very bare. Wang's couture details are special and intricate. Her signature look is high in the front and low in the back.
The bridal collection was started with a hand-painted duchess gown, an A-line organza with platinum hand-painted bodice with sash.
It was followed by a champagne duchess gown with bubble- backed hand-painted bodice. Other eye-catching items in the collection were an ivy/champagne geometric trim gown and an A- Line gown with net overlay and beaded midriff.
The audience could hardly catch their breath as they watched and examined more than 50 wedding dresses within less than 30 minutes.
The last session of the show also displayed more luxurious wedding gowns such as a halter organza with tissue cutouts and bow detail, and a full organza with lilac wave border.
Wang's three-quarter sleeve faille gown worn by model Caroline and a faile gown with strapless pleated tulle skirt closed Wang's trunk show in Jakarta, leaving local fashion lovers in a daze.
Most of these dream wedding gowns run from US$2,000 to $8,000 for Wang's ready-to-wear collection and from $10,000 to $50,000 for couture. In a time of crisis like this, who can afford her creations?