Vera Wang was born in New York in 1949 to Chinese parents who fled the communist revolution. She had originally dreamed of becoming an Olympic figure skater, but when she failed the team in 1968, she went to the Sorbonne, in Paris, and Sarah Lawrence College in the United States to study. She has a BA in Liberal Arts. In 1970, when she graduated, Vera became the youngest editor ever at Vogue magazine. She stayed there for 17 years until 1987. When she left Vogue, she worked for Ralph LAUREN for 2 years. In 1990 she opened her own home on Madison Avenue, New York, where she designs bridal wear and evening dresses. In 1994 she started her own label. These wedding dresses are what Vera Wang is famous for. She uses rich fabrics such as silk lace and duchess satin, in the tradition of Parisian couture, and applies them to the simple shapes associated with American sportswear, such as the vest dress. Her appreciation for surface decoration, especially beads, and the use of netting to give the illusion of bare skin, have also recommended her for the design of Olympic skating suits - bringing her all the way back to her childhood dreams. Nancy Kerrigan wore her costume to the 1994 Winter Olympics. Her client list is very long, especially for Oscar night. She has created wedding dresses for numerous celebrities, including Mariah Carey for her wedding to Tommy Mottola in 1993. Cate Blanchett picked up her Golden Globe for "Elizabeth" in a black beaded cheek dress. Uma Thurman, Posh Spice, Alicia Silverstone, and Sharon Stone and Elisabeth Shue are all her loyal customers.