Vera Wang celebrates 74th birthday after sharing 'magic elixir' that keeps her looking so young
Vera Wang has claimed there are misconceptions around ageing after fans begged her to share where the ‘fountain of youth’ is.
The fashion designer - who turns 74 today (27 June) - went viral on Instagram during lockdown in 2020, when she posted a photo wearing a sports bra and shorts.
Her simple snap sent fans into a frenzy at the time as they praised her figure, and in particular, just how amazing she looked for a woman in her 70s.
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This led to people begging Wang to share ‘where the fountain of youth is please’.
In March last year, the New York-born businesswoman explained how she'd managed to approach the idea of ageing in a 'productive' way.
In a BBC interview for International Women's Day, she said: "I've been in fashion since I was 19 years old. Not in front of the camera, behind it.
"I never thought about youth, probably because I work with the most beautiful women in the world on a daily basis.
"And because of that I more envision them as my muses, and maybe it's a way of dealing with ageing that is productive."
She continued: "So I always said that vodka cocktail, a lot of sleep, but work - work is the magic elixir."
Wang does like to stay active too, but she doesn't like to spend hours and hours on the treadmill each day.
In a 2016 interview with Harper's Bazaar, she said: "I usually lift weights, not much - two pounds and three pounds. It takes me a total of five minutes."
However, in April this year she said the question about her youthful looks actually comes down to people's perception of ageing.
She told People: “I guess it’s just that people have an idea of what 70 looks like today. I have so many friends that are 65 to 70 that look fabulous.
“But I have to say that hopefully, it’s a good thing.
“I hope it makes women feel more comfortable with themselves or are confident, or there are many definitions of what a woman can be.”
Recognised as one of BBC’s 100 women of 2021, she explained how that viral lockdown photo was taken pretty casually.
Wang was quarantined with some colleagues in Miami during Spring 2020, and the group were really enjoying exercising as they hung around inside.
“There was a treadmill in our house, and they kept pushing me to get on it. I said, ‘I’m busy watching CNN!’
"I was going to get on the treadmill when my design director for mass bridal said to me, ‘We’re selling barrettes. Could you put these in your hair? I’ll take the picture.'”
So, dressed ready to actually get on the treadmill, she posed for a quick photo to promote the bridal hair pieces, and later learned of ‘people talking about’ the snap of her in a ‘orange workout top with white jean shorts’.
But Wang didn’t understand why people were so bothered about the outfit.
“Now, it was like 90 degrees in Miami, I wasn’t going to wear a turtleneck sweater! We just all looked at each other and said, ‘Are you kidding?’ Just didn’t really get it.”
Well-known for her wedding dresses, the designer was particularly confused as she said she hadn’t had this kind of huge reaction when she’s worn other, more thought-out outfits to major events.
She explained: “I’ve been to the Met Gala.
“I’ve gone to the Oscars. It’s crazy. Seriously, when I say to people, ‘I don’t get it.’
"If we planned something like this, it would’ve never happened.”
In an interview with BBC 100 Women in March 2022, she said that she was ‘grateful’ for the praise of her figure, but criticised ageism as ‘so old fashioned’.
So it seems like there really isn’t a fountain of youth after all, or at least not one that Wang is using.
She said: “I never thought about going way out of my way to preserve my youth in a fanatical, obsessive way.”
Jess Battison