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?