2014 marked the 10th wedding anniversary for Mr. King & me. It seemed timely to reminisce on those precious wedding memories, and of course, to take a look at my Vera Wang wedding gown, which I pulled out of storage. After the gown had been steamed, I sat there and thought to myself, “It looked as beautiful as it did a decade ago.”
Vera Wang is best known for her haute couture bridal gowns as well as bridesmaid gowns. In my opinion, Wang single-handedly revived bridal wear by combining fresh designs with a youthful demeanor.
My first encounter with Vera Wang’s bridal was in 1996 – when my close friend (Wendy) invited me to join her while she searched for her wedding gown at Wang’s New York salon. At that time, Vera Wang Bride had no presence in Hong Kong (where both Wendy and I lived). Despite the long journey, we were very excited about her appointment.
At Vera Wang’s Madison Avenue salon, Wendy selected a gorgeous, regal satin gown, in a classic style – fit for a princess! Since the salon entertained clients by appointment only, the Vera Wang representatives dedicated all their energy to serving Wendy. This was before the age of taking photos with mobile phones, so I only have a few photos of our visit. I recalled that the salon was gracefully furnished with modern American classic décor. The whole experience was exclusive and intimate, and the bespoke gown was delivered to Hong Kong in a few months time.
Years later, I was faced with the same dilemma of finding my own wedding gown. Though I hadn’t decided on the silhouette or neckline or fabrics, I was sure that I wanted a Vera Wang creation. Instead of New York, I travelled to Singapore, where Link (a luxury fashion boutique) represented Vera Wang Bride.
I visited Link just in time for the Vera Wang’s spring collection trunk show. After trying on a few gowns, I chose a strapless gown in a full A-line shape and matched it with a chapel length veil. What struck me were the intricate embroideries on very delicate tulle fabric of the gown. The back was simply breathtaking with a column of white buttons. When revisiting my gown a decade later, I am still in awe of the beauty of its workmanship.
Today, Vera Wang is not only associated with wedding gowns, but also known for her fashion and lifestyle empire (spanning daywear, evening gowns, house ware, fragrances, stationery and even flowers – yes, fresh bouquets!). Vera Wang Bride has 20 salons in the world with another opening in Beijing soon.
In 1990, Vera Wang opened her first bridal salon, and 2015 marks the bridal house’s 25th anniversary. Wang’s designs and sense of aesthetics are admired by generations of women across the globe – truly timeless and always elegant!
All photos were taken by Mrs. King.
Mrs. King LIFESTYLE 