Vera Wang didn’t start her empire until she was 40
- Jan 10
- 4 min read
In recent months I personally have felt as if the world is kind of collectively going through a wake up call - or maybe it's just Gen Z. Not sure, but whatever it is I think collectively people are becoming a lot less interested in how their life looks to others and far more interested in how it makes them feel.
A movement I am in total support for because for a second I felt as if I were living within a largely brainwashed community.
In this blog post today we are going to talk about how if you have suddenly had the epiphany that you want to actually LIVE your life and you aren’t currently doing what you want to be doing... you can, and you will get there.
Today I’m putting my two-pence in (of course), and using Mrs Vera Wang and her infamous success story as my case study.
THE LEGENDARY VERA WANG
In a world obsessed with early achievement and overnight success, Vera Wang’s journey is a powerful reminder that it’s never too late to build something extraordinary.
Having rapidly become one of the most sought after bridal dress designers - building a fashion empire worth hundreds of millions - and yet she didn’t even design her first wedding dress until she was nearly 4o years old!
Her story proves that feeling lost isn’t the end of the road – it’s often the beginning of a new (and better) path.
So if you’re feeling a bit behind, take a breath and read this success story.
Some facts about Wang:
Vera Wang was born in New York City in 1949 - which, first of all, feels like winning the lottery straight out of the womb. Imagine spawning directly into the Big Apple? Unreal.
She was born to Chinese immigrant parents and, for most of her early life, fashion wasn’t even the main plan. Instead, she trained seriously as a figure skater, competing at a high level until the age of 19. Olympic dreams and all.
An almost entirely different life path – but not a wasted one.
Even during this time, fashion quietly followed her. Her mother regularly took her to high-end fashion shows, exposing her to couture, craftsmanship and the theatre of clothing long before she ever touched a sketchbook. Seeds were being planted, whether she realised it or not.
After graduating from Sarah Lawrence College, she landed a job at Vogue – HOW DID I NOT KNOW THIS?!?! Casually becoming the youngest fashion editor ever hired at the time. No big deal. She stayed there for seventeen years, learning the industry inside-out: trends, designers, politics, timing.
A good youtube video on Vera:
She then moved on to Ralph Lauren, working as a design director — deepening her understanding of branding, luxury, and what actually sells. So while she hadn’t launched her own label yet, she was quietly stockpiling knowledge, experience and taste.
Which is why, when she finally did start her own brand at 40, it wasn’t a gamble, it was thoroughly evaluated and VERY calculated.
And now? Nobody hears “Vera Wang” and thinks former Vogue editor. They think of THE Vera Wang.
The moment she took the leap
Vera Wang didn’t suddenly wake up one morning and decide to become a bridal designer. The catalyst was far more relatable: she couldn’t find a wedding dress she actually liked for her own wedding. So she made one.
Honestly, it sounds like something I would do!
In 1990, at age 40, she opened the Vera Wang Bridal House in New York’s Carlyle Hotel. One decision. One leap – but decades of preparation.
What she’s achieved since 40 (and why “starting late” is a myth)
Since launching her brand, Vera Wang has created a global fashion empire, and accumulated a net worth of over $650 million - and she did it all after the age most people panic about being “behind”.
Her brand now spans:
Bridal wear
Ready-to-wear fashion
Accessories (jewellery, eyewear, shoes)
Fragrances
Homeware
Major licensed lines with Kohl’s, Zales and David’s Bridal
Her bridal boutiques stretch across New York, London, Tokyo and Sydney, and in the most full-circle moment of all? She’s designed costumes for Olympic figure skaters, merging fashion with the sport that once almost defined her entire life.
The main takeaway (for anyone feeling a bit lost right now)
Vera Wang’s story is comforting to me, and many others because it dismantles the idea that there is a correct order to life.
Your starting point does not determine your finish line. You could have just finished medical school and then turn around and say, “No, I actually want to be a ballerina.”
There is no right or wrong! There is no universal timeline for success. Careers are allowed to evolve, stall, restart and surprise you.
So if you’ve recently had the realisation that you want more from your life, that you want it to feel better, not just look better - take this as your sign.
You’re not behind. You have time to do whatever you want to do.
With love,
Mimi x
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