Vera Wang looked shockingly youthful at the Met Gala in New York City on Monday, captivating attendees and social media alike. The 76-year-old fashion designer wore her hair white blonde and appeared wrinkle-free, sporting a micro bandeau bra that flashed her abs in a complicated one-strap cut-out black gown.
Wang, who designed wedding dresses for celebrities like Victoria Beckham, Ariana Grande, and Kim Kardashian, sparked online discussions about her age-defying appearance. Fans on Reddit noted that while her outfit might not be considered 'appropriate' for her age, she managed to pull it off effortlessly. One fan on X remarked, 'How on earth can she be the same age as Meryl Streep and Caitlyn Jenner?' while another commented, 'She looks 40s, not 70s, no way.'
Her Secrets to Staying Young
In a 2022 interview with BBC 100 Women, Wang, the chief creative officer of her fashion empire, revealed that her 'magic elixir' for staying youthful is work. She has also previously admitted that a 'vodka' cocktail and 'nine hours of sleep a day' help maintain her appearance.
Wang has been in the fashion industry since age 18. At 23, she became the youngest-ever fashion editor at Vogue, but it took nearly 20 more years to launch her namesake fashion label. Despite her dedication, she emphasizes not taking beauty too seriously.
Diet and Lifestyle
Surprisingly, Wang credits her youthful looks to a diet that includes vodka, McDonald's, and donuts. 'I do eat McDonald's, absolutely, I order it every day, like two weeks on it, and then I'll change,' she told Page Six last year. She also enjoys Dunkin' Donuts, particularly cream-filled, sugar-coated varieties and pink ones with sprinkles.
In 2020, Wang shared that her anti-aging secrets include 'work, sleep, a vodka cocktail, and not much sun.' She elaborated in an interview with People, explaining that she typically has a vodka cocktail after five or six o'clock and sleeps nine hours nightly. She insists that working keeps her 'mind, body, and soul' forever youthful.
Beauty Philosophy
Wang emphasized that getting enough sleep helps her calm down and pace herself. 'Every age has its own set of beauty standards,' she noted. 'I'm very flattered that people think I've aged well, but it was never my goal.' She expressed concern that discussions about her aging might overshadow her work, stating, 'I just hope that it doesn't supersede my work. It brings up the issue of ageism, and I don't want to be pigeonholed.'
In 2020, Wang went viral for sharing photos of herself in a bright orange sports bra and tiny white denim shorts. Since then, she has continued to post age-defying outfits, including super-short shorts, skirts, sky-high heels, and crop tops. She said she never thought of 'going out of my way' to preserve her youth 'in a fanatical obsessive way.'
Career and Background
Wang started her own company at age 40 and feels 'very lucky' to have built her empire. She trained as a figure skater at eight but switched to fashion after not succeeding. She worked at Vogue for 17 years, then at Ralph Lauren for two years, before becoming an independent bridal wear designer. Her designs have been worn by Ariana Grande, Chelsea Clinton, Ivanka Trump, Alicia Keys, Mariah Carey, Victoria Beckham, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Khloe Kardashian, and Kim Kardashian.
Apart from her nightly vodka cocktail, Wang drinks only water and gave up Diet Coke in 2006, calling it 'the hardest thing I ever gave up.' She balances her diet with healthy foods but admits to periods of eating the same fast foods daily, such as Ray's pizza.
Speaking exclusively to the Daily Mail at 73, Wang said, 'I think what happens sometimes as you age... I'm more frightened about physical disabilities... not all this. I'm not totally preoccupied with how I look. I love my work, and I'm very passionate about my work, my friends, my daughters... I mean, I have a very full life.'
